People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — A Thaw. [ARTICLE]

A Thaw.

The farmhouse fire is dull and black, The trailing smoke rolls white and low Along the Helds till by the wood It banks and floats unshaken, slow; The scattering sounds seem near and loud, The rising sun is clear and white, And in the air a mj'stery stirs Of wintry hosts in coward flight Anon the south wind breathes across The frozen earth its bonds to break, Till at the call of life returned It softly stirs but half awake. The cattle clamor in their stalls, The house-dog barks, he knows not why, The cock crows by the stable door. The snow birds, sombre-hued, go by. The busy housewife on the snow To bleach lays out her linen store, And scolds because with careless feet The children track the spotless floor. With nightfall comes the slow warm rain, The purl of waters fills the air. And save where roll the gleaming drifts The fields He sullen, black, and bare. —P. McArthur, In Harper’s Weekly. “Society” means you-and-l-ety, with the other fellow looking on.—Young' Men’s Era.

If two men who are mortal enemies meet in society, they ignore each other: if two female enemies meet, they kiss each other. —Fliegende Blatter. Miss Dontlt—“l suppose yourgenerally travel by rail, don’t yous” Mr. Footlight—“Yes; the walking is usually better on the track than any other place.”—lnter Ocean. “Bronson is an awful glutton.” “He is making up for lost time. He nearly starved to death while he was a clerk.”—Harper’s Bazar. Rebuke.—“ Hold,” roared the tragedian, as the audience laughed heartily at his death scene, “do you suppose I’m doing this for fun?”—Truth. Unless you can keep on good terms with yourself, you are likely to keep bad company most of the time.—Ram’s Horn, Not Mad.—He tore his hair and plucked out his beard. Presently he paused. “Seafoam?” he queried.—Truth. The strawberry box makes a very pleasant impression even though we know how very shallow it is.—lnter Ocean.