Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1910 — Page 2

TO AN EARLY PRIMROSE.

Wild «(hpring of a dark and aullen sire: Whose modest form, so delicately fine. Was nursed In whirling storms. And cradled in the winds. Thee, when young spring first questioned winter's sway. And dared the sturdy blusterer to the fight, ] Thee on this bank he threw To mark his victory. In this low vale, the promise of the year. Serene, thou openest to the nipping gale. Unnoticed and alone. Thy tender elegance. So virtue blooms brought forth amid the storms Of chill adversity, in some lone walk Of life she rears her head, Obscure and unobserved; While every bleaching breeze that on her blows Chastens her spotless purity of breast, And hardens her to bear Serene the Ills of life. —Henry Kirke White.

Tom Wentworth

Tom Wentworth was angry and indignant. He had arisen one morning, & wet, cold, disagreable morning, with an indistinct recollection of something unpleasant which had occurred the evening before. • Little by little it grew clear. Norah, the housekeeper, had absconded. Tom remembered that she had given warning a week ago, but he had forgotten it until she left. “Confound these women!” he exclaimed, as he hurtled out of bed. "Confound the whole tribe of Eve’s daughters! Pretty fix I am in, with my own breakfast to get! Much I know about cookery! But no matter; I will not be dependent on a woman. Woman—bah! I can get as good a breakfast as the best of them!!’ feaying this, Tom Wentworth tied his necktie, combed his hair, and descended to the lower regions to decide on his breakfast. • “I. will have coffee and toast, of course; easily made, I know; anyone can make a cup of coffee. I must make n Are first, though.” This was soon accomplished, and then he searched for the coffee. "Let me see,” he meditated. “I shall need a quarter of a cupful, and we settle it, don’t we, with codfish? Yes, I know we do; I remember that much. Heard Nora say so one morning." And he turned the coffee and a generous Bhare of codfish into the pot, and placed it on the hob, and, then cut his bread. This done, he proceeded to set the table, when “ding-a-ling” went the door bell. ‘•Plague take It!” he muttered. ‘ Why •can’t they wait till a fellow has done breakfast ?” And he went slowly upstairs to the ■door. A showy handbill lay there, brilliant In gold and crimson, announcing the •advent of a grand circus. Tom Wentworth kicked it into the •treet, and was sorry he could not serve the boy the same way. Down again to the basement, to find his coffee just burning, and the nose off the tea kettle. Tom toasted his bread in no very enviable frame of mind, and after burning one side, concluded that side was done enough for both, and then sat down to enjoy it. “Ding-a-ling” went the bell once more, with a very decided and emphatic syllable on the end, as if to say, "Come quick!” Tom Wentworth sprang to his feet, with a frown on his handsome face. Running his hand quickly through his curly hair, he exclaimed, “By Jove! They may ring until the day of doom before I go!” And then he went. When Tom Wentworth opened the door he was indignant to find no one there, and was about closing it with a bang, when a basket at his feet arrested his attention. He was about to shove it off when a cry sounded from its depths. It was a faint, wailing cry, but it fairly froze Tom’s blood with terror. “Shades of Venice! Con ” But the rest of his exclamation was cat short by jitter inability to finish it. He took the basket up as if it were a bubble which he was afraid of breaking, and then set it down and gazed at it as if suddenly bereft of his senses; though in reality he was looking about for that dreaded object—a woman. None appearing, he again lifted the basket up and carried It into the house, and locked the door. A blue-eyed, golden-haired baby face appeared as he opened the dainty wrappings, and a pair of chubby, dimpled hands were stretched up to him, while a smile rippled over her face. A cold sweat broke out all over Tom. He leaned heavily against the Vail for support; but the dimpled hands were Stretched out again, and the smile gave way to such a grieved look that it took tbs citadel at once, and Tqm’s kind heart surrendered without further protest. Taking the smiling child in his arms, be looked into its blue eyes with an interest he had never manifested la any Other baby; and as the dimpled hands tmlled at the brown, wavy beard, they twined themselves about the haart-

strings of the strong man until he was willing to swear eternal allegiance to I*. A note In a peculiarly dainty hand was tied on baby’B sleeve with a narrow blue ribbon, and this was the inscription : "Mr. Tom Wentworth: "Please take my baby, Bessie, and bring her up to make a good, noble woman, as I think you are capable of doing. I know you have means to support her. Be good to my baby, and may Heaven do by you even as you do by her. I never shall claim her. "BABY’S MOTHER.” In the basket were a goodly number of dainty baby’s clothes, and that was ail, except a few plain directions for preparing her simple meals. These were written in the same delicate chirography as the note, and Tom treasured them both—for further use. "Well!” he exclaimed, I’m in for it now! Whoever would have Imagined, me with a baby? Seems she knew about me,” referring to the note. “Thinks I’m capable of bringing this child up for a good, noble woman, does she? Think she’d change her opinion >if she knew me and my notions about women! Wish they were all in— Heaven! Well, no, not exactly that, either; but I’ll make a good woman of this little one, If possible, although I am sadly afraid I must call In the aid of ocie of these same women; which shall it be? There’s Mrs. Frlzzel; no, she’s much too dressy—spends all her time on dress. In fact, she won’t do. Miss Arabella Upperton? No! May the fates deliver this little child from growing Into such a vain, frivolous woman as she. There is Mrs. Granby; too aristocratic to suit plain Tom Wentworth. Mrs. —there I have it!—r Mrs. Ellsworth—Aunt Louisa, bless her! She’s just the one to come here and bring up baby. I’ll see her today.” And Tom started downstairs once more, to get the baby’s breakfast. After that gigantic feat was accomplished, Tom left the child at a neighbor’s house, and started for “Aunt Louisa,” as Mrs. Ellsworth, a neighborly old lady, was called; but she was not at home—had gone to the sea coast, her daughter said, to be gone three months—and Tom was disconsolate.

“I’M in FOR IT NOW.”

Mrs. Mason, the daughter, offered to come for a week or two, until Tom could get other help, or she would take the child there; but Tom would not part with her, and at last was obliged to accept her offer to come for a few days. Tom Wentworth was the only child of Mr. Wentworth, of Clifden, a man universally beloved by all who had known him for his genuine kindness and many sterling qualities. Many years before his father had died, leaving Tom as the sole inheritor of his vast estate. For a long time he had spent his time roaming abroad, and then came home to settle down to his profession—that of a barrister—for although his wealth was great, Tom was not inclined to be idle. While abroad he met a pretty, blueeyed maiden, with whom he fell deeply in love, and whose love he, after a very short acquaintance, asked in return. Clara Broadwell professed to love him, until at last she disappointed him by proving herself entirely unworthy of the love of his big, honest heart, by marrying a poor, worthless fellow who she Imagined she loved better than Tom Wentworth. From that time, ten years before, he had lost faith in womankind. Because of the failing of one fair, false one, the entire race of womankind stood branded in his sight as faithless. He would “trust none of them,” he said, although all his better nature rose in rebellion at the Injustice of such an accusation. A month went by. Bessie was growing dearer each day to her new friend. His faith in womankind was growing stronger and deeper because of this one little bud of promise which was daily developing fresh beauty and loveliness. One morning, just before Tom w r ent to his office, there was a ring at the door bell, and he hastened to open it. A woman stood before him. clad in modest attire—a sweet-faced woman, who, in a low and gentle voice, asked if he had yet secured a nurse for his little foundling. . “No,” replied Tom. “I was about to look for one, as mine has just left me.” “I was sent to you with this, Mr! Wentworth,” producing a letter, which, after seating her, Tom proceeded to read. It was only a letter frntn friend, recommending Mrs. Burton to Mr. Wentworth as a lady in every point fitted as a competent nurse and companion for his little Bessie. ---i Topi, after a little questioning, employed her as a substitute for Mrs. Mason, who had just left, usd went off to his work whistling a merry little

ballad, which brought a smile to mo face of more than one of his friends. The time glided away very rapid)? now. Mrs. Burton was everything desirable In a nurse and housekeeper, and Bessie loved her dearly. She was quiet and sensible, her modest demeanor soon quite won Tom’s heart. "There must be some good in her, ov the little one would not love her ga.** he meditated. “So it seems that you are to be superseded, Mrs. Burton,” said a gossipy Neighbor one day to the quiet woman, who was lovingly stroking the curly head of her young charge. “In what manner?” replied Mrs. Burton. . ."■ "Why, !|r, Wentworth ihtends to marry soon. Had you not heard of it? The news is in everybody’s mouth. All the neighbors are talking about it.” “Inde«l!” And the gossip paused, quite out of breath. “Whom does Mr. Wentworth marry?” came very quietly from the little widow. “Lula Eastman, of course, and she’s a splendid little thing; a perfect beauty, too; but she is in every way fitted to be his wife, beautiful, talented and accomplished.” And the neighbor tripped off to impart her choice Information to her next friend. Oifly a week later, Tom entered the nursery quite unexpectedly, and a pretty sight met his eyes. Mrs. Burton sat on the floor, with baby Bessie on her lap. The lady’s hair had been unbound, and fell in long, rippling masses to the floor. The glasses which she generally wore in Tom’s presence were tossed aside, while the blue eyes and pretty face were full of beauty and animation. , Tom stopped short. "Clara Broadwood!” he ejaculated, when he could command himself. "How In the world did you get here?” “Mr. Wentworth, forgive me for imposing upon you, but I —oh, Mr. Wentworth, I felt as if I must see my little one again! I could not give her up, so I came here as Mrs. Burton.’’

She spoke rapidly, and Tom could hardly comprehend her. “Your liifcle one! Clara, is Bessie your child?” “Yes, Mr. Wentworth, and I have but one request to make of you. When you get married let me take Bessie. ’ I can see no other woman here as mother to my child when I have found I could not get on without her.” And the blue eyes looked so imploringly aU-him that Tom felt the old enchantment holding him once more in thrall as he looked at her. “When I get married, Clara?” he repeated, dreamily. ”1 don’t expect such a thing at present; for there is only one maiden in all the t world that I really love,” he said laughingly, "and that is my little sweetheart here,” kissing the upturned face of the little child. And if I thought I should have to give her up, I should think a long time before I took any one in her place.” The next morning, as Tom was about to go to his place of business, Clara Burton came downstairs in her traveling dress. Her eyes were red with weeping. Why, Mrs. Burton—Clara—why are you leaving me?’ he asked in astonishment. “I thought I ought to leave under the circumstances. I might stay as Mrs. Burton, but as Clara Burton, no. It is best for me to go.” “Stay, Clara, stay, and take care of your little one! She needs you—and I have found out that the old Idve Is not quite dead yet. May not Bessie be my daughter too, Clara —our little one?” “But about Lulu Eastman, Tom? Mrs. Digby said you were to marry her.” , “Confound Mrs. Digby!” said Tom, vehemently. “Lu Eastman is a nice girl, but too much of a butterfly for me. Clara, dear, forgive me, but through you I once lost faith in all women; through you It may be restored; may it not be so, darling?” “Yes, Tom; I have suffered from a fancied preference, but I can be happy now in my first and only true lover.” And so it was that the pure, guileless loye of a little child was the means of restoring Tom Wentworth’s lost faith in womankind.—Chicago Ledger.

Files at Sea.

The finding of flies and butterflies a long way out at sea is perhaps to most readers a fact not very well known. A recent traveler in the tropics relates that when thirty miles out from land a plague of flies overtook the vessel on which he was steaming. The cabin was so full of them that the beams were blackened. Common black houseflies they were for the most part, with, however, a good sprinkling of large green flies. Where they could have come from was a mystery, but they were a terlble nuisance, and, although those on board swept off hundreds in a net, their numbers were not sensibly diminished. Another singular circumstance was that, although no land was in sight, large dragon sties repeatedly flew across the ship, and a large dark butterfly was observed to (lit across in the direction of the nearest land, quite thirty miles away, without stopping to rest on the vessel at all.—London Globe. —t- —■—__ The city council of Cincinnati Is planning a subway to connect the business section of the city with' the outlying residential sections. When a human hog meets with « toancMt reverwibowtha paopie r* jolcal

Jests from the Jokesmiths

An Opportunity. Judge—Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth? Fair Witness —It will be just perfectly lovely if you really have the time to listen.—Harper’s Bazar, Comparinona Unfortunate. Teacher (to dull boy in mathematics) —You should be ashamed' of yourself. Why, at your age George Washington was a surveyor. Pupil—Yes, sir; and at your age he was President of the United States. — Boston Transcript. Alike. Auto Salesman—Business is booming. In fact, we are so rushed that we have filled our orders only up to last April. Auto Owner—l can appreciate that. At the present time I have had repairs made on my car only to the smashups of May, 1908. —Puck. Pronouncing; Sentence.

Judge (after hearing case) —How old did you say you was, Mr. Jones? “I’s jes’ past twenty-six, sir.” “Well, you’ll be just past twenty-seven when you get out of this.” A Consultation. Gladys—Well, what did Miss Dr. Cleverton say was the eause of your extreme paleness? ~ Grace—Well, she has described to me a hat and waist that will go beautifully with it. —Harper’s Bazar. A Shrewd Old Dad. “And you will give us your blessing?” asked the eloping bride, returning to the parental roof. “Freely,” replied the old man; “no trouble about the blessing, but board and lodging will be at regular rates.” — V&moti'sV ■ —“ In a Shower. “May I offer you my umbrella and my escort home?” “Many thanks; I will take the umbrella.”— Fliegende Blaetter. Where la He? “The spirit of your husband wishes to speak with you, madam.” “What does he say?” “He says that he doesn’t have to dress in a cold room!”—Bohemian. Use. “Runaway match, wasn’t it?” “Yep. But the poor fellow couldn’t rup fast enough. She caught him.” — Cleveland, Leader. In the Near Fntare. Ruth—l’m awfully frightened way up here in this airship. Paul—Worry not, Ruth. Your fears are groundless.—lllustrated Bits. Wise Precaution. He—But I tell you what it Is, Maud, if your father is at all unreasonable I shall put my back to the wall and—er —er She—And keep is there. That would be the safest position.—Answers. '■ #. ; Faroe Xeded. Youngwed—l always crack up my wife’s biscuits. , Mr. Bachelor —Heavens! Are they as hard as that? —Boston Transcript. Scriptural Precedent. Jonah stepped ashore. “I left my records in the whale,” he observed. “Anybody who wants to see them can go after them.” • It was noticed that none questioned his exploit.—New York Sun.

For the Kitty. Mrs. A. (away from home) —John, did you leave out anything for the cat before you started? : • __ Mr. A. (who dislikes the beast) — Yes, I left a can of condensed milk On the table, with the can opener beside it.—Human Life. » Natural Death. John—What doctor attended your aunt in her last illness? James—None. She died a natural death. —Harvard Lampoon. Offset. j *T must warn you, deavest,” ho said, “that after, we are married you will very likely find me inclined to be arbitrary and dictatorial in my man“No matter,” she replied, cheerfuli“l woa’Upaytho slightest attention to what you say.”—Preabyteria* standard.

The Third End. A lad turned up at the docks one day and asked a skipper for a job. “I’ll test ye with something difficult,” said the captain, and, x picking up a piece of rope, he exclaimed; “Find me three ends to that.” The lad found the usual two and lljen rolled the rope up and threw it overboard, with the remark; ■ “And .there’s an end to yer rope. That’s the third.” And the skipper gave him a job.— London Daily News. A Diagnosis. "How’s yer ’usband after the accident, Mrs. Ginnerty?” v "Faith sumtoimes he’s betther an’ sumtoimes he’s wurse, but from the way he yils an’ takes on when he’s betther, Oi thing he’s betther whin he’s wurse.”—Exchange. A General Uselessness. “Speaking of Dr. Cook,” said the man who is always endeavoring to make conversation “I didn’t speak of Dr. Cook,” rejoined the surly citizen. “I haven’t any use for Cook.” “Well, then, Peary ” “I haven’t any use for Peary, either.” “But the north pole ” "I have studied the needs of myself and the public. I haven’t any use for the north pole.”—Washington Star. rr-.- Doing Hi*! Best to Prepare. “I want the most daring and reckless chauffeur you have.” “Yes, sir.” “One who’ll run over anybody and speed away with a laugh.” “Yes, sir. Are you going to enter a race?” “Not much. I want him to come out home with me and tell the cook she has to leave.”—St. Louis Star. They Win. “Do you look for a favorable outcome to your lawsuit? 11 — "No, but the lawyers do.” —Houston Post. Why She Kicked. “My husband and I had an awful quarrel yesterday.” “How sad! What was it about?”! - “I found a letter in his ppcket written by a woman,” ■ “Mercy! I don’t wonder you were angry!” “I should say so. Why, I had given it to him to mail ten days before!”— Clevelahd Leader. No, Indeed. “I call that new maid of your wife’s mighty pretty, don’t you?” “Not while my wife is around.”— Houston Post. He Will Learn.

“Why, Willy, I t’ought you said dat was your dorg?” “Aw, he is—but de old fool don’t know it yet.” Candid. An alien wanted to be naturalized and was required to fill out a blank. The first three lines of the blank had the following questions: “Name?” “Born?” and “Business?" He answered: “Name—Michael Levinsky.” “BornYes.” “Business —Rotten.”—Saturday Evening Post. * Properly Assigned. Director—Our work is so divided that each of our men has the work he is best fitted for. Jenks is treasurer, Smith secretary, and Brown is “But Brown is as deaf as a post!” “And Brown has all the complaints referred to him.”—Tit-Bits. A • Hard One. Wise —You promised that if I .would marry you my every wish would be gratified. Husband—Well, isn’t it? Wife—No; I wish I hadn’t married you. Talcing;‘Up Hla oiler. Man —Well, it’s just this way. If I buy you a new coat I’ll have to wear my old om another season. Wife—You sweet, generous’jthing, you! ' .•> The Teat. She —Why do you look so worried? Yen need not doubt sae. My love is a* strong as a rock? —— I H6—Yes, but how about this chair? —Pages Follea. '

EARLIEST FARMING CENTERS.

Day of Harvest in Habylonia, When All Debt* Were Paid. In the wonderful restoration of the ancient past which has resulted from the work of the explorer in the East nothing is more astonishing than the knowledge we have gained of the social life, manners customs of the undent inhabitants of Egypt, Babylonia and other Eastern centers of civilization. 'ln this respect the discoveries in Babylonia have been far more enlightening than any others, for in that land education was more general, extending to the lower grades of the community, and the literary tendency of the people leading them to have a written record for any event supplies us with a mass of details of the affairs of daily life-far more vivid than in the case of any other people of antiquity. Babylonia was the garden of the ancient East, as later tradition made it the site of the “Garden of Eden.” and the ancient Sumerian population was the earliest organized community of agriculturists of whom we have record, says W. St. Chad Boscawen in the London Globe. The nature of the soil, a deep alluvial, made it a land of the richest kind for the agriculturist, and nature needed but little assistance at the hand of man to bring forth her richest and best to supply his wants. Although not the indigenous home of wheat, that being undoubtedly the slopes of the mountain of Luristan and the plain of Elam, where settlements of prehistoric harvesters have been found, it soon became the cornfield par excellence of western Asia, and in later times the granary of the Persian empire. The early Sumerian settlers brought with them from the home land on the east of the Tigris the first elements of agriculture and soon the plains of lower Chaldea became covered with corn fields. One of the oldest inscriptions we possess, that of Manishtu-su, king of Kish, which must date back te about B. C. 4000, if not earlier, is a purely agricultural record and shows that the principles of agriculture were already developed and systematized. The value of land was estimated on corn valuation, and the rights of landlord and the tenant were clearly defined. Moreover, the ancient records shows that the palentlar of those early inhabitants of Chaldea was agricultural and started from the autumnal equinox—the period of the “greater harvest.” In Babylonia thefood problem dominated all the affairs of life. In remote prehistoric times man had been the pensioner of nature, dependent on the supplies she granted him, but now man by his invention of agricultural implements had conquered nature and by his assistance rendered her far more lavish, in according him supplies for his wants. The extreme fertility of the Chaldean plain soon made it the corn producing center of the whole of western Asia, and as her food was the equivalent of money it soon became the predominant partner in the world of commerce. As a result of the old primitive barter system payments in kind ruled instead of cash payments and corn became money. Surplus supplies of corn or other foodstuffs became income or capital and could minister to the luxury of the successful agriculturist. With the rise of the village community and later the city kingdom this increase of wealth became a source of revenue on which the heads of the community could draw for communal wants, and in this manner there grew up the first and greatest system of revenue ever found in ancient oriental lands. Ancient Babylonia possessed one feature in which it closely resembled our own country in the middle ages, the bulk of the property was in religious hands. That is, the various districts into which the land was divided were each the fief of the province god. The tables from Tel-lo show that all that district was the fief of the god Nin-glr-su; of Nippur, the fief of Entil or the elder "Bel”; of Sippara, the sun god, and all the revenues were collected by the temple officials and paid into the temple treasury and classed as “the wealth or property of the god.” There were many villages and small towns in the fief of the province gods, and their revenues were collected by resident collectors and either remitted to the head city or stored in the local storehouse, and a very careful account of them sent to headquarters. AH the dues were collected at one time, on “the day of harvest." When the harvest time came it was indeed a time of business pressure, the culmination of the year, the great day of reckoning. /The deeds which have been recovered from the treasures of the Babylonian temples amply prove this. Everything became due on the day of harvest. Thus a loan tablet from Nippur says: “Five and a half shekels, which X borrowed from the sun god to the sun god he shall pay back with the interest on the day of harvest)” All small tradesmen were paid at harvest, and among them the obliging publican, who had given credit for beer during the previous months to his customers. All wages were paid at harvest time. When it comes to jealousy and crowing a man can pat it ail over a rooar,aar.: Flatter/a man If you want him to have Implicit faith In your Judgment.