Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1887 — Page 2

THE USTDIANAPOIiIS JOURKAXs. SUNDAY", JANUABTT 2, 18$ 7 TWELVE PAGES.

rrinled by Special Arrangement Copyrighted 1SS7.3

ANTOINE MORELLI A Tale of Other Days. mr ciinisTornER ix. r. epwouth. And this was what I read io the yellow and time-worn manuscript, which rustled like dead leaves in my hand: '"The moonlight was falling on the path that led up to the door of my new home, when I alighted from my horse at the fate, and looked around me. It was a small, dark cottage, with a plantation of fir trses behind it, and four crossToads meeting just in front. At the junction of these roads a stone cross was planted, which had evidently been standing for many years, as it was overcrown with moss and lichen, and on one of the arms a robin had built her nest." I looked up in astonishment. The house of which the writer spoke was my temporary borne and there, just beyond the gate, were the four cross roads, the stone cross, and some remains of the robin's neat still swineing in the breeze! What did it mean? "Some strange fancies took possession of mr mind as I gazed around and noted this peculiarity in the landscape. At the crossing of four roads, I had always been told in my childhood, it was customary to bury the criminals who had suffered the full rigor of the law. It teemed that I could imagine, far down beneath that cros?, he form of a dead man, with a stake thrust through his heart. When I leaned over the pate, and saw a long and narrow mound at its foot, I was certain that it was bo, although, at the same time, common sense taught me to the contrary, and made me smile at my folly." I laid down the paper and looked out at the stone cross. The daisies were growing thickly all around it, but at its foot they seemed springing from a trench their heads were lower than thofe around them. I went out boldiy for the afternoon sun was shining in the sky and gathered some from each place. The stems were ilike in length. This irregularity, therefore, nust proceed from some other cause and that, nhe Kinking of the grave where the felon was " -buried. I shuddered as I thought of him then with the stake driven through his heart I came baric and began to read again. ' "But 1 was not to b driven from my purpose by a grave. I had entered that solitude in search of peaco and in the low-roofed cottage before it might be found. I unfaeted the gate, wonderirg, us I did so, whose fingers had touched it last, and went up through the tall grass to the ". house. The door was fastened with a rusty padlock, of which I had the key. It creaked dis- . uinlly as I entered, and the threshold, sloping suddenly downward, sent me headlong into the room.. A thousand echoes sounded through the old house as I fell uton one knee. 'When the noise and dust had subsided, I struck a match, lighted a small pocket taper which I carried with me, and looked around. The room in which I Mood was large and gloomy. The walls were paneled and painted a dark green: the casements were shattered; the floor loose and creaking beneath ray step, and the air full of floating cob-webs that hung from the walls and ceilings, swaying about with every breath of wind. Several large rata ran across the floor as I stood there; a great toad sat close in the corner blinking at the light, and a fat, bloated spider , fell from the ceiling upon my coat. I brushed him off, with a shudder, and passed into the next room. I looked over my shoulder. Yes, the writer ' had described the room faithfully. It was the same now, though the rats and the toad were gone, and the spider's web had been brushed away. Bat in the inner room the room which I had chosen as my favorite nook fer reading and study what would he discover there? "It was much smaller than the other lighter and more cheerful. Through the broken casements came the perfume of the red rose3 which grew outside, and the moonlight fell in .broken patches on the floor. This room was also paneled, bat it was painted prettily some 1 light delicate tint, that was more like dovecolor than anything else I can call to mind, while the floor looked like clean green marble. , Jn this room I found the few articles of furniture which Ifbad ordered a table, some chairs, a stove, a book-case, and my writing desk. I flung myself dawn in an easy chair that stood beside the window, and inhaled the fragrance of the roses while J surveyed my new domain. "Suddenly my eyes chanced upon an object which made me start and sit upright in my chair. My little taper was burning on the table opposite me, and above it right above it a face seemed growing out of the panel to confront me. A dark, swarthy Italian face, with long, snaky locks of black hair falling around the hollow - cheeks, with piercing, evil black eyes, that seemed . to look me through and through. A dull red ; glow seemed to pervade the whole face, as if fire whs kindled behind it and through the line, half-parted in a sardonic smile, I saw the gleam of white, wolfish teeth, sharp and regular. "For a moment I sat motionless, and heard tfty own heart beat Then 1 mustered courage . to take up the lamp and gaze at the thing still Bearer. Pshaw! It was only a picture, painted on the panel, and the dull red glow was owing to some strange fancy of the ertist. He had made the background both lurid and murky, and the pale face stood out from it in bold relief. I sighed a sigh of ineffable relief when I found what it really was, and went out to care for my horse, which began to neigh and stamp im- ' patiently. I saw him safely bestowed for the night, and, coming back, found my own small cot placed in a bed-room whieh opened out of that which contained the picture, and which I dignified with the name of study. "It was not late when I extinguished ray ' taper and laid down to eleep but the moon had mounted high in the heavens before I had closed ray eyes. I bad never thought myself a fanciful or imaginative man; my nerves, 1 had Always supposed, were proof against all danger, seen or unseen yet some strange presentiment haunted me, and that face was close beside me all the time. To me it seemed as the face of a fiend. ( "I do not know that I should have slept till daybreak had it not been for a neigh from my horse, wbieh always seemed restless. Strange as it may seem, that soothed me with a sense of companionship and safety and I found the repose I so much needed." The picture of the Italian face had never been removed from the panel on which it was painted. . I got up from my seat in the open door (for as the story progressed I dared not read it in the boose), and went in to look at it' Many a time had it startled me, but never so much as then. 'A new expression seemed stamped upon the face the lurid glow deepened and" darkened, and the thin lips smiled more sardonioally than ever. I remember thinking, as I stood there, that it only needed a pair of horns projecting beneath that tangled black bairandadeep furrow upon the brow, as if a hot iron had been across it, to make a faithful picture of the arch-enemy, of that fallen angel who was cast out from heaven, and whose haughty soul even the tortures of hades could scarcely hold in check. I dared not look at it long, but went back to the open door, where the sunshine and the blue sky and the happy songs of birds seemed in a measure to keep me company. And the manuscript went on: "My forebodings had all vanished when I woke the next morning and found the sun shining gloriously into my room. Through the day I had no leisure to think of mysteries, so busy was I in getting my little household into order. By nightfall all was settled as it should be, and .having visited my good steed and given him his supper, his nightly bit of sugar, and his good 'night caress, I closed the gate of the little yard behind me, and set off for a walk. t "The moon was up it was a glorious night. I could have read the finest print by the clar open light. I passed along the grass grown road, with tny hands clasped behind me, and my head bent upon ray breast, singing a song I had heard in foreign lands, io my youth. Now and then I fancied that I heard a step behind me, and a voice joining with mine in the song, but when I looked around I was always alone. "The road led me up a green hill crowned with map!, while the highway ran around its )ase, with broad, swift river flawing just be

side it I paused upon the summit to hear the murmur of the water. Before me I saw a grassgrown tomb, whose iron door seemed to have been closed for centuries, while just beyond the white stones of a churchyard were sleeping peacefully in the moonbeams." Well did I know that quiet place. Often, during the long hours of a summer's afternoon had I lingered there among the mossy headstones, gazing down upon the road and river below, twining the roses that grew wild within the inclosures, or reading some favorite book as I sat close withing the shelter of the old wall. But at night I always avoided it it wag a lonely spot "I leaned over the crumbling wall," this strange man went on to say, "and mused silently over the sleepers who were resting there. How was it with them now? IJow was it with those whom I had -loved and lost? Did they remember me in their new home? Had they one thought of him to whom their very memory was a torture, so deeply had he mourned their loss? "While I asked myself these questions I heard a step behind me. Turning quickly around, I saw a tall man, dressed in black, coming toward me. The door of the tomb was open had he come from there? "He greeted me with easy familiarity, but

there was something so unearthly in bis aspect that I could not answer him. His face was pale and thin, his hair long and black, and hanging upon his shoulders in neglected masses, his eyes blactc, gloomy and terrible. I thought of the mysterious picture in my 6tudy. Feature by featnre it was reproduced here before me, " 'You may well be startled,' he said, with a careless laugh. 'I come from a suspicious locality, but make yourself easy. Though I have just emerged from the tomb, I do not always dwell there. Do you still hesitate? There is a hand of flesh and blood for you will you take it?' "He stretched out a white, thin and bloodless hand. A diamond ring of great luster sparkled on one of the fingers. Ashamed of my momentary weakness, 1 took it in mine, but dropped it the next moment with a shudder. It was as cold as ice. "He smiled sarcastically. " 'The air of that underground chamber yonder is famous for cooling the blood, I believe, 'But who are you? How came you there?' I stammered. 'The door looked to me as if it never could be opened.' "The easiest thing in the world, he said, carelessly. 'If you will step inside with me you will sefe why I am there.' "It was a mad idea, but the strange adventure thrilled me with a kind of pleasure. " 'Lead on. I will follow you,' I said. "We went down two narrow, moss-grown steps, and stood within the entrance of the tomb. In the vault beyond a fire was burning beneath a crucible, and several old and worm-eaten manuscripts were thrown carelessly around. A child's coffin was standing beside the fire, but it was empty, and only used as a seat Far back, in the distance, I could see the moist earth on the sides of the tomb, glisten in the dull light of the dying fire, like countless eyes that were watching me. "My strange companion left me standing beside the door, and going forward, took the crucible from the fire. He shook it, looted earnestly into it, poured a moulton mass from it into a broad ewer that stood near by, and stirred the liquid metal with a small rod of iron. "'It is in vain. I have failed again,' I heard him mutter, and then the rod fell from his hands, and he sat down, listless and despondent, on the little coffin. " 'You are an alchemist,' I said, suddeuly, thinking I had found tho clue to hiB choice of so strange a retreat. 'Yes,' he answered, looking up at me with interest 'For fifty years I have been seeking for that which shall turn ail things to gold and I have never found it yet But never mind, the day must come, must come and will' "He rose from his seat, raked the hot ashes over the still glowing coals, put crucible and ewer carefully away, and led me out of the vault. With one push of hia seemingly fragile hand he set the iron door of the tomb in its socket and fastened it. It still looked as if years had gone by since it had been opened. " 'You have great strength,' I said, admiringly. ' And it has been employed in a good cause,' he answered, with a hard laugh. "He fastened the last bolt, and turned away, saying: '"All is safe till I come again. No one will ever think of looking there for any tidings of me.' "Side by side we took our way down the hill, and over the lonely grafs-grown road. We did not speak till we reached the gate of my cottage yard. Then he paused and leaned over the fence a moment. " 'You have a pleasant home,' he said, looking at the window where the taper was burning, in readiness for my return. " 'I like it, such as it is. But it is late will you not rest beneath my roof to-night?" 44 'No, no; my way lies yonder,' he said, pointing by the old stone cross. " 'It is a lonely road.' " 'It is. And strange stories are told of this house sometimes. Years ago, when you were a boy, a man was hung in the town yonder, and he pointed over the hill. He lived in this house once, and, would you believe it? the fools will have it that he is buried here where the crossroads meet But you and I know better.' "He laughed a horrid laugh, and hia eyes shown green and baneful as he turned them on me. ".'Yes, we know better,' I answered, quietly, though my very blood seemed chilled within me. "He wrung my hand in his cold fingers, muttered a hasty good-night, and strode away. I hurried along the path that led to the door. The rusty lock delayed me a moment, and when I bad opened the door and turned to look after him, he had gone! The moon shone clear and bright on road, and tree, and hill, but of him there was no sign. I laid down that night with an unquiet heart "Mystery was around me. Which ever way I turned my steps something puzzled, and perplexed and Launted me. The old house itself, which I bad thought so quiet, was full of sounds. As I sat in my study, absorbed ia a favorite book, I could hear steps upon the loose boards of the upper floor, or dismal knocks from the cellar, as if some one was nailing a coffin there. Into these regions I bad never penetrated. I had no use for them, and had hardiy deemed them worth my notice. But now that the low whisperings, which I had at first attributed to the winds, became audible even whenever the winds were hushed; now that I could distinctly hear something lift the latch of my bedroom door and step around the room, though at the same time my straining eyes could discern nothing in the gloom, I thought it best to search out everything and know what I had about me. "While I was preparing matches, tapers and some other necessaries, on the morning 1 had devoted to the investigation, a quick knock came at the door. I opened it half fearing my ghostly friend, the image of the picture, would stand before me. But no. In his place was a stout, ruddy, hale old man the proprietor of the place, who had come to Bee how. I liked my new quar ters. 1 welcomed him gladly, tie was a stern, matter-of-fact, practical old fellow. In his presence I could be calm, and quiet, and cool. There was nothing about him to bewilder and mystify me, but much to make me more like myself than I had been for days before. "I told him what I was about to da He eyed me shrewdly, took up a basket and shovel near him, and opened the door of the cellar. I knew, then, by his manner, that it was not all fancy, that there was some actual foundation for the sounds I had heard? "We went down thedarkanderumbling stairs. The faint gleam of the taper failed to light the gloomy eavern in which we found ourselves, and we sat down at the foot of the steps, till our eyes became accustomed to the faint light " 'You have heard something here that sends you down on this search, I take it said Mr. Moorhouse, as he poked the moist earth up with his cane. "I have. And something which I do not intend to hear again, unless I know the reason of it' UA low muffled knock came on the wall beside us. as I spoke. " 'Lord save us. Is that ilf exclaimed Moorhouse, starting. ' 'Something like it, I believe.' "We sat in silence for a time, but nothing more came. 'Who used to live here, long agof I asked at last 'One Both well, I believe.' " 'And before him?' "Moorhouse hesitated a moment, and then answered frankly: " 'My lad, I'll noC deceive thee. Years ago, when I was but a boy, the house was tenanted by Morelli Aotoine Morelli who was hung at last, and rightly he deserve vf lie was a queer

knave, and nsed to potter by the hour over akind of kettle, thinking he was going to find gold at the bottom. At last he murdered a man here, in this very house don't start so, man was tried.

condemned, hung, and lies buried on t'other side of the fence, under the atone cross. Now yoa have the whole story.' " 'Not quite, I answered, turning sick and faint 'He walks.' " "A deep, sepulchral voice seemed to echo the words, at my elbow, and Mr. Moorhouse fairly bounded in his seat ' 'Did you hear that lad? I bejieveln myxery bouI he is here, close beside me, at this very moment' "I could see better, now, and the old man's ruddy face had grown white. 'Moorhouse,' said, calmly, I shall never stay another night in this house. Yet, we won't be frightened away from this just yet' 'No. we won't;' and, summoninghis American courage to his aid, be wiped his forehead with hia h andkerchief and planted his feet doggedly against the 6tep on which we were sitting. " 'The other night, I continued, if ever I saw living man, I saw Antome Morelli and conversed with him, too.' "'Eh? What? " 'He came from an old tomb up on the hillside. I followed bim into it, and there were his crucible, his books, his divining-rod. "Lad! Lad!' ejaculated the old farmer, growing still paler, 'you are describing what wa in the old tomb thirty years ago. But it has never been there since. I have seen it empty wita my own eye3, and the door was nailed fast to the rock. "It is strange how often, when we are hearing a frightful story, some chance word may startle us, even when the tale has failed to do so. Wrhat ne said about the nails struck a cold chill to my very heart ." Nevertheless,' I persisted, 'I saw it all on that night And the man who was with me opened and shut that heavy door as if it had been a wicker gate.' " 'Describe him.' "'Go and look at the head which is painted on the wall in the room above ua.' ' 'Does it look hke himT " 'It is a perfect picture.' "'Then you have seen htm,' he said, with startling emphasis, 'for he painted it himself, before he died And do you know,' he added, sinking his voice into a low whisper, 'time and again we have tried to wash the painted image off, but it sticks lite blood, and will have to 6tay there till the end of time, unless something stronger than soap and sand is discovered?' " 'But why does he not rest, now he is in his grave?' I asked. '"Satan only knows. It may be, though Moorhouse mused a moment, and then turned and faced me. My lad, I have beard it said that more than one murder has been committed here by him. In the darkest corner of the cellar yonder I have seen a pile of earth that does not look just right Shall we see what is theref " 41 will go with you. I answered. Only a few nights before I had followed a dead man into a tomb I was not likely to fail a living one now. "As we set foot in the corner, the low. omin ous knocking, which I had so often heard while sitting upstairs, commenced on all sides-of us, but we would not turn back. " 'Through my life 1 have neither feared man nor devil. said Moorhouse, stoutly, 'and it shall not be said that I fled now.' " "He struct the spade into the earth. A hollow groan echoed through the cellar, and he started back. " I thought just then I had cut into a man's heart,' he said in a trembling voice. 'Did I tell you that Morelli was buried with a stake through hisf " 'No, but I guessed as much. Give me the spade. "I snatched it from him, thrust the lamp into his hand, and, setting ray teeth, labored with desperate energy. Sights and sounds were not wanting around ua Now a pale gleam of light would plav around us, then all would be dark as night, but for the starry flame of our lamp. We could.hear a sigh, a mocking laugh, or a strain of sweet and sad music close beside us, but we took no notice. With might and main I labored on, till the sweat stood in great drops upon my forehead. "Suddenly my spade struek upon something hard, and we both bent eagerly down to look. A square box, imbedded in the earth, was beneath us. It took some time to loosen it. but when we once had firm hold, it came up easily and lightly. We placed the lamp upon it, and leaving the spade behind us. went towards the stairs. A cold wind rushed through the 'rjace as we reached their foot, and extingriiedthe lamp. At the same time, I was conscious of some invisible thing pressing against the box, and trying to force us and it back again. " 'Don't yield, now,' I cried to Moorhouse, who was breathing hard and heavily. 'We must go on now.' "'You're right, my lad; go on,' he answered. sturdily, and l am afraid 1 beard him swearing in his perplexity. "We pushed our way, by main strength, through the darkness to the head of the stairs. When the door flew open and the broad light of day shone in upon us, that strange , resistance ceased of a sudden, and we bore our burden into the other room, without any further opposition. "'Thank God,' said Moorehonse. sinking into my easy chair and fanning himself. 'I never expected to get through with that alive. L.ad, we have been fighting with the fiends this morning, I believe. Pour me out a glass of wine from yonder decanter, before we try to open this box.' 4 "I did as I was desired, and quaffed a generous bumper myself. Indeed, we both needed it after our fright and peril. " 'Now, I am strouger,' was his next remark. 'Give me an ax.' "I brought him one. He poised it in his hand, glanced once at the Italian's picture, and brought it down with a heavy blow that broke the lid of the box into fifty pieces. "I caught one glimpse of the body of a man, but when the ax touched it, it crumbled in to dust and was as nothing. Only some laddering bones, a tress or two of dark brown hair, and the blade of a dagger remained to tell of one who had been hurried by violence into an untimely grave. " 'Close the box again and wa will bury him,' said Moorhouse, after he had looked at him a moment "The lid was split and hacked in all directions, but I found another in a little shed beyond the barn, and we nailed it down securely over the last witness of Antoine Morelli's crime. Lifting the box we found a shady place just beside the door. We dug a grave and laid him. there, and a wild rose bush, growing near, we transplanted and trained to cover his last home with grace and beauty. "This sad duty done, we knew that we could no longer remain there. Moorhouse helped me bring out the few articles of furniture I had hired of him and put them outside the gate, till he could send for them. I took a last look at the rooms wnere l nan nopeo to a well for many days; I scanned the dark face of the murderer for the last time, and then we came out and locked the cottage door behind us. I brought my horse around and fastened him. beside the gate. "Moorhouse went with me and stood by Morelli's grave. " 'It is to be hoped he will rest now,' he said, emphatically. 'But you, lad. Whither will you wend? Why not come andetay a while with me? My house is large enough to hold another. Yon had best come.' "I shook my head. " 'No, I must be alone. I shall find a place yet, I believe, where man has done no violence.' " 'And we part here forever?' " 'I suppose so.' " 'Your way lies over the mountains? " 'Yea' " 'If I were younger and stronger I believe I should go with you. But as it is, I can only say God bless thee, lad, and good-bye.' " 'Good-bye, sir.' "We shoos: hands warmly. He patted my horse kindly as he passed him, and took his way down through the valley where he lived. I gazed upon him till be was out of sight, and then mounted my hocse. . "I looked back at the cottage as I rode away, and I could have sworn that the face of Antoine Morelli was watching me from the window. It might have been a fancy but it does not matter since the cottage is empty now." The paper fell from my trembling hands. "But it does matter it must matter," I s&id to myself. "For I am here, and for days and weeks I have been walking over graves without know ing it" ' I looked toward the cottage. There were many things inside belonging to me. These could be brought away by a servant for, of eourse, after what ? had read I could never thick of living there any longer. Bat my gypsy-

hat, my scarf, my gloves, these were necessary articles, and in the inner room. "I will not be a fool," I said, to myself, and walked bravely in after them. In spite of myself I took one last look at Morelli's face, as I snatched my hat and scarf from their nails and my gloves from the table. It seemed to work and change; and as I gazed the outer door swung to with a heavy clang. A heavy, wind rushed through the room; voices and footsteps seemed all around me, and I fled, like a coward, with my heart beating fast, and my legs weakening beneath me. I could scarcely open the outer door with my trembling hands, nor did strength and courage return with the first long draught of fresh air. A stealthy footstep seemed stealing behind me. I could hear the creaking of the floor, and as 1 hurriedly locked the outer door I fancied I saw the pale, dark face looking through the window, and a dead man's hand parting the branches of the thornless rose, that a dead man's eyes might look upon me. The stone cross rose, dark and gloomy in the advancing twilight, and the daisies upon the murderer's grave bowed their white heads to the ground as a night wind went sweeping by. I stood but a moment there; heart and sense were failing me alike, and I fled, like a deer, along the road that led to the town. The cottage is moldering away, peacemeal. Sometimes I pass it in my daily drives, but it is always empty. No one is foolhardy enough to live there now.

HEADING F0T? THE DAY. International Sunday-School Lesson FIBST QUARTER JAN. 9, 1887. Lesson II. Sin and Death. Gen. iii, 1-6, 17-19. Golden Test. By oae man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. Rom. v, 12. Man was made, and then Eden to be his home. We do not know where Eden was, as does our respected Dr. Warren, but our ignorance does not grieve us, inasmuch as so many are correspondingly benighted, and knowledge here so inconsequential. As to the time, too, when all this occurred, we are by no means certain. The margin of our Bible, Ussher's chronology, says it was B. C. 4004, and who is ready to gainsay or establish the correctness of the data? How long Adam and Eve remained guileless in Eden it would be pleasant to know, but it is unrevealed. It is certain that Eden waB not an abode of sinless perfection for any great length of time. Adam's first child was born after Eden't primeval purity had been blasted. I love to read this simple, strong, beautiful story of creation, temptation, sin, and covenanted redemption. Most of it is true, necessarily. I have no doubt it is a genuine historic recital, like those of Moses, David, Nehemiah and Paul. . Eden was a large district of country, and the garden in Eden, or the garden eastward in Eden, a choice circumscribed area or park in that paradisiacal region. To us the locality of paradise is lost Eden was, we may suppose, the district of country comprising the valleys of the Euphrates and the Tigris, This seems to be measurably certain, all else conjecture. Space forbids the introduction of any proofs or illustrations. Eden was an Asiatic, not polar locality. THE LESSON PRACTICALLY APPLIED. V. 1 When Satan tempts he always selects his most adroit instrumentality. We ought to be evermore on the look out for these skillful and unscrupulous emissaries of Satan. They seem, however, bent on our welfare. V. 2, 3 The woman here did as Jesus Christ, our example, did when he was tempted by the same devil 4,000 years thereafter; she quoted to him God's word, but unfortunately she left out the best part of that word. V- 3 The fruit of that tree, though inviting to the eye, may have been a deadly poison. This may have moved God to pass this explicit prohibitory ordinance. Then discipline had o begin somewhere and with someone. No one could be free until he bad a chance to fall. V. 3. God would have his children well ac quainted with both good and evil, but in different ways. He would have us know the good by experience, and the evil only by observation; the good inside, and the evil outside. V. 4. Temptation is a lie. It is always an offer that cannot be made good. The devil here ERE again, kind And wish to all

vV ND coming thus, not alone with words, our welcome all to show, We invite you now, as heretofore, to the list which appears below.

RESENTS we had for Christmas days, and now for glad New Year We offer a line of provisions cheap, from an apple to a steer. ICKLES, Pepper, Pitted Plums, Peaches, Prunes and other things in plenty, And save on every article you buy a per cent, not less than twenty.

i ;

YES, Ave have Sugar, Starch, Syrup and "sich," until you cannot rest, And everything we have for sale is always the very best.

NUTS to crack, nice And if we tried to E

GGS and Butter, choice and sweet, and Chicks and

Abundant as the

A TE always lead, as you must know, in the line of " V y Until our rivals wish we were in a place as hot

V7"0U know where, and wVll not say; but wre do not mean to go, u Because our trade is going up and is always on the grow. EGGSACTLYso, dear friends; wrefre much obliged for your kind consideration. J We mean to stay as long as we can in this glorious Yankee nation. ND don't forget, when you behold this kindly, happy greeting, We wish to you a glad new year, with joy that it is not fleeting.

EST, peace and happiness- may jtlmy ever be in

Until at last they

M.

M.

ISTos. 5T and 59 "West "Washington St., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GROCER.

accuses the Creator of lying, when God cannot liend when lying is the devil's own peculiar characteristic. Eve listened to ill of Satan's slander of her Lord. V. 5t A great many are successfully tempted by touching their pride, and by intimating that someone is, or is apt to be, jealous of them. God, had denied Eve this fruit, the devil told her, because he was afraid that if she ate it she would be like him. V. 6 Trust God's word rather than your own observations. Our senses may deceive us. Go Va word never. Never partake of anything ainiply bscause it has an inviting exterior. Remember, Satan's assurance is valueless. V. G. Eve sinned as a matter of personal choice. She obeyed the devil rather than her kind Creator. As soon as she fell, she sought company in her transgression. She tempted Adam, and he, to please her, also f elL V. 17. Not only the constitution of the human soul, but also that of the earth, was changed by man's sin. When the lord of creation, man, wrecked his soul by sin. all subordinate nature felt the shock. We fail to fully estimate the sinfulness of sin. V. 18. "What shall I get to eat and how can I get it?" is now the -practical problem of the race. Human society is now one prodigious struggle for bread,' drink and raiment This was not the Creator's original intention. V. 19. Meu die because of sin. Sinlessness

would have insured physical immortality to mankind. Not necessarily upon this particular sphere, bnt in the body here and elsewhere to which men might have been borne by translation. HEART TRUTHS. 1. "That old serpent the deviL" The first tempter is the constant tempter. He has lost none of his cunning or malice. He is a liar always. Shun the serpent if you would not be deceived. 2. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Parley with him and you tire lost Compromise is his vantage ground id ways. Spurn his offers; resist his endeavors; he fears nothing so much as a determined front m 3. Not all knowledge is wisdom. It is possible to pay too dearly for the whistle. Some things better be unknown by experience: There is no profit in vice. Sainthood is never made any better by previous vice. Devils do not make the best angels. 4. Every sinner becomes a tempter. His example is a temptation. He solicits others to justify himself. When the devil won Eve he conquered the race. The ruin of one means sorrow to many. The devil makes demona of all his victims. Religious Notes. The- are 1.071 Young Men's Christian Associations in the United States. A holy act stregthens the inward holiness. It is a seed of life growing into more life. Robertson. There are twenty-three Welsh Congregational churches in New York and fifty-four in Pennsylvania, where the preaching is mostly or entirely in the Welsh language. Dr. Kittredge is succeeding well in his new charge, the Madison-avenue Reformed Church. There have been added 105 members to its roll during the four months of his labors as pastor. The Queen will withdraw from public whrship in Crathie Church as soon as the new chapel at Balmoral Castle is ready for use. This will be the only private chapel for Presbyterian worship in Scotland. The Rev. Alexander Mackay-Sraith, of St Thomas's Church, has, it is announced, finally concluded that he must decline the office of assistant bishop of Kansas, to which he was elected by the late diocesan convention. It is said that General Booth, of the Salvation Army, controls twenty-two religious newspapers, which are published in seven different languages, have an aggregate circulation of 500,000 copies and yield a net income of $200,000. Over a thousand converts have been made during the past few months by the Rev. Henry Richards and his wife, missionaries connected with the American Baptist Missionary Union, at Banza Marteke, in the Congo valley, A bequest has been placed at the disposal of the Free Church of Scotland which will enable it to maintain another missionary in Palestine. At present that church has a medical missionary at Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee; and what is now contemplated is to send out from home a friends, we greet you with the who read these lines a very glad

things to eat all but nuggets of gold give the list the half could not be told.

rain and fresh as morning dew. reach that place wrhere sorrow

WILLIAM

minister to join him, and the Rev. Dr. H&i Wilson, of Edinburgh, ia now looking out for suitable man.

iue uenerai oi ins uesuus, in a report leteiir t ly issued, states -that this order is now 359 years old, has furnished 248 saints, l,o00 mar tyrs, 13 popes, CO cardinals, 4,000 archbishops, 6,000 authors, and now numbers 2,500 missionaries. France. Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal 1 have together a population of 90,000.000, of whom only 680,000 are Protestants. In France alone there are 630,000 Protestants; in Belgium, 15,000; in Italy, 14,000; in Spain, 30,000, and in Portugal. 500. There are in New York city 293 evangelical pastors, distributed among the denominations as follows: Baptist, 31; Congregational, 6; Lu-. theran, 22: Methodist, 53; Moravian, 2; Presbyterian, 64: Episcopalian, 74; Reformed Episcopal, 1; Reformed (Dutch), 26, and Independent, 11. Sleeted by His Own Vote, , .t MonttcellofFla.) t'onititution. "iT 'It is said that when Senator Jones, of Florida, was elected to the United States Senate, in 1876, he was a member of the Legislature, and voted for himself. The funny part of the business is that his vote was necessary to effect the election, and he thus practically elected himself. "When Jones saw that his vote was necessary to a choice, he drew himself up to his full height and, looking severely at the presiding officer, said: 'In the name and by the command of tha 3.000 Democrats of Escambia county, I cast my vote for Charles W. Jones.' The assembly burst into uproarious laughter and applause. Jones had the balance of power, and used it with conscientious regard for the public welfare and his own." The Pensacola Advance-Gazette, finding tha foregoing floating through the press, deems it necessary, for the truth of history, to publish the true history of the first election of Charles W. Jones. Mr. John J. McGuire, who was Mr. Jones's confrere in the Assembly of 1876, was in r terviewed. From him it is learned that during the bal ing for United States Senator. Mr. Jones ha. voted blank on one ballot and would have done so again, but Mr. McGuire, who sat near, said; "You are the representative of the Democracy of Escambia county and of west Florida, and you have no right to throw your vote away; there is a chance to elect you as a Democratic Senator, and I demand, in the name of our constituency, that you cast your vote for CL W. Jones, without regard to personal or private feelings," and thereupon Mr. Jones did vote for himself, and upon that ballot was elected, though not by his own vote, for it was found that, after all the votes were counted, he had several to spare; hut oi this Dir. jucuuire was not certain at the start, and when the "J's" were reached ha insisted on Mr. Jones voting for himself rather than run the risk of a Republican being elected) and this is the whole story, as told by one of ta principal actors. A Fortune for Airs. Hammond. New York World. Dr. William A. Hammond, of this city, ex-Surgeon-general of the United States army, a few months ago married Miss Esther D. Chapin, of Providence, R. I., who has just fallen beir tq vug iDcouio ui uriwreu ?ouu,uw nuu pvu,uvij rrv - t a. tt jl w . v. .1. . i v . . onnr nui j ainn nn l' death of her seeond cousin, Major Daniel Wanton Lyman, of Providence. Major Lyman was a bachelor forty-three years old, and one of the leaders of fashionable society in Rhode Island. He was descended from some of the best-knowa families in that State, among his ancestors ott one side being the Governors Wanton and on the other side Governor Dyer. He owned 8 town house in North Providence, a country house about four miles from Providence, and some of the best real estate in Westminster street Providence. His death occurred rather suddenly on Dec 19, and when his will was read a day or two later :a : .3 l i x l.fi i l. onm rmn to charitable and public institutions, and about $180,000 to friends and relatives, and had made his cousin, Mrs. Hammond, one of his executors and the residuary legatee. The residue of the estate, which is estimated to be something be4 between $300,000 and $400,000, is left so that the income can be used by Mrs. Hammond during her life, and at her death the principal is to gd to Brown University. spirit of good cheer, New Year. Turkeys, too, goods wre sell, as well all our patrons' home3 never comes.