Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1877 — Page 3

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Dates and the date Palm.

EvE*taose whofc knowledge of thb the Oriefit extend? bo further than or that tinie-Wmored rtprV Book, the “ Ar?biap time nbnemfyrjhl .'-tb« * date has been, the chief »od <>phe 6f the E& Tbfr '‘. bahdful of 4aUe and the gourd •cCjratfrCi/'Torm the typical'meal, and of millions of Auman beings North Africa, and to dietaQujologials hate ascribed fflßyWTne*Tk6culiarcharacter-' istics of tUf people who Jive upon IL reasdn for the inclination to Urn prodigious and grotesque, the. depression' of spirits, and flte faeutloessof life manifest fit that Nation,likewise considers that the morbid temperament of the Arab is a sequence of vegeKhanisml He points out that rice contains an unusual amount of starch, namtfy, between 83 and 85 per cent.; and that fates possess precisely the same nutritions substances as rice does, with the singlfe difference that the starch is already converted into sugar. To live, therefore, on such food iarnot to satisfy hunger; and liuntA,’Ukg. all other cravings, even if partiant satisfied, exercises control over the imagination. “ This biological fact,” says JRjSsltel, “Was and still is the origin «■ made use of ev®ry gajirter of the t w<uld when they ytish,to enjer ipta communhaiitm faith. invisible powers. ’•_ Peschel and, Buckle. however, are at variance to We InfltamcAofW date dies is affecting a racb; ‘and'khh-'fortrier remarks that, “ Milld tio ohe 'frill-deny that the natunsarf.the food, reacts upon the mental 1 powqndbf mam the temperament evoked by different sorts is. different;" yet A* we are still far; from having ascertained anything in regard to the permanent effects of daily food, especially as the human stomach has, to a great degree, the power of acconnhodatiug itself to various food substtabesl is» >that with use even narcotics lose nrucb’ofAheir effect.’t The same author ateowdds that the date, “traits- up independent and warlike desert tribes, which* “have not the most I remote mental relationship to the rice-eating Hin-doos.-u,l‘' !••!> ’ini .’■■■■ •• jl-’ It hHnains for the reader to reconcile this disagreement pf learned doctors according to hfcjqfanJudgmenL' TWevidence of those who subsist. the date is certain)v overwhelming in its favor. The AssyriM, ttalitrnn says, resAtefi Ihm it was stteJa gift’ tb theta ’’that its worth could not bq top extravagantly told; for they had fotfrfd'‘tot tHe'leaves, the fruit, the jutefe/ and, the faodd of '. the idee three hundred and sixty different uses. The "Whatsiitaedans adopt the date-palm into their religion as •an emblem of uprightness, ,qnd say thatit miraculously sprang JntaeXistemce,fully grown, at the .as jsynibols of rejoicing, into Christian ceremonies; and throughout’ Palestine constant reference is found to; the ’daite arid the palm in the naming/bl. tbfans. , BeflianV means a ‘ * hofries" dates. ” AhiiieritPalmyra Whs a “ and the 'Hebrew female faa&6 Tamar is derived from the word'lfi'fhAC language sigtiifying palm. In Africa there is ariimmense' tract' of land betwear Barbary andthag rest des- . ert, twqed,Bilidulgcrid, “the land of datea^.’ x Xxom -the profusion of the.trees ,h iS i «rahtbei» te , MaO^de o f food Wa^^^-t| P^pS ji fl?l .the hi and the tamarind,To be used merely as a luxury. We find it coming to the markets at just about*,thlgTime of year in the greatest quantities® packed'’ in baskets roughly made from dried palm-leaves. The dates, gatheredwhile ripe arid soft, are forced inloThese receptacles until almost a pastyriMg>q, ? eftennot over-clean, is formed. Itliefr natural sugar tends to preserve tibetti ;;but after long keeping they bccOTiie dff and hard. This renders them uuft for - use; but they still find a sale to vehdnrn who, after steami»g4|l€Wre to render them soft (of course fit , 4 tjfe expense pf the flavor), hawk wiHaßStft the 'streets.. Dates in the pasty condition are not rclTSlied by those who live on them-; nor;umthe other hand, would we probably fancy the dried,’ almost tasteless fruTT which, Strtffig <Jii long straw, is carried in bunches by the the SWuMipofrant vpecfek of the lldMn which make up its genus. Though slow in growth, iU -shoots up « magnificent stem, to the height sometimes of eighty feet, tlw summit. of which is covered -with lajrapf&il Crown of pinnated leaves. The trofiklS ocieaingly rough And spiny; the flower which appear in the axils far‘nreleaves, 'hre'woody, and Contain branched spadices with many flowers; more than 11,000 have been counted on tails IptttMx. At frrfmThro ten years of age the tree bears, and then remains fruitful for upward of 200 years. Thefeit Awieswnkeh an size and Quality; and in the oases of the Sahara forty-six varieties have been named. The utilizations of the date palm and its products are very numerous. The stemnfWrtsMutaddijoberifcuhOusee, boats, fences, fuel, etc., as well as an inferior kind of sago. The leaves serve as s°r material tor roorfcovenng, baskete, brushes, mats, and I AAtliSir tatsb a which, by fermentation, becomes wide (the “ toddy" of boiled down inCMhgat'. Tm> young shoots, when cooked, resemble asparagus; are dried and ground into meal, from which bread is

The Precocity of Felicien David.

r Cadanet, in tfuulepurrumui, of Vaucluse. lUcame from a wry poor family, but hia father enjoyed considerabfeJncal ieputation aS. a musician, leading the village choir apd rnMnaraUs ifi the schools. f<* music. His andTudilCGd his friend, the ohapel-mastar.ta tesph the boy the rudiments. Felfcfthwaderapid ♦progrwa,. 4>WMd»y, wben sjght yearn old he teyfcm miuwcript to his teacher for the puspooe es anting the latter a question about it. “ What are you attempting to do T" asked the master. U I am comthe first nnqdM#Miwftins,» VfcoV answered the boy, “I am endeavoring to

learn them; please try this, and see If while glancing over the boy’s hieroglyphics, and then began. When hair way through, he stopped short. ** You little story-tellegll* he exclaimed. “ Why, you have copied every note!" “Upon mp word oFnogor," said the boy, impressively, “ I hhve not.” Not had he. The 'motive was indeed his own. The chapelmaster went through it again and again, and on the following Bunday it was given 'by the choir of St. Bauveur’s.— London Bfusiail World.

A Michigan Matrimonial Mystery—A Somewhat Remarkable Story.

The Mary E. Knox case has been discussed by the Homld and other journals as one of the most curious cases on record, and yet the dust-covered legal records of Michigan tell of a case still more singular. Miss Knox was engaged to a young mhn named Merritt, the day was set for the nuptials, they drove away together and were married,, and now Merritt vows he was not the bridegroom. Bhe vows thitahajKns, but cannot prove it, and both make out a pretty good case. One may well argue that he ought to know whether he ever married a certain young lady or not, and the said young lady may well argue that she ought to know the man who rode to the clergyman’s with her, stood up beside her, made his responses in due fbrm, and drove her back home. These arguments are what mystify the Knox ctee. Now for one still more singular: About twenty years ago there lived in Centra 1 ! Michigan a curious old Benedick named Dodsworth At the age of-fifty he married a girl of twenty, and when the burden of sixty years bore him down, his wife was only half his.age. Dodsworth was noted for his peculiarities, but the Climax camo when he found himself on his dying bed. He was worth about $30,000, and he hadn’t a blood relative living, so far as he knW. He wanted to leave his property to his wife, ’as the pair had "lived very happily, but yet he could not leave it without displaying some of his peculiarities inthe-provisions of the will. Some oilmen display a mean spirit when makindßheir wills, and draft in a provisioncutting the wife off with a shilling if she marries 'again. This old man wasn’t of that stamp. His young wife was good looking, vivacious, fond of society, and it was folly to suppose she would mourn forjier “ late departed"any great length OF’time. Therefore, Mr. Dodsworth turned heel on the usual custom and said in his will: In case my wife Celle does not take unto herself another Ipiabana within thirteen months fiom date of my burial, all bequests otherwise madd in this will are to the State of Michigan, be .used for building and furnishing a hppse for old women. r Whether Golla was pleased or displeased at this provision;-deponent saith not, but the old man hhdmot been under the sod more than sixr nkonths when the widow was said to ( be. looking out for another man. If it was singular for the dying Dodsworth to urge his wife to marry qgain, it was still more singular that he should desire • the ceremony to be performed under, lire following circumstances. viz.; '■ And it is made incumbent on said Celia Dodsworth that, in taking a new husband, the marriage ceremony shall be performed in the big barn on my farm on the H road, ft shall take place at ten o’clock in the evening, on -tup main flomy wlthout lights of any description, with til doors shut, and a free invitation shall beextended to all. The clergyman stand in the stables and the bride and groqm on the main floor, and the principal partieq to the mremony shall be dressed in The her intention to faithfully obey in spirit and letter, the will was probated, and the twelfth month had scarcely passed before she issued an invitation for the public to attend a wedding at’the big barn. Just who the groom was to be no one could positively assert, as the widow had been keeping Company with a widower, a bachelor, and twojyoung men, and as far as any outsider could judge, she loved one as well as the other. Being good-looking and talented, and having a fortune behind her, it was not strange that she should have a number of suitors, bhe seemed to enter into the spirit of the affair with great zest, as also did the minister ; and, to further Sify the people in attendance, the ). entered the barn alone at one door, the groom alone at another, and no one knew that the minister had arrived until his voice Was heard in the stables. There were at least 200 people present, and each one understood that even the striking of a match would break the will. Many jokes were passed, and considerable confusion existed, but at length the minister announced that all was ready. The ceremony was gone through with, and at its conclusion, the affair having been a “ profound success," a rush was made for the bride; she was kissed by a hundred men, and was then carried home, a'distance of a mile and a half, in a big arm-chair. Now comes the mystery. When the lady was down at her own door the widower, the bachelor and the two young men each claimed to be her true and lawful husband. None of the crowd could say who was the lucky man, the minister was at sea, and the bride herself seemed to h|ve doubts. The widower was the 'man- of her choice, but in the confusion he could have been hustled aside, and he did affirm that an attempt had been made to choke him and get him out of the barn. The, bachelor vowed that she had promised to marry him, as also did both young men, and each one was sure that he held the widow’s plump hand and was legally married to her. The four men had a fight, but that didn’t mend matters. The crowd ducked two of them in a creek, but that didn’t decide the question. Just how it would have terminated had hot'(fie widower been a man of nerve no one can tell, as the other three had already Appealed to the law, when the widower stepped in and took his place as husband anq settled with the others for $2,000 eacK Onb of the young men, now over forty years old, and having all the wife he wants (she weighs 280 pounds), is living in this city, and, during an interview had with him to-day, he solemnly and earnestly assured your correspondent that he was legally married to the Widow Dodsworth that night in the big barn. Another of thb partiaß. lives in Clinton County, and he has time and. again asserted that he is the womb’s true and lawful husband, so help him God* The bachelor is dead, but were be alive and kicking he wdtfld renew his oft-repaated protestations: “ I married her, by gum! and, by gum, I ought to have her V'—Jackoon (Mich.) Cor.M. Y. r —No more Bunday trains in Canada. The Dominion Government has issued orders that no trains shall be run dn the Sabbath Day eicept In case of great emergency, and then only on direct order es the Government.

USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

Cocoawut Cahot.—Four cups of water, two and a half cups fine white sugar, foqr ! spoonfuls of vinegar, a piece of butter as large as an egg; boil till thick, or about three-quarters of an hour. Just before removing stir in one cup desslcated cocoanut and lay in small, flat cakes on buttered plates to coo) and harden. Boiled Hominy.—Get the fine hominy of your grocer. Soak one cup of .hominy in three cups of water, with salt to taste. In the morning turn it into a quart pail, then put the pail into a kettle of boiling water, cover tightly, and steam one hour; then add one teacup of sweet milk and boil fifteen minutes after stirring the milk in. Cubing Cobn.—According to the Union Medioalo, corns may be Cured with greater certainty and rapidity than in any other way, by simply applying, morning and evening, a drop of perchloride of iron by means of a bit of straw. This treatment, continued for fifteen days, will, in most cases, effect a cure without involving any pain. Chocolate Cream Drops.—Mix onehalf a cup of creqm with two of white sugar; boil and stir full five minutes; set the dish into another of cold water, and stir until it becomes hard; then make into small balls, about the size of marbles, and with a fork roll each one separately in the chocolate, which has in the meantime been put in a bowl over the boiling teakettle and melted. Put on brown paper to cool. Flavor with vanilla, if desired. This amount makes about fifty drops. Copper Cream.—OnO third of a box of gelatine; one large coffee-cup of very Strong coffee (as prepared for the table); one coffee-cup of sugar; one pint of cream. Put the gelatine in a dish with a coffee-cup of cola milk. Let it stand for two hours. Then add the coffee and set the dish on the back of the range until the gelatine is dissolved; meantime, add the sugar; when thoroughly dissolved, strain through a towel. When it begins to jelly, stir in the cream which has "been previously whipped to a stiff froth. Rinse a mola in cold water, pour in the mixture, and set in a cold place for a few hours. To be eaten with cream, or if real crekm cannot be procured, make a soft custard and pour round it before sending to the table. Parlors are parts of the home. They are not rooms furnished and held sacred for company, but are the domain of the resident people. No visitor is as much 1 entitled to the “ best room," as is the owner and occupant. In many a home that Is otherwise well-regulated, the parlor is nover seen, save when formally opened in honor of the presence of some personage that has no just claim upon the mark of distinction. Its doors are kept closed, the curtains never drawn, the blinds never opened to admit the sunlight and fragrant air of the outer world. Open the parlors, live in them, be at home there, it will add a degree of refinement to the children, and make it more inviting to the individuals you desire shall share its privileges. Ventilation is a neglected necessity. Fresh air is life, and its absence is premature decay. The home should be ventilated and well provided with opportunities for continuing so. Its observance will keep up the physical spirit and stamina, the health at home will be better, the dispositions of the members of the family sweeter, everything will return thanks and manifest gratitude if properly supplied with good ventilation. — Factory and Farm.

A Cool Conductor.

I don’t know whether you would call it coolness, or brazen impudence, and perhaps it don’t matter; but for what your Frenchman understands by nonchalance, in its most perfect form of development, commend us to Pete Frost, aforetime connected with the Portland & Buckfield Railroad, in Mhine, but now serving the B. & P., running out from Boston. It was years ago, when Frank O. J. Smith had put the Buckfield branch into running order, and had built a steamer to connect with Mexico and Rumford, on the Androscoggin. Frost was one of the first conductors. on the road. He seemed to think he could drive an engine as he had been in the habit of driving the North Waterford stage-coach. His first grand operation was to collide with an engine and tender between Minot and Hebron, by which both engines were essentially smashed. His next brilliant exploit was close to Buckfield, when he ran plump into a freight train. Mr. Smith thought that would answer, and he dropped a polite note to Ftost, informing him that his service would be no longer required on that road. Away posted Pete to Portland, finding Frank 0. J. at the old Elm House. “Mr. Smith,” said he, plumply and unblushingly, “ I wish to be reinstated on your roaa.” “What!” exelaimed the Governor. "Put you back on that road?” “Yes, sir.” “Trust you again as conductor?” “ Exactly, sir.” “Bless me! and you have already smashed up three engines for us, beside endangering many lives!” “Yes, sir—and for that very reason you ought to put me back there. I have now learned the trade. You can trust me. If anybody has any question about the propriety of trying to put two engines ahead, on the same track, and in opposite directions, it is not me sir.- I have tried it twice, and f know—it —can't—be—done!'' It was too good. The twain took something together in Charley’s little back Jarlor, and Pete Frost was reinstated, rite has been railroading ever since, and has never met with another accident. In fact, he is accounted one of the best conductors running out from Boston.—Philadelphia Bulletin.

The Third House.

ADwwnT boy, aged twelve, whose uncle is a member of the Legislature, was permitted to make a trip to Lansing a few days ago in order Jo visit the State House. He came home yesterday noon chuck full of importance, and when his little brother nurto meet him at thejgate, William coldly waved him back and said: “ I refer you to the Committee on Fisheries, bub; and how’s my dog?” His mQtber was glad to see him, and when she asked if he had eqjoyed himself he replied: “Oh, I suppose so; though I now move to strike put all after the enacting cl&usc. 1 ’ “What sort of talk la that, Willie, dear?” she asked in great surprise. “Never mind the talk, mother; but move the previous question and bring on thepancakes.” The hired girl came in with the dinner and wanted to know how he liked Lansing. He looked at her with great dignity, and replied: “ I now move to lay your petition on the table. Hannah, for future consideraI tion." i

Bhe got mad about it, and William alyly informed his mother that it was hi% opinion that Haonahw title should be made to conform to the body of the bill. He went put to.see the boys after dinner, apd g hoqse painter asked nim where No. “ We’ll have a call of the House and see,” replied the boy as he looked around. “ Whose house?" asked the painter. “ Or, you can rise to a question of prlvilege,” continued the lad. » “ 1 don’t want no sass!" said the painter; who thought the boy was making fun of his red nose. “Of course nbt. Let’s pass the bill to a third reading, or else go into Committee of the Whole and debate it.’’ “I think you need dressing down!" growled the and he ;banged willr iam into a snowvbarik and pushed a heap of snow down behind his collar. “ Have the minority no rights?” yelled the boy, as he kicked the painter on the shin. IJc would have been wolloped had not his mother appeared. The palntei moved away at the sight of het; but called out: “ I’ll see you again, boy I” . < . ■ “ I refer the whole subject to father, with instructions to report a bill to walk vou into the Police Court,” replied the and he went in to tell his mother tire difference between suspending the rules and rushing a bill, or,Referring it to the Committee on Cornfields till some one came around with the digon.-—Detroit Free Preu.

That Stuffed Cat.

The other day, when a Detroit boy of fourteen bought a stuffed cat at auction, the crowd derided him and had a great deal of fun at his expense. They didn’t know that the boy had a heap of genius and a mountain of bright ideas, and he didn’t tell them. Yesterday morning the lad opened out. in a vacant lot on Cass avenue, having the help of several otner genuises. A clothes-line was stretched from a peg driven at the sidewalk to a fence fifty or sixty feet away, and not over a foot from the ground. By means of straps around the. body and two iron rings, with a stout fish-line to pull on, the cat could be drawn along the rope like a flash and hauled through a hole in the fence. When things were in working order the stuffed teline was placed at the stake, the boys got behind the fence, and the number of dogs which tried to give that cat a cold shaking up was almost beyond count. They strained every nerve to catch her as she was drawn along the rope, and as they followed her through the fence, believing they had a dead sure thing, two boys on either side of the hole let fall four stout clubs with military precision. Each dog seemed to.realize the whole joke in a minute, and the way he started for -home nearly killed the jokers.— Detroit Free Preu.

One of Dean Swift’s Practical Jokes.

Among the literary practical jokes Swift sometimes played was a book of prophecies he published in ridicule of a yearly almanac of predictions by one Partridge. The chief event foretold was the astrologer’s own death on the 29th of March, 1708. As soon as the date was fiast, an elaborate account of Partridge’s ast moments and sayings came out in a “ letter to a person ot honor.” Partridge found it hard to persuade people of his continued existence, and, having once complained to a Dr. Yalden, was repaid by the latter by an additional account of his sufferings and end by his supposed at Cendant physician. The poor man, was driven frantic; he says the undertaker and sexton came to him “on business;” people taunted htm on the streets with not having paid his funeral expenses; his wife was distracted by being persistently addressed as Widow Partridge, and was “cited once a term into court to take out letters of administration;" while “the very reader of our parish, a good, sober, discreet person, has two or three times sent for me to come and be buried decently, ot, if I have been interred in any other parish, to produce my certificate, as the act requires.” Sir Walter Scott remarks, as an odd coincidence, that in 1709 the Company of Stationers obtained an injunction against an almanac published under the name of John Partridge, as if the poor man had been dead in sad earpest.

Farm Drainage.

All farm lands are greatly improved, and made more productive, by being properly drained. From experience and observation.! amsatisfled that undeidrairiing, if properly done, where it is practicable, is much the best, yet lands whiph are quite rolling and hilly would in most cases be greatly benefited by making deep dead furrows eveiy two or three rods apart when plowing. But when the land is only moderately rolling or nearly level, make good-sized open ditches, not more than eighty rods apart, deep enough to go mostly below the top soil, in order that the land may be drained below the roots of the growing crops, then as the surplus water runs oft; the air will enter the soil, and rising up through to the surface, aereate and warm the land, which helps to furnish good and wholesome food for the crops, thereby increasing the yield. But underdraining if properly done is still better. Drains should not be far apah, and should be so laid as to run from the head to the outlet with some descent, and be from two to four feet below the surface (of course an outlet must be provided.) This would drain the soil more evenly and thoroughly, reaching all parts of the land or field to be drained. By this method of draining while the surplus water is running off, the air is running up the drains, and rising through the ground, aerating and warming the soil, making it fit for cultivation full ten days earlier in spring, and continuing its warmth as much later in the fall, thereby lengthening the growing and ripening season, and in most cases, preventing injury from early and late frosts, which in some seasons would add more to the value of lhe crop than the whole cost of the drainage. Where the land is favorable for underdraining, the cost need not be more than from two to four dollars per acre, according to theprlces paid for labor and materials. The drains can be made cf pine boards; a strip six and a half inches wide nailed on to the edge of a strip five and a halt inches wide, and, in lieu of a bottom, nail short strips across about four feet apart, to keep the sides in their places. This kind of drain will last many years, and do good service.. Therefore, I would recommend underdraining as being the greatest benefit to the soil. Bat persons who cannot conveniently underdrain their land should at least dig a few open ditches, of good size and proper depth for main, and then when plowing make deep dead furrows, leading into the ditches, which will be found highly beneficial. Cor. Rural New Yorker.

Youths’. Department. ’ LUUK AND LABOR. Lcex doth wait, atandinc idly at th. gate— WUhlng, Wishing all the day; And at niicht. withvat a without a light. And before an ethp<y tray, Dothatdiv mi; i ■ * •• To-morrow aomething may turn up; To-night on withes 1 must sap," Labor voM, plowing deep the fertile rows— Sinking, singing ail the day; And at night, before the Are, beside the light, And with a well-fllled Lay, Doth gladly eay: “ To-morrow I’ll turn aometilng up; To-night on wages earned I sup." —CaroliM A. Soule, in St. ITicholcu.

The Golden Fish of Owari castle.

In nearly every large city in Japan there is, or was, a large castle, in which the Prince of the province or his soldiers lived in time of peaee, or fought in time of war. In Nagoya, in the Province of Owari, in the central part of the main island, was seen the largest and finest of all the castles in Japan. They were built of . thick walls Of stone masonry from twenty to one hundred fl!et high, and divided from the outside land by moats filled with water. At the angles were high towers, built of heavy beams of wood covered with Ume to make them fire-proof, and roofed with tiles. They had many gables like a pagoda, and port-holes or windows for the archers to shoot out their arrows oh the besiegers. These windows were covered with copper or iron shutters: At the end of the topmost gable of the tower, with its tail in the air, was a great fish made of bronze or copper, from six to ten feet high, weighing thousands of pounds. It was a frightful monster of a fish, looking as if Jonah would be no more in its mouth than a sprat in a mackerel’s. It stood on its lower gill, like a boy about to walk on his hands and headIt always reminded me of the old fashioned candlesticks, in which a glass dolphin rampant, with very thick lips, holds a candle in his glass tail. In Japan, however, the flukes of this bronze fish’s tail, instead of a candle, were usually occupied by a live hawk, or sometimes an eagle, cormorant or falcon. Half the birds in Fukui solemnly believed the castle towers to have been built for their especial perch and benefit. I often have seen every fish-tail of the castle occupied by crows. They were finishing their toilet, enjoying an after-dinner nap, or making speeches to each other, observing the rules of order no better than some assemblies in which several persons talk at once. We sometimes say of a boy having wealthy parents, that “he was bom with a silver spoon in his mouth.” Now, as the Japanese eat with chop-sticks, and use their silver for other purposes, they express nearly the same idea in other words. In Japan, the better class of people—those who enjoy the privilege of wealth, education or position—live either within or near the castle. One of the first things a well-bom Japanese baby sees and learns to know out-doors is the upright bronze fish on the castle towers. HenceaJapanese is proud to say, “I was bom within sight of the ehachiboko” (the Japanese name of this fish.) The Princes of Owari were very proud, rich and powerful; and they determined to erect gold instead of bronze fishes on their castle. Bo they engaged famous gold and silver smiths to make them a ehdehihoko ten feet high. Its tail, mouth and fins were of solid beaten silver. Its scales were plates ’of solid gold. Its eyes were of black glass. It cost many thousands of dollars, and required about twenty men to lift it. This was at Nagoya, a city famous for its bronzes, porcelain vases, cups and dishes, its wonderful enamel work called cloisonne, and its gay fans. Thousands of the Japanese fans with which we cool our faces in summer were made in Nagoya. Well, when, after much toil and-the help of great derricks ana tackling, the great object was raised to its place, thousands of persons came from a distance to see the golden wonder. The people of Nagoya felt prouder than ever of their handsome city. In all kinds of weather, the golden fish kept its color and glittering brightness, never tarnishing or blackening like the common ehaehihoko on other castles. Morning and evening, the sunbeams gilded it with fresh splendor. The gold and the sunlight seemed to know each other, for they always kissed. The farmers’ children, who lived miles distant in • the country, clapped their hands with joy when th» flashing flukes on the castle towers gleamed in the air. The travelers plodding along the road, as they mounted a hill, knew when the city was near, though they could not see anything bqt the gleam like a star of gold. Alas that I should tell it! What was joy to the many, was temptation to some. They were led to envy, then to covet, then to steal the prize. A man whose talents and industry might have made him rich and honored, became a robber—first in heart, and then in act. He began to study how he might steal the golden fish. How was he to reach the roof or the tower ? Even if he could swim the moat and scale the wall, he could not mount to the top story of the roof.’ The gates were guarded. The sentinels were vigilant, and armed with sword and spear. How should he reach the golden scales! A kite, twenty-five feetsquare, was made of thick paper, with very strong but light bamboo frame, with tough rope for a tether, and a pair of bobs strong enough to lift two hundred pounds. No man could hold such a kite. The rope was wound round a windlass and paid out by one person, while two men and three boys held the hand-cart. A very dark, cloudy night, when a brisk wind was up, was chosen. When all was ready at midnight, the hand-cart was run out along the moat, the robber, with prying-tools In his belt, and his feet in loops at the end of the bobs, mounted on the perilous air-ship, more dangerous than a balloon. The wind was in the right direction, and by skillful movements of the cart and windlass, the robber, after swinging like a pendulum for a few minutes, finally alighted on the right roof. Fastening the bobs so as to secure his descent, he began the work of wrenching off the golden scales.- * This be found no easy task. The goldsmiths had riveted them so securely that they defied bis prying, and the soft, tough metal could not be torn off. He dared not make any clinking noise with hammer or chisel, lest the sentinels should hear him. After what appeared to be several hours’ work, he had loosened only two scales, worth scarcely more than fifty dollars. To make a long story short, the man was caught. The sentinels were awakened, and the crime detected. The robber was sentenced to die a cruel death—-to be boiled in oil. His accomplices received various other decrees of punishment. The Prince of Owari issued a decree forbidding the flying of any kites above a certain small size. Henceforth the grand

. old kites which the boys of the province had flown in innocent fun won jsbmt ward taken down from the castle in Nagoya, and kept in the Prince’s treasure, house. When I saw It, it was in Tobin at the museum. It was afterward taken Nicholas for March. ’ ’

What You Do, Do Well.

“ Why do you take such pains incutting out these little figures?" ssJtad Winifred of her brother Ernest. “I will tell you why, sister,” replied Ernest. “ I take pains because my teacher tells me, that, if a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well.’’ “ Did he mean that we should try to do well even in trifles ?” asked Wihifred. “ Yes,” answered Ernest, " because, an a great man once said, ‘ Perfection is no trifle.”’ Winifred sat looking at her brother, as, handling a pair of scissors, he carefully cut out figures of horses, dogs, pigs and various other animals. Three years afterward she remembered this conversation; for it happened at that time, that, her father having died, her widowed mother was left almost destitute with a family of seven children to support. What should the poor woman do? At first she thought she would take in washing, then that she would try to keep a little shop. While she was hesitating, Mr. Mason, a brisk old gentleman, came to the door, and asked: “Where is. the boy who cuts these figures and faces in profile?" . ; One of his grandchildren had brought him home from school some specimens of Ernest’s skill; and Mr. Mason saw at once that they were the work of a gifted and. pains-taking artist. "You must mean my little Ernest," said the mother. “ Poor little fellow! He little dreams what is coming. I* shall soon have to take him away from school.” “ Why so ?” erfed Mr. Mason. “ Take him away from school ? You shall do nd .such a thing. I’ll not allow it." “ We are destitiite, sir, and I have no means of support,” said the mother, wW ' a sigh. nit : • “No means of support! Nonsense! With a boy in the house who can cut figures like that, do you say you have d» means of support ?’ ’ exclaimed Mr. Mason, r ■ “Good woman, I will insure yourbby good wages every week for the next year, if you will let him come between acnooihours, and cut pictures under my direction." The rest of my little story may soon b® told. Ernest became the staff and stay of his family. The little talent he had cultivated so carefully and diligently was the meahs of giving him not only an honest , employment, but a liberal support. He rose to distinction; and his productions' wrire much sought after by all gopd judges of art.— Emily Carter, in Nursiry.

Seasonable Suggestions.

In a few days, or weeks at most, the earth all around us will respond to the influences of spring-time.' It will soon be upon us, for time is relentless, and wait* not upon man’s wishes or .desires. Are we ready for the advent of these influences ana the activities which «re» their concomitants in; the- cultivation of the toil ? Have the seeds that are to go into the ground been procured ? Hu proper care and judgment been exercised in their selection? Let it not be forgotten that upon good seed very much of the profits of the crop depends. By all means let us obtain the best seed of the best tested kinds that can be had. Theymay cost something more than poorer sorts, but it is economy, .nevertheless, to secure them. Many farmers, in anticipation of the work soon to commence, have put, ttair farming implements’ in complete order, which will be required, but there are those perhaps who have neglected them, or have not had time to attend to them. The sooner it is done now the better; and if any new ones are to be purchased, select those best adapted to the purposes for which they are to be used, and hartt them in readiness. There are none of us that are exempt from failings, and one great trouble with many farmers is the fault of negligence. The delays, vexations and losses that, occur from this source are greater than we are apt to imagine, and the disasters that follow are often far more costly than we are willing to admit. A day or two sometimes makes a vast difference in the outcome of a crop. When on” to. the plow our teams should be in a condition to do the work required of them, and therefore * generous supply of nutritious, strengthening food is now necessary, with enough exercise to enable them to digest and assimilate it. It does not-pay to under-feed animals under any circumstances, and it is supreme folly to expect a horse that has been poorly fed to do a reasonable amount of hard work in the spring. The horse requires more concentrated food than other live stock, for more hard work is required of him, still a variety of food is advisable, far his diet may be too heating. The work of the first month of spring is especially trying upon horses. If they are not well cared for in advance, they will hardly be able to stand the work required of theta.— Weetem Rural.

THE MARKETS.

lotmoob-j-j .......... qg yi-g Hogs 5.90 A S.» FLOUR—Good to Choice. 6.05 A 110 WHEAT—No. 8 Chicago 1.88 A IJBJ4 CORN—Western Mixed JBKQ JO OATS-Wes tern Mixed and State .41 A JO RTE—Western. 81 A .86 PORK—Mees ....... 10.75 • IMO LARD—Steam 10. ma 10.15 CHEESE.... i .... .« A .iMfc WOOD-Domeetic 11eeee....... JO A M CHICAGO. US;: IS HOGS-Lteht*^ U .?.'.’.*.V."1« M* tg g FLOUR-Choice Winter. 7,T0 ( MO. Choice Spring MO 7.00 GRAIN-WheaUNo-'i Sprlng” Uttf 1J» ‘ * Rye. No. .... .WX k JO .AfcJlfc* ui T t 1 ; PORK —Mees (new)... CATTU-Bm. K lb SHEEP-BeetTL..?.. OJ6 • MO Medtaas... wo • ’OO