Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1877 — Page 3

The Rensselaer Union. T--"**- 1 RENSSELAER, • • INDIANA.

THE CLOSING IE AB. ’Til midnight's holy hour —*md .ilenoe now The beil"» deepest tones are swelling. 'Til the knell Of the departed Year. No funeral train Is sweeping past; yet on the stream and wood. With melancholy light, the m<s>nbe»m» rent. Like a pale, nx/tlees shroud; the air u stirred, As by a mourner's sigh; and on yon cloud. That floats so still and placidly through heaven, The spirits of the seasons seem to stand— Spring, bright Bummer, Autumn s solemn And Winter with his aged locks-and breathe In mournful cadences, that come abroad lake the far wind-harp a wild and touching wail A melancholy dirge o er the dead Year, Gone from the earth forever. Tiaatime For memory and for tears. Within the deep. Still chambers of the heart, a specter dim, . Whose tones are like the wizard voice of Time, Heard from the tomb of ages, points its cold And solemn finger to the beautiful And holy visions that have passed away And left no shadow of their loveliness On the dead waste of life. That specter lifts The coflin-lid of hope and joy and love, And. bending mournfully above the pale Sweet forms that slumber there, scatters dead flowers O'er what has passed to nothingness. The Year Has gone, and, with it, many a glorious throng Of happy dreams. Its mark is on each brow. Its shadow in each heart. In its swift course It waved its specter o'er the beautiful. And they are not. It laid its pallid hand Upon the strong man, and the haughty form Is fallen and the flashing eye is dim. It trod the hall of revelry, where thronged The bright and joyous, and the tearful wail Of stricken ones is heard where erst the song And rocklees shout resounded. It passed o’er The battle-plain, where sword and spear and shield Flashed in the light of midday—and the strength Of serried hosts is shivered, and the gnus, Green from the soil of camage, waves above The crushed and mouldering skeleton. It came And faded like a wreath of mist at eve; Yet, ere it melted in the viewless sir, It heralded its millions to their home In the dim land of dreams. He morse less Time! Fierce spirit of the glass and scythe!-what power Can stay him in his silent course, or melt His iron heart to pity? On, still on He presses, and forever. The proud bird, The eondor of the Andes, that can soar Through heaven's unfathomable depths, orbrave The fury of the northern hurricane. And bathe his plumage in the thunder's home. Furls his broad wings at nightfall, and sinks down To rest upon his mountain-crag—but Time Knows not the weight of sleep or weariness, _ And night's deep darkness, has no chain to bind His rushing pinion. Revolutions sweep O’er earth, like troubled visions o’er the breast Of dreaming sorrow; cities rise and sink. Like bubbles on the water; fiery isles Spring blazing from the ocean, and go back To their mysterious caverns: mountains rear To heaven their bald and blackened cliffs, and bow Their tall heads to the plain; new empires rise. Gathering the strength of hoary centuries. And rush down like the Alpine avalanche, Startling the Nations; and the very stars, Yon bright and burning blazonry of God, Glitter awhile in their eternal depths. And—like the Pleiad, loveliest of their train. Shoot from their glorious spheres and pass away, To darkle in the trackless void: yet Time, Time the tomb-builder, holds his fierce career, Dark, stern, all-pitiless, and pauses hot Amid the mighty wrecks that strew his path, To sit and muse, like other conquerors, pon the fearful ruin he has wrought —George D. Prentice. THE MOCKING-BIRD AND THE — ML A mock-bird in a village Had somehow gained the skill To imitate the voices Of animals at will. And singing in his wison. Once, at the close of day. Ho gave with great precision, = The donkey’s heavy bray. Well pleased, the mock-bird's master ~ _ Bent to the neighbors 'round, ■ , And hade them come together To hear that curious sound. They came, and all were talking In praise of what thty heard. And one delighted lady Would fain have bought the bird. A donkey listened sadly, And said: ** Confess 1 must That these are shallow people, And terribly unjust. “ I’m bigger than the mock-bird. And better bray than he, Yet not a soul has uttered A word in praise of me.” William Cullen Bryant, in St. Nicholas for December.

THE RED LIGHT.

A Story of New Year’s Ere. New Year’s Eve. Not one of the ideal New Year’s Evea of poets and romance writers, wherein he moon is always at the full, the snow always a sparkle, like pulverized diamonds, nnu the air always still and cold and clear; but a stormy twilight, with the snow driving steadily from the east, the wind raw and biting, and the sky—what you could see of it—as black as nk. But it was New Year’s Eve, all the same, and Bertha Hooper’s checks were as red as the bitter-sweet berries in the woods, as she sat, all wrapped up, in he train tliaj was steaming northward, on her way to spend New Year with her Aunt Almira Higgins. New Year in tlie country! To Bertha, who had lived all her life in the brick walls and stone pavements of a city, he very words seemed to convey somewhat of cheer and joyousness. And Bertha, as she sat with her eyes closed, and her little gloved hands safely nestled in a gray-squirrel muff, beheld, n her mind’s eye, great fires of logs roaring up wide-tliroated chimneys, and had half composed a poem on New Year and its associations when the ruthless conductor came along for her ticket. “How far are we from Montcourt Station P” she inquired, as she gave up the bit of pasteboard. “Next but one, miss,” said the man, as he hurried on, with his lahtern under his arm. “ Half an hour yet.” She had never been so far New York in all her life before. The driving rain in which she had left her home had changed, as they progressed northward, into the steady fall of snow, which fluttered around them like a white waving shroud. But Bertha Hooper eared little for this. Had not Aunt Almira promised to send Zebedee, her youngest son, to the station with the pony to meet her on the arrival of the sixty-four train from New YorkP And was not Zebedee to'have a lantern with a red glass door to it, so that she could identify him at onoe? She was very pretty as she sat there in her little black velvet toque, with its curling plume of cardinal red. and the wine-red ribbon bow at her thgpat —pretty with the bloom And freshness of eighteen. She was dark, with large hazel eyes, almond-shaped and longshaped, ti clear rosy bloom on either cheek, and wavy dark hair hanging in silken fringe over her broad, low forehead. “ Mont—court—sta—iion P’ bawled the brakekman, putting in a snowpowdered fur cap, and withdrawing it again as quickly as if he had been a magnificent edition of the Jaok-in-»-box, wherein children much rejoice at holiday tfVne. And Bertha Hooper knew that she had reached her destination. ■> and cramped for the length of

j time in which she had been sitting in one position, she rose up, with a little steel-clasped traveling-bag in one hand, and a dainty ailk umbrella in the other, and made her way to the door. All she could see when she stepped out upon the wet and slippery platform, was a blur of driving snow, through which the lights of the solitary little country depot gleamed fitfully; but the next instant something flashed athwart her vision like a friendly red eye—and beneath the reflection over the station door, she saw a tall, fine-looking young man, in a fur-trimmed overcoat, a sealskin cap set jauntily on one side of a crop of chestnut curls, and a red-light-ed lantern swinging froth his left hand, and he stood straining his eyes into the stormy darkness, as- if to catch sight of some familiar face in the little crowd. “Cousin Zebedee!” cried Bertha, aloud, and she made one spring into the arms of this blonde-whiskered young giant. For had not she and Zebedee played dominoes and fox and geese together in the days when she wore blue ribbon sashes, and his hair was a closely-shorn mat of carroty red? “ Oh! Cousin Zebedee, I’m so glad to see you; and I hadn’t any idea you had grown half so handsome!” And she gave him a great hug, at the same time holding up her rosebud lips for a kiss. But, to her infinite amazement, the hero of the seal-skin cap seemed a little backward in responding to her cousinly advances. “I—l beg your pardon,” said he, slightly receding, “but I’m afraid there is some mistake. My name is not Zebedee, and the lady for whom I am looking is some years older than you.” Bertha Hooper started back, coloring and confused; and, as she did so, a fat comfortable looking old lady came trundling along the platform, in an India shawl and a boa of Russia sable worth its weight in greenbacks. “.Charley!” she cried, “I thought I never should find you. Is the carriage here?” “ All here, and waiting Aunt Effie,” responded the young man; but he still hesitated a* second, as Bertha Hooper stood with averted face and motionless figure in the shadow of the building. “ Can I be of any service to you?” he asked. “If you are expecting friends who have failed to meet you ” “ Anybody here by the name of Berthy Hoo-00-per?” shouted a stentorian voice; and a tall, raw-looking lad with a lantern—also lighted with red glass—rushed shuffling around- the corner.

Zebedee himself! Zebedee, redhaired and shambling and awkward as he had been in the old fox-and-geese days. 7- ■ ■■■■■- “ Oh!” said he catching up his lantern, so that the scarlet bird’s wings flashed out like a spit of flame —scarcely more scarlet, alas! than Bertha’s own face. “Here you be! Pm a little late, for the roads is so allfired bad and I couldn’t start the pony out of a walk. Come on! How de do? Be you very cold? 11 - ———-

—»■ “Zebedee,” said Bertha, clinging almost hysterically-to her cousin's arm, “who’s that young gentleman with—with the other lantern ?” “Eh!” said Zebedee. “That feller with the old lady in a patchwork shawl?’’ — “ Yes!” “It’s Charley Harcourt, the Squire’s son,” said Zebedee. “ Just come from furrin parts!” “Zebedee,” said Bertha, with a curious little sound between a laugh and a sob, “ put me into the cutter quick; and drive me somewhere. I don’t care where! Because —’ ’ “Eh?” said Zebedee, staring hard at his cousin, as he packed the buffalo robe around her before touching up the laggard old pony. “Because,” added Bertha, in a species of desperation, “ 1 took Mr. Harcourt for you; and I hugged him and I kissed him.” “Is that all?” said philosophical Zebedee. “He won’t care!” “ No,” said Bertha, “ but I shall!” “You ain’t crying, be you?” said Zebedee, noting the quiver in his cousin’s voice. “How can I help it?” wailed poor Bertha. “’Twarn’t no fault o’yourn,” said Zebedee, consolingly. “Of course it wasn’t” said Bertha, impatiently. “How was I to know that every lantern at Montcourt had a red glass to it?” And poor little Bertha cried herself to sleep that night. The next morning—New Year’s Day, all snowed up into glorious drifts everywhere—Mr. Harcourt drove over to the Higgins farmhouse. The young lady haddropped a fur glove on the Slatform, and Mr. Harcourt felt it his uty to restore it to her. And, moreover—here Mr. Charley Harcourt hesitated a little—he hoped Miss Hooper would excuse him for being so stupid as to allow her to fancy him her cousin. “ I ought to have explained sooner,” said he. ~_—l 1_ “ No, you ought not,” said Bertha. “ The fault was all mine.” “I don’t recognize a fault anywhere,” said he. “ And if I am pardoned ” “Of course you are!” said Bertha, rosier and prettier than ever. “ In that case, I am commissioned by my mother to ask your aunt's permission to take you over to help us finish dressing the church in time for morning service. My horse is waiting. “ May I go, Aunt Almira?” said Bertha, with sparkling eyes. “Of course you may,” said Aunt Almira. And so poor Zebedee was left out In the cold. What was the end of it all? There is but one sequel to stories like this, when youth and bright eyes and human hearts are concerned. The next New: Year’s Eve Bertha Hooper and Charley Harcourt were married. But the bridegroom persists in declaring that Bertha did the first of the love making. And Bertha only laughs.

A Conductor’s Singular Mistake.

Conductor Herkins’ train from New York Saturday evening was delayed half an hour by a singular accident. Our readers may remember our account, a year ago. of the Harlem conductor whose hat blew out of the bag-gage-car door, end who reached for ft so eagerly that he followed it, and was so injured by the fall as to be laid up for several months. The same conductor,' Budlong, was collecting fares Saturday in the tunnel on the train which leaves the depot on the Harlem Road at 2:20 p. m. Passing through the last car, he walked on, thinking he had another car to visit, and walked right off the end of his train, falling on

the track. It is very dark in the tunnel, and the rolling smoke made it im possible to see that there was not another ear. Ihe engineer soon discovered that Budlong was missing. He telegraphed back to the depot, and Conductor Herkins’ train was held back, so that it might not run over Budlong’s body. An engine was Sent up through the tunnel.to look for it, and it was found on the track. Budlong was unconscious and badly hurt; but it is said that no bones had been broken.— New Haven (Conn.) Palladium.

PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

• —Amid all the noise of Paris is heard our American Noyes. —Senator McDonald, of Indiana, began his working life as a saddler. —When President Hayes gets irritated beyond all endurance, he says “ I swan.”— Boston Globe. —M. Lasalle, the French baritone, has restored his voice to its wonted purity by drinking milk. —The book that has had the most extensive sale in this country is Mrs. Stowe’s “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” —The Rev. Russell Jennings, of Deep River, Conn., has within twelve years given away more than $200,000 for charitable purposes. —A correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer describes Lord John Russell as a “little heap of wrinkled humanity.” —Victor Hugo refused to receive a visit from Gen. Grant, because the latter affiliates with the Monarchists in Paris. —Bertha Von Hillern, the walkist, takes 223,200 steps in walking a hundred miles. She would make a good step-mother. —President Grant writes that he found the labor of accepting the hospitality of his English friends more arduous than the cares of State.

—lt would be the proper thing for Senator Jones to publish a pamphlet entitled “That Mine of Mine.”— Post, Worcester. —Dr. Holland is a tall man, with black hair and mustache, and dark complexion. There is a spring in his step, and he doesn’t look over forty years of age. —McCreery, the Kentucky Senator, although wealthy, is very economical, holding that every man in high office should set a wholesome example in this respect. —lt is estimated that Gen. O. E. Babcock, who was the Private Secretary of Gen. Grant, owns property in Washington worth half a million dollars.—N. Y. Post. —Sims Reeves attributes his long lease of voice to this sage counsel of his master: “We must keep the voice in the middle. This is the secret of really fine tone, of the faculty of singing cantabile passages with effect, and of making a coup on a high note when it is wanted. Nothing is more destructive than perpetual exercise of the upper register.” —Gale, the English pedestrian who has lately completed the task of walking 4,000 quarter-miles in 4,000 consecutive periods of ten minutes each, has obtained such complete mastery over his physical powers that he sleeps occasionally while walking. Medical evidence has been taken on this point, and the fact is beyond a doubt.

A Practical Hint in Making Bequests.

“Every man his own executor,” was the motto adopted by the late Job Cleveland,’Esq., of Jersey City, N. J., an honorable gentleman of business in life, and a sensible gentleman of large estate in death. This head of a family and fortune had viewed not without thoughtful alarm the increasing tendency to thwart the wills of men who die leaving the customary testamentary bequests whereby they give and bestow the earnings and savings of their lives to heirs, in the' shape of wives, children, friends, benevolent institutions, etc.; he had likewise seen the unfortunate results which oftentime follow the disposition of estates in the law’s prescribed form, without wills, whereby property is broken up among the legal heirs and families so often divided in spirit. All this made a deep impression on Mr. Cleveland, and he resolved to inaugurate a new method iu the division of his ample estate among those whom he should choose as his heirs. Just what Mr. Cleveland’s new plan was has been kept as his own secret, and was only unlocked to the world the second or third day after his death, which occurred one week ago. Tbm, in the usual search for papers which follows such events —often with a haste not at all becoming—to ascertain who iB the “favorite” heir; who is the one “ cut off with a shilling',” and who would probably be contented, and who would likely contend for a setting aside of the will, on account of insanity, undue prejudice, or something of that sort—it was ascertained that, so far as the Mr. Job Cleveland “ will-case” was concerned, there would never be such a one in the Surrogate’s or the Probate Court. There was money, and there were heirs; but in the apportionment of the former to the latter, Mr. Cleveland had fixed everything beyond dispute, even beyond the skill of a hungry lawyer to disturb, for, in place of a will, the testator had made a division of his property 'in all due and legal forms through the execution of deeds and accompanying documents, properly drawn, attested to, and recorded in life, but retained in the testator’s own possession, and duly directed to each beneficiary. Here was Mr Cleveland’s plan as revealed by the hand of death. It may be that the example of the wise father and man of business in New Jersey will assist materially in solving the problem, which is growing out Of the many, will contests of late inauguevery estate of prominence whiter enters into the Probate Courts of the land, and by which so much of falsehood and scandal is being evolved. A conveyance of property from almost any of these deceased business men and capitalist to a stranger—made in life and properly signed and recorded—would be held as good and valid in any court of justice, despite charges of insanity, undue influenoe or prejudice, and why would it not hold equally strong when tpade to a child or other legal heir? It may be that the era of unseembly squabbles over dead men’s property oan be ended, and it may be | that Job Cleveland’s method of attend 1 ing to bequests will do much toward 1 leading to this much-desired end;—Chicago Journal. “What is a dollar P” asks the Graphic. It’s just the same as gratitude; something of which we owe more than j we have.— Hawk-Eye.

HOME, FARM AND GARDEN.

—Johnny Cake.— Two cups Indian meal; one-naif cup flour; two cups sour milk; one egg; one teaspoonful melted butter; two teaspoonfuls salerntus; a little salt; and two teaspoonfuls sugar. —The Druggists' Circular gives the following formula for a shaving soap: Take white soap, four ounces; spermaceti, one-half ounce; olive oil, one-half ounce; melt them together and stir until nearly cold; soent with such oils as may be most agreeable. —A correspondent ot the New York Press says that if any man will draw breath quickly and deeply for the space of three minutes or less, he will thereby lose acute sensibility to pain, so that he can endure a minor surgical operation without inconvenience. , —ln these days of bank failures it is safest for the farmer to make his deposits in banks of rich soil and more manure; buy improved stock instead of bank stock, ana the only shares he should indulge in should be to share with his wife and family the comforts of a good home.— lowa State Register. —lnto the whitewash pail, while the lime-water is still hot, drop a teacupful Of soft boiled rice, and mix thoroughly. Then pour into a quart pot of cold water, say ten or twelve drops of crude carbolic acid. Mix this into the rest, and swab the interior of your hen house with it. For outside, use rock salt dissolved instead of boiled rice, and dispense with carbolic acid. No other preparations of whitewash everequalled this for poultry buildings.—Farmer’s Advocate.

—A gentlem An writing to the Planter and Farmer gives the following remedy for a choking cow. It will probably act just as well with other animals, and it will be well to remember it. He says it has never failed in any instance, and has been tried by him and others hundreds of times. The remedy is to take a spoonful of saltpeter, open the animal’s mouth, throw it well back upon the tongue; let the animal go, and the obstruction will cither go up oy down in a very few minutes. —Take, say ten gallons, new cider, and suffer it to ferment fully, which will probably be in about two weeks if the weather be warm; then add about eight gallons of new cider for producing a second fermentation, and in about two weeks add a like quantity to produce a third fermentation. Stop the bunghole of the barrel with an empty bottle with the neck downward and expose to the sun. When the vinegar is come set in a cool place. When making let there be a moderate degree of heat and free access of external air. The process is hastened by adding to the cider a quantity of mother of vinegar, as it is called, a whitish, ropy coagulum, of mucilaginous appearance, which is formed in vinegar and acts as a ferment. The strength of vinegar depends on the amount of sugar or starchy matter to be ultimately converted into acetic acid. Cider made from late apples is esteemed the best for vinegar.— Scientific American.

Sheds for Stock.

To realize the best returns from all ry to shelier them well,"else~Tt~ wilT take much extra food to keep them up to the prdper degree of heat to resist the cold and put on any extra fat. Judging from the numbers but indifferently housed, one would naturally suppose this- fact was but partially understood, though those who do understand it, and who profit by the knowledge," are the ones, other things being in unison, who receive the greatest percentage of profit from their stock. It is all very nice, if you possess the requisite means, to build elaborate houses for your horses, cows, sheep, swine, etc., yet the number of farmers who are able to do this are in the minority, and the others must content themselves with something which is no doubt equally effective and serviceable, though far less expensive. Young farmers who stait on limited and have to depend principally on their brains and muscles to enable them to make a profit on their farming, have to wait until the future for weFlbuilt, handsome barns and other outbuildings —till the farm has returned enough qrrofit to warrant such an outlay. But this fact should not prevent an effort being made to provide winter shelter for the cows and other stock, if barn and shed-room already on the farm is not ample for the accommodation of all the stock. And right here will muscles come into play to secure the required shelter, and thus save a cash outlay. Against the side of the barn, in the barnyard, or some convenient inclosure, or against the high board fence which may inclose one side of the barnyard, build a skeleton shed, by planting crotched sticks (timbers) obtained from the woods. In these crotches lay other timber sticks strong enough to bear considerable weight. On these lay old rails about a foot apart. You now have your skeleton sbed and require the roof, which is made with corn fodder, which is neatly piled on the rails, from six to ten or fifteen feet thick. This makes a most excellent protection, at the same time having the fodder in a convenient place for feeding during the winter. If the fodder has been placed properly, so as to shed the rain, out little of it will be damaged." By making the shed deep and not too high—merely high enough for a man to walk under comfortably at its lowest place—and also built against the south or warm side of the buildin" or fence, the animals will have a comfortable place to winter under. They can go under at pleasure by having it open in front, and during mild days can be fed in the barnvard, while in stormy weather the fodder and other food can be fed under the shed. We have seen temporary pig pens thus made, and they answered admirably, being warm and comfortable. * we have seen colts wintered under just such sheds, and they came out, in the spring, as strong and hearty as could be wished for. Cor. Practical Farmer.

Careless Farmers.

It is almost impossible for a careless farmer to be prosperous. How often do we hear of dome unexpected failure in the commercial world? We look for the cause of this disaster, ard find that the merchant was engaged in unprofitable trade, or perhaps some faithless clerk has robbea his master. The failure is due to any one of a dozen causes which proper oversight might have corrected. When the merchant has realized the ambitious dreams of his earlier mercantile career, he neglects those habits of business whieh insured his success, and failure is the result. And it is the same in any business or occupation. But with an unsuccessful farmer, lack of, success is still more directly traceable to carelessness of the man himself. Carelessness in farming

Is manifested in many different ways, each seemingly unimportant The careless farmer is careless of his own personal appearance, indifferent to the Wants of his family, and negligent of his stock. Personally, he is deficient in spirit and enterprise. As to his family, it satisfies him if his wife does all his hard drudgery and asks few favors. His children must not care for education, for society, tn leave the farm, or for anything except to wait upon his pleasure. His crops.are planted, cultivated and harvested in a slipshod sort of manner, that leaves only a small margin for profit. His stock is inferior, and he loses a few head from disease every spring. His tools (if he has improved tools) soon decay from exposure to the elements and negligent use. He has less stock, lighter crops and more debts than his more careful neighbor. Buch a farmer, however, does not continue contracting debts and liabilities until he can go no farther and there is an extensive failure involving hundreds of other business men, but he buys something that he does not need (perhaps a top-buggy, or a machine) or he hires some one to do work that he could do himself. He has not the money to pay down and gives his note, which is as good as cash. However, when the note is due, his creditor must wait a few days, and this is repeated so frequently and always by asking more days of grace, so that at last to secure his debts and obtain credit he must mortgage his stock, and a chattel, mortgage is followed by a mortgage on his farm. There are very many other reasons why a farmer should fail. He may have been unfortunate, perhaps he has lost some stock from accident or disease. His crops may have been light and growing lighter. He may nave occasionally sold his stock or crops in an unfavorable market. These are all apparent reasons for his failure, but back of all this is the man himself.— Country Gentleman.

The Smuggled-Cigar Game.

Veteran smokers are sold by shrewd swindlers, who are fruitful in devices. The commonest of these dodges is the sale of pretended smuggled cigars, and though it has been played times without number, and time out of mind in every seaport city of the globe, users of the weed are swindled ny it every week in the year in this very city of sharp pieople. The modus operandi is simple enough, but it takes a good actor to carry it through. The victim selected is always an inveterate smoker, who has been particularly marked by the swindler. The latter watches bis opportunity, and with a couple of boxes concealed under the pea-jacket which he dons for the occasion, he enters the counting-room of the unsuspecting man of business who is in the enjoyment of his third or fourth afternoon cigar. “Any cigars to-day, Captain?” he asks in a low voice, casting his eyes furtively around, as if he feared that he might be overheard. “ No,” is the curt answer. “ But these ain’t your common cigars, Cap’n; you can’t get none like v era at the Revere nor Parker Housc. See here,” lowering his voice. “ those cigars came from Havana, and there hain’t been no duties paid on ’em, neither. One of my own speculations. Had ten boxes, and sold ’em all but these two. They’re worth SSO a thousand. I’m beginning to feel a little resky, and my ship sails to-day, too. Let you have’em, if you’ll take both boxes, at half price.” “ Don’t want ’em,” saysthe merchant shortly, who is annoyed every hour in the day with all softs of applications for patronage. “Just try that, will you?” said the vender, nothing daunted, bursting the paper of one of the boxes, and taking out a cigar at random; “’t’wont cost you anything.” This is an appeal the merchant cannot resist. He takes the cigar, looks at it critically, smells of it, lights it. The first puff is enough. The man has told the truth. Such a cigar is hard to be had anywhere, and ne is conscious that it is worth even more than SSO a thousand. He can’t let such a chance slip, and yet he doesn’t feel that Tie ought to encourage smuggling. So he says, dissembling his eagerness: “That’s a fair cigar, certainly; but your price is wild. I’ll give you S4O for the two.” “You’re rough on a sea-farin’ man, Cap’n. Can’t you call it forty-five?” “Forty.” “Forty it is, then; but if my ship wasn’t goin’ to sail to-night vou couldn’t have them for twice that. Smugglin’ don’t pay for such small figures.’’ . The S4O are paid over, and the ownership of the boxes transferred; the swindler places himself on the other side of-the door as soon as possible, and seeks some other locality to repeat his clever operation. When the victim, full of anticipation, seeks his box for a seeond weed, he finds that he has purchased the vilest kind of a cab-bage-leaf article, which would be dear at fifty cents a thousand, the specimen having been a really fine, pure Havana cigar, used expressly as a bait. —Boston Journal of Commerce. The total nominal capital invested in all the railways of Great Britain is nearly $3,200,000,000. This is at the rate of $200,000 per mile of railway opened. More than $190,000,000 of capital pay no dividend; $270,000,000 less than 5 per cent., and only $25,000,000 more than 10 per cent.

Thk wheat-grower's maxim—Of two weevils choose the. least. —* - —- One of the new styles of Organs introduced by the Mason <& Hamlin Organ Co., this season (No. 345), Is in a peculiarly rich and attractive case, of new style. It is of solid black walnut, having sunken panels and raised surfaces of jet black, not to be distinguished from highly-polished ebony, and ornamented with borders and graceful designs in gold bronze; it is also studded with black and gold-bronze ornaments. It has nine stops, including the The price is extraordinarily low for so superb an instrument. Rheumatism Quickly Cured. “Duran Jr’s Bheumatio Remedy," the great internal Medicine, will positively cure any ease of rheumatism on the face of the earth. Price 91 a bottle. Sold by all Druggists. Send far circular to Helpbenstine * Bentley, Washington, D. 0. The “P<ra.TßT World,” Hartford, Conn., la the leading magazine of Its class, sl.2sayear; 13 superb Chkomos mailed for only 75c. additional. All fowl-breeder* should have it. Subscribe now for 1878. It is best and cheapest. 10c. sample No. Thi elegant Royal Casket sent out by the i Franklin Jewelry Company, at 700 Bennett Street, Philadelphia, Is fully up to the representation in their advertisement, and as this Company Is perfectly responsible, no one need hesitate to send them money.— Herald. To Dyspeptic* sad Invalid*. Biscuits, rolls, bread, cake or pastry, made with Dooley’s Yexst Powdbr. can be eaten with impunity and relished by the most sensitive dyspeptics as healthy and nutrition?. ;

Mothers who have Dell«n(u CblMraa who are Subject to Croup, Bend Thia. Allbn’s Lung Balsam should always be kept in your bouse, and be given Immediately when the first symptoms appear, which will remove the mucous collected in the throat and. save the life of your dear child. Mothers, Mothers* Mothers. Don’t fail to procure MM, Winblow’s Bootnnto Stbup for all diseases of teething in children. It relieves the child from pain, cures wind oolio, regulates the bowels, and, by giving relief and health to the child, gives rest to thomother.

NATURE’S YEcmm> The &mr Biooo FOR TEN TIM KM ITM COMT. The great benefit I have received from the me at VBOSTiNslnduees me to give my testimony In its favor. I believe It to be not only at great value for restoring the health, but a preventive of (Useases peculiar to the spring and summer seasons. I would not be without 11 for ten Umes Its eost. EDWIN TILDEN, Attorney and General Agent for Massachusetts of the Craftsmen’s Life Assurance Company, No. 49 Bears Building, Boston, Mass. Vegetlne Is Mold by All Urorrlsts. THE GREAT REGULATOR.

FpiMMuNSW

PURELY VEGETABLE, An Effectual Specific for Malarious Fevers, Bowel Comp'alnts, Dyspepsia, Mental Depression, Jaundice. Nausea, Colle. ’ Sick Headache, Constipation and Biliousness. ASK the recovered dyspeptics, BUlous sufferers, victims of Fever and Ague, the mercurial diseased patlept, how they recovered health, cheerful spirits and good appetite —they will tell you by taking Simmons’ Liver Regulator. This lastly celebrated medicine Regulates the Liver, granotesdlguiitlon, and tort!ties the system against maExtract of a letter from Hon. Alexander H. Stevens -. “ I occasionally use, when my oondlUvn' requires It, Dr. Simmons’ Liver Regulator, with good effect It la mild, and suits me better than more active remedies.’’ CONSTIPATION i TESTIMONY OF THE CHIEF-JUSTICE OF 6EOBGIA—I have used Simmons’ Liver Regulator for constipation of my bowels, caused by a temporary derangement of the liver, for the last three or four years, and always, when used according to the directions, with decided benefit I think It is a good medicine tor the derangement of the liver—at least such has been my personal experience In the use of It ........ Hikam Wasnkh, Chief-Justice of Georgia. Original and Only fianulna, XAXVrACTUBSD OXLY BT J. H. ZEILIN A CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA Pries Sold by all Druggists. Cll ECMEII We are determined to have wMLLwRIkIII a good salesman In every township in the US. Popular, standard articles; PERMANENT and GOOD-FAYIXG business. Adfine* Greene, Lindley A Bentley, 282 Main-st. Cln.. Ohio. IBTOftfllß lIJLI STRATEn HOME MlßUit 8 MAGAZINE. •«.« a Year ; S copies. *5.50; « copies, and Ito club-getter, *ll. Specimen number, 10c. T. S. ARTHUR U SON, Philadelphia. at Home Magazine. Send 10c. for No, containing first charter of this tender and touching story of a dear little emld-wlfe. T. 9. ARTHUR h SON, Philadelphia, that charming writer, Virginia F. Townsend. Send 10c. tor specimen No. of Arthur's Home IM Ajriml COOuUu'llgr luS* CuAIICdS or inis ocMtumi story. Magazine *2.25 a year. BuUrrick't tmeeU PMlama In every number. T. & ARTHUR A SON, Phlla, “Be It ever so humble. There’s no place like heme.” • it Holiday Goods to write for Pries Lists of Frames. Moldings, Mirrors. Mirror Plates, PictP™ a *££ B ’ B*c»ng, Screw Eyes. Picture Nails. Engravings, Chromos. Lithographs, Picture Cord, both Wirt and Worsted, Three-ply Veneer ChairSeata. Artists’ Me terlals, Perforated Mottoes, Chromo Mottoes, 800 l Marks, Convex Glass, Pantographs, Hard and Soft Crayons for Pantographs, to W. R. BEIB, BMS JLnelM Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

- Lt ->> * !&• ' 1 ■ N

IIA KT IN'S PATENT IXSKM mJ®, UOlfiH- TRA T. [* rar AW-n Mr AINES BREAD In Mmlnutes. In coldest weather. Agent* WVEmt'miliAf Wanted. Rare chance to em■HßUserwirW I>,u> wtnt '“ r profitably. Address J. S. Cbatt, Alliance, O. POULTRY JOURNAL. Send ten cents for sample. Only one in Western half of the United States. T. T. BA4 HELLER A CO.. Minneapolis, Minn. WORK FOR ALL Paper in the World, with Mammoth Chromos Free. Big Commissions to Agents. Terms and Outfit Fres. A&mF.O.TICKEBT,Anc»»tM.K«. ■ ■ ■ ■ BA Wholesale and retaH. Send for prlc» I I ■ ■ Il list. Goods sent C. O. D, anywhere. U fl ■ M Hair-dressing, latest styles. 50 cents. I ME ■ Wigs made to order and warranted. ■ D ■■ ■ ■ w *• Ww, M.HU. Sr., teuei.

THE FRANKUIHEWELRY COMPANY . Royal Gasket! mSSSsb One Dollar! \T(iv _ll I i) l^— —r£rr- r rr-.:_- J Ktllr^M UN wM ?’Um Rina, one einbomul Collar Button,all of'wiuctl are gohl-platod, exactly aa represented by the engravings in this snnuunceincnt. On recemtotone hn wiipa Stgeety PhUsriMpHia*

1

Cough, Cold, or SoreThrad, Required immediate athMtafi, *» aaglefifi oftentlnMg rtaralt* In oottM laouraM* dissave, BROWN'S BRONCHIAL TBOCRMi •re • simple remedy, and wfll rttaMfißMM variably giwa Immediate veIML BOLD BT AU. CHKMIBTB MrtMfiri tamedlelzAM. ‘»“W > J Ap them pertaining to the tali at 1878—TWELFTH YEAR—> | M THE NURSERY, Illustrated Rkguadne Her Children. the remaining numben of this feet FREE 7O3SEXO- x>. Rtzottirr; 36 Brumfield Street, tatote. Weather - Stripe 1| fob AW> * windows! Send toe Circular to M. Reebuek A Bole Manufacturers. 78 Dcarborn-sl., Chicago, UI.M BOYS and GIRLS Wanted everywhere to get up Clubs for THE Homb Companion. One of the largest and best papsrs published for young folks. Over 200.000 dellghtelrraders. Only 86 cts. a year, with premium. SpMulld dab premiums. Complete outHt 10 cents. Sample copy vbxb. &L. Thorpe, PubT, Cleveland, a

HOMACK W ATBMM A HQNM’4OKI4tI>JtJfT AINRING WUtn Thl«taone<rf the most alnu|nu nntLl.woniterful. useful and amnsIng novelties ever Invented. It la. In appearance, same M a diver watch, and lasts a lifetime. Sent to any addrom by mall, for 1 Sc., two for 25c. Abbott k Co..ClndnnaU.O. p UA 11 U I WAhITCn A limited number of ReNabie of our celebrated Cigars. Address, with stamp, stating salary expecte<|, Meyer A Bartcher.2l2 Malo-st,dtadn’tL Texua. Address F. H. Woodworth. See., St Losds, IM. M WM WATCH and CHAfW onltJ 2 b ' Agents. C. M. UNING'DW. H 47 Tn lea The“fMgreCfrdreTs’'MMi*V'’ ■ Uc>9■ manufactured by Dr. 8. C. Kram, Cincinnati, O. Also the Eleetric Glove, sure bare for Nervotig Haadarne, Neuralgia. Weak Back, ate Send tor dryolfg _ MB— -worth WfißWt pwlfßlil fm Ws tt oo*r$«B« Catalog— J. B. BVFFOKD*S SOWS. B-Wtco. Vmr Jo Gold-Plated Watcl*e«. Cheapest X In the known world. Sauplb Watc« Fubb to V AaBNTS. Address A COULTEH * d»n A DAY. Agents wanted everywhere. Jv JI 100 Latest NovsltEs. Sswtng Machine Attaehmta. v Chromos. Watches, Jewelry Powell Bros-.Chlcasu /fin * M6IwT™L~ACIEIWTrS nttllll WANTED. MO at the latest twvsL Wfies. Send for Catakgue. VaakCo., Chicago sfo Duncan k Johastou,2BeWabaab-av.CMuwD.s ■ Ml** ® Q E AA MoHtß—Awes ts Waaßed DECT Spencerian Business College, CleveDCw I land.o. Send for circular. Platt K. Spbncib. t 5 to <9fi fee 9 Beßt thln « for agewtn. J. IW 4 Latham co., 419 wash, st, BceteaJttH. JM A WEEK in your own town. Terms and >BB 15 outfit tree. ILkALLETT k Ca, Portland, Ms, Revolvers sent free for examination. Prtefi gU*B list free. Great Wesfn Gun Worts, Plttsb«irgh.Pa. <l9 a »ay at Home. Agents wanted. *IC Outfit and terms free. TRUE k CO., Aiururta. Ma. Houks Old A New wanted and sold. Immense CatsDlcgue. Jmarican Boot A'zcAoaps.SSßeekmaa-eLN.I. HE Prettiest ScroU Chrism ever saw. IO styles, wta 40 name, IQe., postpaid. Nassau CardCaJH sms,Kl. • ENEWYEABCARDS, with name, 20a M 40Extra Mixed, 10c. Geo, L Heed A On, Nssssk A X QA Fashionable Cards,no 2 alike,with name,loe; Ju 40 fine mixed tinted, 10c. A Hunt, Bfmoath, had. Q Mixed Cards, with name, 10 cts. post-paid. WV Samples Sets. J. MINKLER bOO..NMeaKKY. XMAS PBIW*ENTS- 25 Ne Pius Ultra Cards, ns two alike, with muna 10c. 26 Now Year Carts 20c. W.H.FVBLOirokbo.,lOl N.ClartcßL.Chkafis Est Labge Mixed Caem, with name, ISeL ft 11 40 in case 18c. 25 styles Acquaintance Carts 10*. VV Agent** outfit LISS. DOWD k CO, Hristoi. Qsaa. "A. N. K.’ ' TAT G43-S X