Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1876 — Page 6

How Family Difilenlties Come About.

yewimnst "kwatTMt« with him" ap chJldmu IS their condition. and the ta*s of all sound morality and manners, be content, If not hap py, with each Other. <Bo to do, they must % sacMfice something of their own whims and preferences to the others. Un fortunately It rather happens that each is to demand and expect compliante, rather than to concede and And nhwmim in giving wav for the erntiflea SoJof Family *difflculties usually begin in the merest trifles; and tempers are soared by continued pract|a|nr of little disagreeables. husbandiTEeWaditional “tyrant" in the house. Taking men as they run, this character will fit no small number. So, »t least, the women say. But it certainly is is their power to disarm the married ogre, if they will set about It carefully. If he wants raspberries (a lien in season) let him have them (withoutsauce), and If chickens, let him eat them—providing he provides the wherewith to purchase them. Not only in matrimonial disputes, but In all others, time is wasted upon mere Incidentals and collaterals, to the sacrifice of matters of vital importance, and issues are made upon little things which throw aside the great objects of existence-" life, liberty nnd the pursuit of happiness.” It cannot be denied that the wife often finds flic husband “the plague of her life." He will come in redolent with tobacco—which she hates—or, worse still, will fumigate her upholstery. If he does not bring on his breath the smell of the "weepings of the golden grain,” the smoke of tobaooo may be condoned and endured. Vet, let the men think a little. Let them imagine their wives addicted to a custom as disagreeable to men as tobacco is to women. It is much to be feared that the husbands would prove by no means as tolerant as the wives of whom *k%ert‘ is one terror of women which cannot be laughed away or “pooh-poohed” out of sight. It is when she sees the habit of conviviality, or what is worse, of soiitaiy indulgence in drink growing upon her husband. Women are quick to notice; and since they are dependent on their husbands, are naturally and properly alive to fear. Their remonstrances may seem over-earnest, and their fears for the future exaggerated. Yet in how many cases docs the terror of a mother for her son, or a wife for her husband, prove to have fallen short of the apprehended misfortune, rather than to have overrated it. The misery which overtakes . a wife or mother when the husband or the son makes a shipwreck of himself and of the household, when the family can no longer look to him for aid, or treat him with respect, is something awful. Is it not sometimes the case that all the illhumor and indifference of which hus-

bands complain is but the result at woman’s fear, which she dare not fully confess? And may not the answering coldness or asperity of the husband be the effect of his consciousness that he is in the wrong? We have spoken of trifles as the cause of family difficulties. But when apparent trifles'have their origin in so deep an evil as this, theycanbe considered trifles no longer. The man who knows that his wife’s short answers and anxious face arise from her fears for him, should begin to fear for himself; and by prudent relinquishment of what threatens Lis happiness, bring back the sunshine to his household. — Philadelphia Ledger.

“Every Advantage.”

“We have had only two,” she said, “ and we intend to give them every advantage.” Bhe was a proud mother, and they were beautiful children—tender, fair, Fortune’s darlings—even the breath of Heaven must not visit them too roughly. And yet, looking afar off down the future’s dim and distant vista, I saw that not wealth nor love, nor any riches of external possession, may be accounted able to keep these little ones from harm. Not any purple or fine linen can shelter them * from the drenching storms of sorrow; not any dazzling jewel of ornament can brighten the darkness that may find and crush a soul, even in the glare of a palace. “Riches take to themselves wings," death claims the presence of Love that would fain skidd and shelter —and what safeguard may these children claim against the storm and shadow of life’s uncertain sea? One only, and her name is Wisdom. Her “ \yays are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths arc peace.” Ever and forever may the tempest-tossed find in her a sure and safe harbor, and without her there can be only shipwreck and disaster! And looking at these little ones, I found myself saying softly: “ Our fortunes are the fruit of our characters,” and I knew that not mother’s love nor father's money could avail anything toward making these children happy- unless Wisdom were the handmaiden of their lives.

“We Lave, been very fortunate. We have money enough, and we are determined to give the children every advantage,” she repeated, tenderly, yet so confidently that it was not possible to resist the temptation to look into these little lives and see how the sails of the tiny barques were set, and what wind and weather propelled the little souls. “Go now, darlings, and nurse shall diws you for a walk,” said the mother, and we followed them into the nursery, taking a book that we might conceal our scrutiny and see how the children lived. Foil of life and play, they felt more like romping than being dressed; but nurse had no instructions to let them romp, they must be dressed. Having, however, no authority to compel them to acquiescence, and being forced to humor and coax, or tease and morally coerce them, they were at the mercy of ignorance and necessity, and the result was something like unto this: “ Come, Maude, now have your sash tied! Stand still, don’t play with Clarence. Come now, have your sash on; quick, before I put it on Clarence. He hasn’t got no nice sash like yours. Come now. Well, there’s a big black thing in the wardrobe, I’ll open the door and let him out;” and so she went on alternately appealing to the child’s fear, anSTpt-ide and vanity, rousing all the worst passions of her nature, and, to say nothing of the ungrammatical language used, exciting an antagonistic rivalry between the brother and sister, highly injurious to both. So the day’s education began. Then came the lessons. “We think it best to have a teacher in the house, so as not to contaminate the children by vulgar associations such as will creep into a school,” ejud the mother, with file same unshaken conviction ol' giving the children “every advantage.” “We have most an excellent teacher,” she continued, “not prim and cross, but she just devotes bereelf to the children and interests them. We pay her well, and die '

is anxious to retain her situation, so she tries to please tiie children.” So it was that the lessons were a variation, In the awe direction of the morning expert- “ Will Maud tell me whatd-o-gspells?" asked the teacher. Maud is twisting the comer of her apron, and looks op listlessly. “ Now, Mtftidie, tell teacher what d-o-g spells, and then teacher will toll Maudiea story 1” suggests the toscher coaxingly. i*‘l want a story now,” says Maun. “ I want a story too," says Clarence. “ Well then, we will tell the story first,” says the ieaclicr, “and then Maudic will toll me what d-o-g spells.” So the story is told, but when that is finished they must have another, and after this the combination d-o-g is neither more interesting nor more lucid than it was before ; but the teacher’s instructions, when she was employed, were, “not to cross the children, not to punish them, not to make learning odious by forcing them to do what they aid not wish to do.” So, for the sake of keeping her situation, she merely plays at teaching, and the mother fancies that because they like stories and are fond of having the teacher read to them, that they are developing “ a wonderful taste for books.” Not one les son of patience, not one earnest effort, not one particle of rugged mental discipline these unfortunate children obtain. Petted, coaxed, bribed into selfishness insensate, or tantalized into weak and ignoble discontent, the sails of their little life-boats are set toward the Isles of Disaster.

To dress, to appear well, to have others subservient to their whims, to have their faults hidden and their vanity fed, to be rendered utterly helpless for every stem emergency of life, what course of training coulu be more cruel or pernicious ? Yet thousands and thousands of children are going straight on in this way to misery and min while their wealthy and idiotic parents fold their hands and talk about “ riving the children every advantage.” Oh tools and blind, that forever drop the substance and chase the shadow, fancying that what looks well and seems easy will fit a human soul for Uie sublime heroism that is flic One Price for noble victory! Oh fools and blind that see not the storm in the distance, but spread silken sails of ease and pleasure and turn human souls adrifton life’s wild sea, with neither chart nor compass, nor skill nor strength for the swift coming tempest. But why cry unto these besotted Sybarites? We are told, “Though thou should’st bray a fool in a mortar w ith a pestle, yet will liis foolishness not depart from him;” and the last form of this folly is to lift up a wail about “ ungrateful children that having had every advantage, yet turned out so badly.” —Agnes Leotuird Hill , in Interior.

Self-Mutilated Servians.

The fact; is the Servian war is about to assume a much less ambitious character than that which it was endeavored to impart to it when it was first undertaken. Any troops that this country can muster together are not to meet the disciplined battalions of the enemy in the open field. Until now I have refrained from mentioning a circumstance so remarkable as to have attracted the attention of every person who has seen in any considerable numbers the wounded falling back from exposed positions; I allude to the very large proportion who are wounded in one hand or in one arm, or as is the case in a large percentage of instances, in one finger. I have sought an explanation of this suspicious coincidencce, and have been told that the Turks are such cowards that they stoop veiy low down in their trenches at the mere sight of the Servians, and that, having from the crouching position they assume, to slant their rifles at a very great angle, their fire goes upward. I am afraid this explanation will not do, because if it were good there ought to be more beads wounded than hands and fingers. I am afraid the only solution of the matter is that self-inflicted injuries have not been unfrequent since it became manifest that the Turks, regular and irregular, were not going to run away the moment the Servians appeared. The war is going to resolve itself into what I always anticipated it would become —a guerilla affair, —Belgrade Cor. London Times.

Howard Glynlon and Her Marriage.

This well-known writer and poet is Laura C. Redden, a deaf mute, who was educated at a school for deaf mutes in Mystic, Conn., and has written some charming verses, though never able to hear h word spoken by herself or any other person in her life. Up to within a very few years she has not been able to utter an intelligible sound, but medical skill and modern science have finally succeeded in developing a peculiar voice through which she can express herself to those accustomed to hearing it very well, but strangers find it extremely difficult to understand wliat it is she tries to say, and replies have invariably to be written or communicated by deaf and dumb alphabet. The sound which she produces is precisely that of a materialized voice in a dark seance. It is as if it were projected upon the air by some instrumentality in her throat independent of her volition, for it comes with gasps and apparent effort, which is almost painful, ana though it has sweet tones, is incapable of proper modulation, because the speaker does not hear herself, and cannot graduate it as if it were entirely under her control and subject to her will.

But she is a veiy bright,attractive woman, nevertheless, dresses with great taste, and is exceedingly food of society. The romance of her life—for it had a romance —has ended, or perhaps only begun a new and more interesting chapter by her marriage last Wednesday to a young lawyer of this city, Mr. Edward W. Searings, a native of Western New York, where his family hold an inflnential position and are highly respected in the Friend’s Society, to wfcich they belong, and by the public at large. Mr. Searing is a rara avit nowadays. Possessed of a considerable talent, he is' at the same time a man of high honor, industrious, loyal, devoted ana true. The deaf mute has really won a much better husband than many girls who have the use of their eyes and their tongues. I have heard, on excellent authority, that Miss Redden was engaged to be married once before to & Presbyterian minister, who had known and loved her from childhood, but exercised tyrannical authority over her. Her wedding garments were even prepared, but he harrassed her to such an extent, insisting that her life should be governed by such rigid laws, that she should only write religious tracts and hymns, and be subject in all things to his wiH asthe rule of her faith and ac-

tion, that at a late moment die rebelled and broke away from his dictatorship. She said it was not her fault if God had made the world seem a pleasant place to

Jier, and it she felt more like singiog songs than psalms, and pcaiaes than giving utterance to groans; that her whole nature cried out for freedom, for expression, for love and good will, and that to become the mere echo of his thoughts would be crucifixion. So the brave Laura gave up all idea of being “ supported.” and went on writing musical words out of her own heart, which found a response in the hearts of many others, doing also “ correspondence” and many other things, and gradually winning her way to acknowledged position. Her future realdence will probably be iu New’ York.— Cor. Baltimore American.

YE WICKED FRESHMAN. A DRAMA IN TWO ACTS. Dramatis Persona. Ys Wicked Fhenhman. Ye Patriabch. [Premise.] It was a wicked Freshmen, With hairl<*Hi> lip and chin. Who ever took delight in “sells" And taking people In. [He spteth an aged Patriarch, and determines to make sport of him; he accoateth him.] “ Stajr, father, stay; take thou my arm, Let me thy steps anatain. For I am A6[t)ler to support Thy weight than any Cain.'' [The old man acquiesceth and explalneth.] " Thanks, gentle yonth, for I am old. And far have come to view The scenes and memories that my yonth £rst loved and so well knew; I thank thee for thy kindly aid And take it kindly, too. [The old man spleth a member of the Knickerbocker Clnb.] •* Mr little guide, pray tell me why Yon youth Is thusly clad. With breeches short and stockings long? He seems a likely lad." [The Freshman explalneth.] “ Dear sir, onr dnnee can only wear Of pantaloons but half; The Faculty have clothed him thus To show he’s but a calf ’’ [The Patriarch spleth a college swell, and demandeth:] “ Stay; tell me, what Is this that comes With dress so fine and grand. In brilliant checaaand collar tall An oak tree In his hand?" [The wicked Freshman explalneth. “ You see, dear sir. a college swell. With collar to his ear; He wears great collars that he may A (s)colfar great appear." [The Patriarch spleth an Art Club man, and, after moralizing, inquireth.] “Thanks, thanks; such base deeds, dear friend, I hope you’ll practice ne’er-*-But who Is this, in velvet cloak Anil loosely-flowing hair. With visage pale, who weareth such An interesting air?” [Ye wickedPreshman again.] “ You view a member of a club Whose sole design is Art, And thus—bat the designing youths And those of artful heart Can In their subtle n%steries And studies take a part.” [The Patriarch seeth the captain of the Foot Ball Club, with ball returning from the match, and exclaimeth.] “ ’Tia strange! my eyes are growing dim. Pray what is this I spy In yonder zebra-painted thing— Yon striped prodigy?” [Again ye wicked Freshman selleth.] 11 Dear sir, you see the doom conferred Here on the wicked ones. Who break the hoar and hallowed laws Fair Harvard gave her sons; Thus are they rigged in convict garb, A warning to behold. And carry all day long yon ball That’s made of iron cold." The Freshman checkled to himself. And said: “ How well he’s soldi" [The Patriarch departeth, and ye Freshman Is sold.] “ Thanks, thanks! I now mast hie away, . I thank thee for thy guide; I had a son, once, kind as thee, Bnt ah, alas! he died. God bless yon.," And the simple sage Went slowly on his way,' And with him went that Freshman's watch, His chain, and port-monnaie! —Harvard Lampoon.

Silks and Woolens.

Purchasers are advised that silks will be higher when the fall stock arrives than at present. There has been an advance of fifty per cent, on raw silk, but dealers say two-thirds of tills is for labor, and that the manufactured goods will show only an increase of fifteen per cent. It will be well for ladies who study economy to make their purchases early, especially as we can tell them upon reliable authority that black and extremely dark colors will be fashionably worn again; also • that grosgrain, with medium reps and demi-lustre, will be the first choice. It is safe to buy black gros-grain, myrtle green or seal brown; and navy blue will be worn again, provided it is almost black; indeed', the best selection is what is known as blueblack or ink-color. Myrtle green is the fancy of the moment in Paris, and will be the prevailing shade here next season. It commends itself to people who can buy rich goods, because it is a shade that cannot be obtained in common coarse stuffs, and in mixtures of wool and cotton- It is the fashion in Paris to relieve it with ecru trimmings, but for winter, the entire dress will be green, with an ecru bonnet and gloves. Damassee and armure silks are also being very largely imported to serve as parts of costumes. These come in intri-cately-woven figures, so closely matted that they do not fray, as loosely-"brocaded silks are apt to do. The princesse overdress will be of this figured material, while the skirt will be velvet or plain gros-grain. Bright shades of cardinal red are found among the fine silks, and are used in Paris for lower skirts and trimmings with princesse polonaises of quiet colors. Creamcolor with cardinal is especially fashionable for the demi-saison, and makes a very gav costume for the autumn at the seaside or' the watering-places. Indications are that red dresses will probably be introduced for house and evening wear, and that cardinal will form a very prominent part in street costumes. The new woolen goods are of the same soft pliable texture lately worn, but are woven in greater variety of designs than we had for several seasons. Of late almost all fine woolens were in twilled diagonal patterns; now we are to have not twills alone, but raised figures, Mexicaine patterns in squares, armures, and raised threads in diamonds and cross-bars. Perhaps the prettiest fabrics are those fine wools, as soft as camel’s-hair, yet woven in quadrille threads all of one shade, mVking a raised square in the center by depressing the barred threads, or else lowering the square/and having thicker threads for the bap. The honey-eomb and basket-woven patterns of last year are all shown again. Damask and brocaded patterns have very small figures. Solid colors prevail, but there are many fine black and white checked goods also. The stripes shown'are mostly in the weaving, riot in the coloring. A favorite design is a closely twilled stripe, half an inch wide, with a Mexicaine or quadrille pattern between. The roughfinished camel’s-hair and serges of last year s will remain in fashion, also cashmeres. In plain cashmere black will still be used as a standard dress; when

colors are chosen they will be of the ink shades flint are only a few removes from black. As we have already said, myrtle green of the darkest hue will be the most stylish color for winter suit*. The new seal browns are darker even than those of last winter. In assorted cases of nice woolen goods the darkest shades are ranged in this order: first green, then seal brown, navy blue and granite. The gray shades formerly so much worn rank last in numbers among late importations. Some bright cardinal red shades are imported in cashmere and quadrille woolens. Empress cloths are brought out in good dark shades for serviceable dresses, and merino is shown in light tints for children’s wear and for wrappers, as well as in the dark shades that wear Well and do not show soil. The gauzes for full-dress toilets this winter are in the designs described for silk, viz., arabesques and armure. They come in silver white, cream, ivory, gazelle brown, rose leaf, sea foam green and In dienne blue. Frosted gauzes are brought out for veils that are to be passed around the crown of the hat and fastened under the chin by a small brooch. — Harper's Bar tar.

A Floating Island in Lake St. Clair.

Ex-Postmastek-Gen. Jewell being in the city Friday, a party of gentlemen consisting of Charles Root,, 8. Dow Elwood, Emory Wendell, W. G. Thompson, 8: W. Thompson and the distinguished visitor, boarded the steam yacht Lillie, Capt. Thomas Allen commanding, for a trip to Lake St. Clair. When about two miles below the lower end of the ship canal, Capt. Allen sighted a new feature in the bearings of the lake—such a one as caused him to look a second time at his compass and to rub his eyes in wonderment. About half a mile to the westward was an island, with its underbrush and small trees, while here and there were small stumps and remnants of rail fences. The chart contained no representation of an island in that locality, and during all his sailing Capt. Allen never before had noticed the land.

Can it be possible that the land is coming out to meet and do honor to the distinguished yachting party ? queried Capt, Allen, as he put his wheel over to make for the phenomenon, at the same time calling the attention of his passengers to the object. As the yacht neared the island it was discovered that it drifted with the wind, and the engineer was called upon to turn his propeller a little more lively in order to overtake the island. At last the nose of the yacht grated against the land and the gentleman looked on in wonderment. There, like a huge blanket, was a piece of earth about three acres in area, apparently solid, yet floating and covered with thrifty vegetation. The swell of the water made no impression and the slight waves dashed against the beach as though touching the main land. At last Capt. Allen, after testing the stability of the earth, stepped ashore, and walking to where a dilapidated rail fence was visible, took one of the rails to the yacht. Mr. Wendell nailed an American flag to the rail, and by unanimous consent the land was christened “Jewell’s Island.” The explanation offered by this reremarkable affair is that a portion of the mainland on the north shore of Lake St. Clair has been undermined by the unprecedented high stage of water , now prevailing. Never before has such an occurrence been known, and as Detroit River was dotted Saturday with bits of earth of from two to three feet area, it is supposed that Jewell’s Island is gradually breaking in pieces. —Detroit Free Tress.

A Good Idea.

The following is the translation of a notice posted on the walls of the rural schools and at the entrance of the Government forests in France: “Department of Agriculture—The bill is placed under the guardianship of the good sense and honesty of the public. “The hedgehog feeds upon mice and other rodents, on snails and other creatures hurtful to agriculture. Do not injure the hedgehog. “The toad, the great friend of the farmer, destroys from twenty to thirty insects every hour. Do not kill the toad. “The mole —He is the destroyer of inum erable insects destructive to plants. Vegetable substances have never been found in his stomach; he does far more good than harm. Do not harm the mole. “The hanneton (a variety of June bug) —The mortal enemy of agriculture; lays from seventy to eighty eggs. Death to the hanneton. “Birds—Every province in France loses millions annually through the havoc made by insects, and the birds are the only creatures capable of keeping them in check. They are the best friend of the farmer. Children, do not rob the nests of the birds.” • Here is a hint to the teachers of our rural schools,-which, if acted upon, may result in incalculable good.— N. F. Times.

A Man’s Life Saved by a Bream.

Early on Friday morning Mr. Hall, a butcher, of Franklin, Mass., went into his ice chest to inspect the premises, when the door accidentally swung back, operating the spring-lock, and die man was a prisoner ina very small room of icy temperature, and without means of escape. A speedy and frightful death stared him in the face. He shouted, and thumped upon what promised to be his coffin, but all in vain. Now comes the marvellous part of the circumstances. When Mr. Hall’s son arose on that morning he was deeply impressed with a dream which he had during the previous night. He dreamed that his father had been caught and suffocated in the ice chest! Not finding his father on inquiring for him, the son at once proceeded to the ice chest and found it locked. On opening it the apparently dead body of his father was discovered and rescued. So near death jiad the unfortunate prisoner come that it was hours before he came to a state of consciousness, and is still in an enfeebled condition. To those (ourselves among the number) who have no faith in dreams and visions, it may be difficult to account for the connection between the son’s dream and the father’s accident.— Woonsocket (R. I •) Patriot.

A curious state of affairs exists in some of the counties in West Virginia. In Webster County, for instance, there are 200,000 acres of land, but 2,000,000 acres are on the tax duplicate, and taxes are actually paid on that amount, one individual paying taxes on 550,000 acres, or more than double the entire acreage of the county. The lands have been sold and resold in New York for speculative purposes, until the acreage has been multiplied nearly eight times its actual amount. As the lands are nominally appraised, and are not of great present value, the holders of Titles pay the taxes without grumbling. . —Alexander H Stephens has gained sufficient strength to take ont-door exercise with the aid of crutches.

Our Young Readers.

DARE. Daeb to be honest good tad sincere. Dare to please God, aad you never need fear Dare to be brave in the cause of the right, Dare with the enemy ever to flght. Dare to be loving and patient each day. Dare to speak the truth whatever you say. Dare be gentle and orderly too. Dare shnn the evil whatever you do. Dare to speak kindly, and ever be trne. Dare to do right, ana yon’ll find your way through.

THE LOST CREAM-CUP.

Five o’clock in the afternoon, and supper time in the country. Grandma Benedict had been bustling about all day, performing the various duties tlmt fp.ll to the housekeeper's share; and to-day had brought more than the usual amount of work, for was it not strawberry time ? and canning, preserving, and making jelly must be attended to in its season. Her granddaughter Minnie was spending the summer vacation with her grandparents, and in her opinion there never was such a delightful place as theirs. This afternoon she had been helping in her way. She had picked strawberries, and spoiled more than she picked by trampling on the vines; she had helped to hull them, but left so many hulls on that grandma had to look them over after her; she must taste of the preserves and jelly, to see if they were sweet enough aud cooked enough; and all with the idea that she was helping so much. “ Don’t you wish you had a little girl like me to live with you all the time and help you like this, grandma? " At last all was done, and cans and cups of the rich fruit stood in array upon the pantry shelf, and grandma surveyed the results of her labors with commendable pride. “But see, Minnie, it is nearly supper time, and grandpa and Uncle David will be hungry—they are haying now, and that is such hard work for them—so I will put on the tea-kettle and you may help me set the table.” And what a tempting supper nice new bread, a golden globe of butter, stamped with an oak-leaf and acorns (which always seemed to Minnie the perfection of art), strawberries, honey for Minnie’s sweet tooth, cheese, gold meat, and good, generous doughnuts—everything to tempt the appetite of the hungry men. “ Now, Minnie, is everything on the table?” “ No, mann; where’s the cream ?” “ Grandpa would not drink his tea if he could not have cream in it.” Bograndma goes to the cellar and gets the cream, puts the cream-cup on the table, puts the tea to steep, and then, calling Minnie, they go out, and grandma blows the horn to call the men to supper. Minnie runs tQ meet them, and, taking Uncle David’s hand, runs jumping along by his side, telling him how mnch she has helped to-day. “It agrees with you, too, little puss; your cheeks look as rosy as can be; your mamma will hardly know you when you go home. Better stay with us all the time and be our little girl. But here we are, mother, as hungry as bears.” Soon they sit down to the table. After grandpa has asked God’s blessing upon them, grandma pours the tea, telling “ father,” as she calls him, how busy she has been all day, and how much work she has done. “ Well, mother, you have been so busy talking, you have not given me any cream in my tea.” “Why! didn’t I? Well, I declare, what has become of my cream-cup ?” “ You have been so busy you forgot to put it on the table.” “ No, I am sure I put it on; but I will go and look for it.” 8o she looked in the pantry, but it was not there; then she went to the cellar, and there was the pan of milk off which the cream had been taken, but no cream-cup was to be found. She came back to the table, saying: “ I never saw anything so strange. What can have become of it ? Minnie, didn’t' you see me put it on the table.” “ Yes, I am sure I did.” “Well, mother, don’t worry about it; I can take my cream out of any kind of a cup. You will find it in some place where you put it down. You and I are growing old and forgetful. Now, to-day I was sure I carried the whetstone down into the field w'ith me, but David said I left it in the barn, and sure enough I did.” That evening when she had strained the milk, grandma asked Minnie to call kitty and give hei her supper. This was a great pleasure to Minnie, and soon her voice was heard calling, “Kitty!” “Kitty!” first at the kitchen door, then around the house, and then in the garden. Soon she came in and said, “ Grandma, I have lookede very where, and called, but cannot find her.” “ Well, put down the saucer of milk, and she will come by and by.” Uncle David said, “ She is off after a mouse. You’ll find her all right in the morning: but it is my little girl’s bedtime, and she must be on, so as to be up to breakfast in season.

The next morning Minnie found the saucer of milk just as she had left it the night before. After breakfast and prayers grandpa and Uncle David went on to the field, and left grandma and Minnie alone again—grandma still puzzling over her missing cream-cup, and Minnie over the disappearance of kitty. So passed away the forenoon, and again it was almost supper time. Down in the field grandpa and Uncle David were hard at work. Grandpa was driving the horses before the mower, when he suddenly stopped and said, “ David, what kind of an animal is that over there t” “ Where ? I don’t see anything.” “ There, don’t you see it jump ?” “ Yes, it is funny enough. Looks as though it was all head. I believe I will go and see what it is.” As soon as he came up to it* grandpa heard him laugh long and loud, and wondered if the boy had grown crazy. And what do you suppose he was laughing at? Why kitty was the thief; she had run off with the creamcup on her head, had tried to steal the cream, and got more than she bargained for—for after getting her head into the cup, she could not get it out again. So off she ran, and had become so bewildered that she wandered away from the house. I should net dare to tell you how far she had traveled, and in her unavailing efforts to get the cup off sjie had worn the fur from her neck and had broken a hole in the side of the cup. and taking it all together* she was as tired, hungry, and miserable a kitten as you ever saw. Uncle David put the cream-cup into his pocket, and, taking kitty in his aims, went back to grandpa, who said “What will mother say ? We shall have to take back what we have said about her growing- forgetful.” Just then they heard the supperhorn. As they neared the house Minnie came running out to meet them. “Why, where did you raid aiy kittn?

Why, poor kitty! What’s the matter wi p her neck? How weak she is! Was she down in the field ?” 8o many questions that there was no time to answer them. t On reaching the house grandpa said: , “ Mother, I have brought you something from the field.” “ Wliat Is it—a new plant?" “ No, look at it.” When she saw her cream-cup she said: “ You two have been flying to play off some joke on me.” " No, we have not.” And here Uncle David told how he had found the strangeheaded animal bounding through the tall grass, which proved to he the lost kitty with, the cream-cup on her head. “ She must have jumped on the table when I went to blow the horn for supper the troublesome cat. Bhe ought to be pilnislied, though I never knew her to do such a thing before.” “ Now, grandma, I think slie has been E unished enough. Just see her poor neck! lie will never do so again. Will you, kitty?” And kitty said “ Mew,”— N. Y. Tribune.

Sowing Little Seeds.

Little Bessie had got a present of a new book, and she eagerly opened it to look at the first picture. It was the picture of a boy sitting by the side of a stream, and throwing seeds into the water. “I wonder what this picture is about,” said she; “why does the boy throw seeds into the water?” “Oh, I know,” said her brother Edward, who had been looking at the book; “he is sowing the seeds of water-lilies.” “But how small the seeds look!” said Bessie. “It seems strange that such large plants should grow from such little things.” “You are just sowing such tiny seeds every day, Bessie, and they will come up large, strong plants after a while,” said her father. “Oh, no, father, I have not planted any seeds for a long while.” “I have seen my daughter sow a number of seeds to-day.” Bessie looked puzzled, and her father smiled and said: “Yes, I have watched you planting flowers, and seeds, and weeds to-day.” “Now I know that you are joking, for I would not plant ugly weeds.” ” I shall tell you what I mean. When you laid aside that interesting book, and attended to what your mother wished done, you were sowing seeds of kindness and love. When you broke the dish that you knew your mother valued, and came instantly and told her, you were sowing seeds of truth. When you took the cup of cold water to the poor woman at the fate, you were sowing the seeds of mercy. hese are all beautiful flowers, Bessie. But I hope my little girl has been planting the great tree of ‘ love to God,’ and that she will tend and watch it, until its branches reach the skies, and meet before his throne.” “ And the weeds, father?” “ When you were impatient with baby, you sowed the seeds of ill-temper. When you spoke crossly to Robert, you planted anger. When you waited some time after your mother called you, you sowed disobedience and selfishness. These are all noxious weeds. Pull then up. Do not let them grow in your garden.”—Children's Friend.

Fretting.

Perhaps of all faults to which woman in her “fraility” is subject, and to which she must plead guilty, no one is more imperceptible in its growth, or serious in its consequences, than the habit of fretting. That it is a habit every right-minded, woman knows, and that it is a serious fault, she has only to ask the husband, in whose home that may be the only dark spot to mar its brightness; or if her folly forbids that concession, let her study her own comfort for only a day, mnd her astonishment will be no less than her pleasure, to find that the usual harrassing vexations of the day have vanished, or become such trifles that she is ashamed to count them trials at all, after she has successfully combated the disposition to fret at all annoyances. That woman has very many causes for feeling annoyed, none will deny, and that her patience is very frequently most sorely tried, it were foolish for me to assert, having borne “ woman’s lot” through weal and woe for so many years, that “ the things whereof I know, I testify.” If any good were attained, or her care made less by habitual expressions of annoyance or impatience, I would even bid her indulge her ceaseless complainings, only keeping myself out of earshot, for her own individual happiness. Innumerable buttons to be kept in place, countless stitches to be taken, confused corners to be straightened into order, little feet pattering in and out, bringing untidiness with every footfall; unexpected rents to be mended, breakfasts, dinners and suppers to be provided as surely as day follows after day in the calendar, oftentimes delicate and fickle appetites to be cared for and suited, friends to lie entertained who must not dream of the skeleton cares .so quickly stowed away in the secret closet at the sound of the door-bell, little students to be helped over puzzling lessons, schoolboys’ grievances to be listened to and quietly adjusted, tired heads to be soothed with mother’s hands and potent lullabys—all these things to be attended to, in season and out of season, whether the head aches or the heart is heavy. These things in themselves must be the greatest pleasure to a true-hearted wife ana mother, yet they bring in their attendant train so many vexations and discomforts, that one might be excused for occasional fretting if any good were attained thereby.— Prudence , in Son of the Soil.

The prison statistics for Spain, published recently, fix the number of convicts in that countiy at 10,855. The membership of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in the United States is about 17,000. Wool-raising has become an important industrial feature of Oreiton.

A Lesson Taught by Experience.

Among the many valuable lessons taught by experience, there is not one of greater moment to the invalid portion of the community than thb following, viz: That alterative treatment is only permanently successful when aided by invigoration. When the functions of the body are disordered, the use of a genial tonic with which corrective properties are combined is the speediest means of regulating them. Such a tonic is HostettCr’s Stomach Bitters, the most popular, as it is the best article of its class. For more than twenty-five years it has been used with > ignal success as a remedy for, and preventive of malarial fevers, as a means of imparting strength to the debilitated, and as a curative of dyspepsia, biliousness, constlpation, kidney troubles and uterine weakness. Not only have multitudes of those whom It has cured borne testimony In its behalf, but it has been repeatedly commended by the medical profession end the press.