Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 5, Number 31, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 January 1875 — Page 2

2

the mail

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

THE

SPECKLED

AX.

In tho good old times of long ago, V. A farmer, having paid his tax, Found that hl» funds were getting low,

And that he needed another ax. r""

Bat wherewithal to purchase one,^ The honest husbandman had not So he, as oft before had done,

His trusting fiiead, the merchant sought.

It chanced the merchant could not find An ax would suit the farmer's whims The latter said, "This wouldn't grind

And, "That would fall on dogwood limbs."

The farmer next the blacksmith sought, And told him what lit- needed sore: From toughest steel It must be wrought,

The temper perfect— nothing more."

Then bared the smith his brawny arms, And tied his a hern apron on, Moistened anew his calloused palms,

And went to work his task upou.

With many a quick, repeated blow, The long-belabored anvil rung While bluing sparks, in nery glow,

From 'neath the hammer Hashed and sprung.

And soon the shapeless metal grew, Beneath the blacksmith's pot«ni hand, A sturdv ax—not fair to view,

But years of service formed to stand.

Its shape, it* weight, and eke its size, Well-pleased the frugal farmer saw Inspected by his careful eyes,

The implement showed not a flaw.

But still he ventured to suggest A slight improvement might be made I alwavs func.ed," he contested, "A bright-blue poll and shining blade."

"'From toughest steel It must be wrought, Tho temper perfect—nothing more,' These were th* qualities you sought

To promise further I forbore.

No means have I," ihe blacksmith said, To decorate your ax with blue But, If a polished blade instead

Or gray you choose, I'll give it you.

•There stands the grindstone—you may turn And soon your ax shall brightly gleam Never before this did 1 learn

Twas so Important as you deem."

"With readv hand the farmer seized The crank, and swiftly turned the stone And with lie ax he seemed more pleased,

As brilliant spots upon it shone.

The lusty smith his mighty strength Upon the whirling grindstone bore Still tugged the funnel", till,at length,

His cheeks the sweat was coursing o'er.

With face suffused, and panting breath, He sighs, "I think it now will do!" With cunning l.-er the blacksmith sal li:

What! buy a speckled ax—will you?"

More slowly turned the pond'rous stone, As harderstill the blacksmith pressed Stopped, with the farmer's feeble inoan:

I like a speckled ax the best."

Whene'r vou crave, for mere display, Something that real merit lacks, Think of the farmer, and the way

He labored lor his s|eckled ax.

Barbara's Story.

I don't think I have ever montionod that our villago is tho county town. It has alwavs been sinco the old colonial days and though it is really of small benefit to us now, yet wo am very tenacious of the honor, .so much so that wo have frequent difficulties with a sister town, wh«.», because of size and population, like all big things is apt to be greedy, and wishes to absorb the court nouse.

After every small victory in which we manage to hold our own, wo have quite grand illuminations, and the boys make Don fires. I suspect that some of our mansions were built prophetically of just such illuminations or else whyshould one of them that 1 wot of extremely well have twenty-four windows in its gablo end, all facing tho northeast? Of what could builder beon thinking savo of an illumination, which would cortainly le superb, if ono could atlbrd the proper amount of candles.^

Our being the county town introduces among us somo quaint, odd characters, which would bo uuitelost in any other community. A diamond in a modern netting gives no hint Af its age, nor that it has a history, but an roitique one, you know that it is an heirloom, and begin to grow curious as to its antecedents. And so old Barbara would have beon a simplo old woman in any other atmosphoro than ours, but to lis she was one of our characters, and as such noticed and made much of.

The little wo knew of her history was this: Her husband—for liarbara was a wife (which I mention that eccentricity is not altogether con lined to sninsters)— her husband had her put in jail for some slight offense, preferring no doubt that the law should punish l^or rather than himself, which she so deeply resented, or felt tho indignity so keenly that she declared she would never como out of duranco.

Ho may have laughed at her, knowing that tho law never keeps a prisoner longer than tho allotted timo: but Barbara was in earnest with her threat, and her •woman's wit helpod hor. Every timo she was discharged,she committed some pettv act of violence, such as breaking windows, or being disorderly, for which she would bo arrested and again imprisoned. This she did so often, that tho sheriff, sure that a wilfu' woman wi' hae her way as well as a wilfU' man, and thinking that an mho was determined to live at tho expense of the county, she might as well be useful, employed her as servant in tho jail kitchen. She had full liberty of going in and out when she pleased, and she was particularly fond of going down to the river shore. Whether sjie was an inland woman, and the sight was novel to her, or whether the water was an old lovwd friend as it Is to all of our community, Barbara never said.

Tho children regarded hor with orach awe and curiosity, and would always leave their sand pies to speak to her. Whether it was because they admired th »,w )n l?rfiil tlnnicss of hot character which preferred jail, under certain circumstances, to freedom, or because she insisted on being looked in her cell every night as tho rest of the prisoners were, I can't say I only know she was a henine to most of the'children of the village.

One morning it was announced that old Barbara was dead. She had died In her cell, keeping her word, and oontimv ing a prisoner until the great releaser of all captives freed her

But it isn't old Barbara's own story that I bo«nn to tell, but one she was fond of narrating, and which made no little Biir at the tiute it happened, though now it Is only remeiubon»d l»y a few of the older Inhabitants. "The prettiest that was in the sheriffs house since I came there," old Itarbua said to tno one day, "was Amy Wallace. She had eyes like'forgct-me-nots, and a skin like wax, and there wai no more irtn In her, to every one's thinking

thau a pretty dull. Tho Sheriff was very fond of his daughter, and well he might l»\ for sho was his only child. But ho wasn't altogether comfortable about her, for though she'd never given him a bit of trouble

in her life, he was afraid she'd inarry worst of it was, I don't believe i)o ever some worthless fellow, or, if not marry fall in love with one. You see Us wilt was dead, and so he bad all the responsibility. He didn't know much about women, and he did about men, and most the time, he wasn't for trusting them, especially

U).

It didn't often happen that a prisoner was brought through the house, and 1 knew Amy was vexed at being caught Lor myself, I handn't any whimsies about it, and left off my scrubbing to look at our now bird. We hadn't any thing Uke him among us. A rare, gen tlemanly fellow, with handsome brown eyes, and soft, silky beard. Ho had a fearless look about him, not a bit cowed or worried at the position be was in, but rather as if he came to us by some mistake, and it amused him. He had a pleasant voice, too, and could laugh merrily, for he bade me good-morning, and made some jokes about one of the policemen, who had awkwardly fallen over my scrubbing-pail "kicking the bucket."

I felt sorry for him, for I was certain he didn't know what it was to be locked up, and the gay and merry ones are sure to feel it most. So when I had set my bucket out of the way, I glanced up to anwer him. At first I thought the sight of my faco had bewitched him. I never saw a more surprised and startled look than his but in a moment I kne\y he was looking beyond me, not at me, and I turned my head to see Amy standing in the parlor door. She must have run there to get out of tho way when the front door opened, but she had gotten no further, and stood there with a look of horror in hor blue oyes which I didn't wonder hurt the poor fellow.

I knew Amy hated to see the prisoners, and told the policeman that tho sheriff didn't like them to come in by the hall but one of them laughed and said it wasn't often they had such gamo as was used to front entrances, and ho didn't like to sneak him in through the sheriff's office, for fear he'd feol offended.

Just then the sheriff himself came in and Amy slipped into tho parlor out of sight, was certain tho sheriff had never seen tho prisoner before, but he was very civil to him, as he should have beon, as he wasn't convicted yet. It didnt take long to unlock tho strong door that divided the house from the

caved whether she came home again or not. 1 dlfln't see much of 4my far «ver tiro weeks, for she sat in her own room the sewing, getting ready in-

lllvot in «l*v vllllv* BvWlllg| HyllrlU

for the visit she had told me she

with his daughter. So he kept her pret- tended to make to her aunt, during the ty tight, only letting her go now and May term. But she must have gotten then to see au aunt who lived safely in weary ot sitting by herself, and one day elm Kunnnhf liAV she b'rought her work down to the kitch-

the country. Amv couldn't abide living in the sher- en. She took her place on the window —J-

1— 1—

iff house. She said it made her low spirited, and she couldn't sleep at nights thinking of the prisoners. It worried her that folks had to be tried and ished, and she always declared were her father there shouldn't be prisoner tried at court time, she'd give them so many chances to slip out. I* seemed to vex her much, that the sher iff never mentioned anything about the jail in her presence, and you may be sure she never asked no questions.

un she

One day, it was near the end of March. Amy and I chanced to be in the hall together. I was scrubbing it,and she had stopped to tell me sho was going to pay a visit to her aunt during the May term. The wind was blowing fierce out of doors, and my scrubbing brush was making its own noise, so we failed to hear any footsteps, and I thought it was the wind that burst open the door but instead, it was two policemen with a prisoner.

seat, which was broad and low, and as she sewed, she told meof the dresses her father had bought her. It was plain to see she hadn't niuch heart in them, for generally what a girl tells well is the trimming of a dress, and Amy wasn't one above caring for such things. But somehow she got twisted like, and by her own account she intended to trim her blue muslin with pink, and Heaven knows what she put on the pink one. It wasn't hard to see that she was just talking for talk's sake, and wasn't mind-

j*iTl7and* then'they ail"wentTn," and the thoughtfully. "Yet, Barbara. I can't door shut with a clang, and tho key see why you should be strong rfwill grated harshly as it turned in the lock, and nerve only to carry out a little spite, I who had seen many and many a one which could have died out long ago if a it

go through that door, went back to my scrubbing as a matter of course but 1 must say, I never felt so sorry foi anyone as I did for that light hearted cheery prisoner.

In a little while Amy camo OHt of her swered.

hidinir" place "behind''the parlor door, No doubt I would,'she said quickly, looking as white as my Sunday cap. "f "I can easily understand how a woman wonder what thev suspect him of?" she can not overlook a slight put upon her. askod in a frightened voice. She might make any sacrifice until

I'll wager they don't suspect him of she felt that sting, but once feeling anything," I answered, as I wrung out it, sho would bo callous to all other my cloth, to wipoofftho footprints tho men had left 011 the floor. "They must suspect him or they ould not bring him here," she answered, shortly.

The like of him don't get here 011 suspicions. There's plenty to go his bail, unless they're pretty sure he did what they accuse him of.'

But what could they accuso him of?" "Of murder, most likely, llos too genteel for a thief, and ho doesn't look Fiko assault and battery. Folks like hi in a generally put in for murder?" "Murder," sho repeated, as if sho didn't know exactly what tho word meant, and then sho laughed a queer little uncertain laugh. "Yon can't frighten mo in that way Barbara. He could not look so cool and indifferent if he had killed anyone accidentally. Blood will cry out against us, oven if wo never intended to shed it." it's vour own idea that lie's innocent," 1 said, coolly. "Ile'd be a fool to look guilty until he's sentenced."

But you don't know any more than I do, and you've no right to put tho worst of crimes at his door," she answered angrilv.

Vou set mo guessing, and then you are vexed with my answers. If ho were ragged and disreputable-looking, you'd as lief ho'd bo a thief or a murderer as not but just because ho has a good coat to his back, and a pair of handsome eyes

Ah, Barbara, so you've been looking athis eyes! A woman is never too old to notice such things. So for the sake of his fine eyes, I want you to find out aud tell tne what they have brought him hero for."

Find oat yourself," I said crossly. "But I can't, and so like« good Barbara, you will fur me," she answered, coHxtngly.

44

Why can't you You can ask your father, I suppose. He's sure to know all about it,'' I answered.

But father don't, like me to ask such questions, and besides I'd have to tell him I was hiding behind the parlor door, while he was here. 80 be a good kind Barbara, and find out what I want you to, and I will give you the handsomest cap ribbon that oan be bought in town."

I did not care a bit for the cap ribbon, but there was no use in keeping secret what everybody who chose could know so 1 told Amy before night what it took very little trouble for me to find out, and that was that the prisoner was put

exclatmeci.

rel

Oh yea, I've heard that a man class* his horse first, and then his dog, and then his wife. But I Intend that tho man who marries me shall put nie fbrst,

ing a bit what she was saying. I thought that maybe she was one of those who couldn't do two things at once, and if sho talked sense, her sewing would be faulty. But I found presently my first suspicion was right, and she was not thinking of what she was saying for when she left off talking about her clothes, and fell to asking me questions, she did not show any lack of sense that I could discover.

What's the reason

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL,

3*011

profer sleep­

ing in a cell, Barbara?" she asked. "I'm sure there are rooms enough, and to spare, if you would like one in the house."

And what kind of prisoner would be, I should like to know, sleeping in room like the most of folks?" I asked in mv turn.

Oh, 1 forgot that it is your ambition to bo considered a prisoner. Did it ever strike you, Barbara, how different we can be in our own desires? You, for instance, prefer to be locked up every night, though you might be a free woman if you would, and no doubt your next neighbor longs and wishes for the liberty you scorn."

Maybe he does," I said. "But then there is this difference between us, I haven't a trial ahead of me, and ne has?"

Who is your neighbor she asked, beginning to thread her needle. Why, the man who is accused ol horse stealing," I said as abruptly as I could, for I began to think there was some method in her talk. But she put the thread into the needle without missing it, a hard, if not impossible thing to do if one is trembling or excited. She didn't say anything until she began sewing again then sho said: "Do you know, Barbara. I never saw a cell in my life. I would dearly like to see yours."

Would you?" I asked shortly. tb

It must be a sad kind placo, though I can't imagine how you can sleep there, when you remember how many wretched ones have tossed and tried in vain to forget their misory in a few hours' sleep."

She spoke in a dream}' way, as if she had been watching just such tossing and misery.

Aye," I answered, "I thought as you do when I was your age. Sleep was easy to frighten away by a bad dream or a pitiful thought. But it's a deal a body oan do and dure, to carry out one's wishes. A woman's not so weak of nerves, nor of purpose either, for that matter it she has a sufficient end to carry out."

Perhaps not," Amy answered,

Maybe if those you looked most to were hard and cruel, you'd find a orld of bitterness in that little feeling you choose to call spite," I an-

hurts." "I, for one, would not daro much for any man, if I feared an ache," I said wamingly.

You wouldn't? You arc the last one to say such a thing—you who dare to be locked up every night like a cdnvict, just to carry out a purpose. But perhaps it is not as bad as it sounds. I must see your cell and judge for myself."

It has very thick walls. There is no chance to bear your next door neighbor speak," I said.

Yes, I know that, I have somo kind of an idea of what a coll is like," she answered.

After that Amv gavo 1110 110 rest till I took her to iny'coll. I was very sure sho was thinking of tho prisoner with the handsome eyes, and wanted to have some idea of how ho fared. It was useless curiosity, and as such I did not mind gratifying it. Sho shuddered a little when she went through the strong door that lod into tho prison. "How many despairing hoarts have entered hero," sho said softly, "and yet, 110 doubt they have left full as sad ones outsido to suffer with them. Do vou know, Barbara, when in church tuey pray for all prisoners and captives, I shall think of these imprisoned here, no matter how far away I am."

It will be as well for you to," I said, "for they don't pray much for themselves."

Amy seemed rather to like my cell. I had put a white curtain over the grating and a whho quilt on the bed, and there were a few crocuses en the tafcle, which she saw at onoe—"They look out of place," she said. "The llowers are too suggestive of freedom and sunshine."

And yet the prisoners think a heap of them," I answered, "and will beg me for just one «f them."

They should have them then," she said, hastily, "Barbara, you shall bring your neighbors some overy morning." "I don't mind taking them to my right hand neighbor," I said, touching tho wall as I spoke, "becauso he hasn't been tried vet, and tho law doesn't hold him guilty'until it's proved he took the horse. But tho ono on tho other side is sentenced, and I'll not pauiper him."

Poor fello»v sho replied, shuddering, "Come away Barbara, 1 don't see bow you can sleep here."

I can't sfte what difference it makes to sleep next door, or a hundred mites away. If folks take time euough to thiHk, they must know there's misery

iu for horse stealing. In world, and its 110 credit to be gay Horsestealing! what nonsense!"she just from thrraghtlessnem. «velaimed

llo'11 not find it nonsense if he's con victfid,' I answered. "Men think mightily of their horses, and as they make the laws, it goes bard with the horse thief."

44

l^Sup«rm^o^fullhS Uajarlnd when! camenearl heard

his liorso, and dog." You'll prove yourself fool," I said, for I was angry at her talk Much sho know of men, and bow they

m5re

Well, well/'she said, "I'll not quar-

witb' yo^r

prejudices, and you

shall bring the flowers to tho uncoudemned one." It waa about a week after this, tl at one day I had to go to my cell for some thing 1 needed. It was a rare thing for me to do, fbr I only slept there, and kept most of my belongings in the bouse, 1 waa surprised to find the door of my

faithful than hia aaainst all rules, and

voices. It was against all rules, and I was naturally angry, for I dldnH care

precious that my neat cage should be a meeting place tor the prisoners. I was determined to know who was

.Much sue Know 01 men, ana uvw iuvj rate us. Ono I wot of, stables his hone there, and mending from n,i wIvm hu Hmr the ritrht It was better to make a discovery than crept confront them 10 tne cuimiiey ctirner~uui ins wmu, nuc .. „M,i7 aiinnimr traveled off to jail one day, ai ho nohrletW Up io t. door, and slipping

comfortably, and gives his dog the right to the chimney corner—but his wife, she

in, crouched down behiud the bed, well hidden bf it. 1 cou

hidden by the q|nilt which hong around ild hear, but I couldn't aee any* one, so no wonder I was startled When bough the spoke in

hear, but wonder I

heard Amy's voice, th a whisper. Do ysu think I could doubt you, though the whole world said you are guilty she wan saying.

But your ffcit|i in me, dear as I prise it, will not keep us together. If I am convicted, no matter how really innocent I am, we must necessarily be separated. You oan not marry a man convicted and punished for none stealing. Even if you would, and I were ungenerous enough to let you, your father would not hear of it."

But your innocence must be proved. You cannot suffer because things look against you."

I imagine that happens oftener in this world than we think. And things look very much against me. You will scarcely find twelve men who would not think me guilty. It is too common a story for a man to palm off his theft by exchanging witb an innocent man, ana I confess if I hadn't taken a fancy to the beast and thought him a bargain, I'd not have been so easily befooled."

But you can show you are above such a suspicion. Your lriends can testify."

I am afraid that would do. no good. Everything looks so against me it would be better to keep my feigned name and seem friendless, thau run the risk of being convicted alter being identified."

Are you sure you know the penalty?" ahe asked falteringly. Yes, I know it," he answered, shortly.

Then you must see the folly of running any risk. I will testify •'Your testimony will be my sure conviction," he interrupted. "Your father would use every means in his power to have me punished, if only to prevent our marrying in the end."

That would never prevent me," said she, proudly. Thank ou, my dear," he answered, "But it would be much better for both of us if I were never tried."

Something told me had better listen no longer, or I might be compelled to tell the sheriff what I had heard. As yet there had nothing been said which showed a conspiracy, and ao I raised up my head from my hiding place and said as angrily as I could: "Suthis is why you wanted to see my cell. I might have known it was never an old woman that made you so curious."

Amy, poor child, looked startled, but the prisoner only laughed. Miss Amy and I aro old friends," he said "and she thinks if she said so, peo pie would be sure that I am honest. But you and I know this world better than th&t

I know very well she oughtn't t» bo here," I said, shortly. "And I alse know that I ought to tell the sheriff."

And I know also that you will do nothing of the kind," he answered, "for it would do no good, and I'll promise Miss Amy will not use your cell again

You'll promise!" I said, contemptuously. Well, Amy will promise. You don't doubt her honesty, do you

I'll promise nothing of the kind," Amy said. "Barbara will say nothing, for she has really heard nothing worth repeating." "I think I heard you talk a bit about marrying," I answered.

But that's no offense against the law," he said, laughing. "Besides, you must have also heard me say it could never be if I were convicted."

I didn't tell them it wasn't their fault if I hadn't heard more, but only said— "I don't want to hear any more, only don't you two go and get me into trouble. I got my place hero by hard lines, and I want to keep it, and please Heaven I want to die in this cell. So don't you do anything that may chance to turn me out."

Well, I must confess, I have no desire to die hero, nor stay an hour longer than I can help. I'll promise, though, not to get you into trouble, and balk your wish.*'

Amy went back to the house with me. She didn't come often to tho kitchen after that, but kept herself busy in her room. I know she thought I might help her, but I dare'nt, for fear of losing my -lace. Every morning I saw my neighbor, for as he hadn't been tried,he wasn't kept strict, and ho always had something to say, which I always repeated to Amy. But sho never seemoa to care much to hear me: sho was still cross about my not helping her.

It was about a week before the May term, when my neighbor was taken sick. The doctor said he was only nervous and feverish, but ho took his bed. I used to stop in and see him, and take him something he might relish, for he wasn't yet 011 prisoner's fare. I felt sorry for him. fori had always had a notion that he'd break down beforo thp trial. It's your dogged, surly sort that keep up through everything.

Girls are queer things. Hero was Amy so taken up with her new finery, she'd scarcely stop to hear what I had to tell her about tno man she had taken so much trouble to see, and would have promised to marry in spite of evory thing if he had let her. You may depend upon it, I made my report as doleful as possible, and yet sliefdonly laugh, and pester me about her clothes. Those Dlue-eyed, doll-fticed girls have no hearts inside their bodies. They can't either love or hate, and have ne more ose in them than tho wax they're mado of.

All Amy's thoughts were about her clothes, which sho wanted done up so she conld pack them. I could see well why she should hurry off, thouirh if sheM been mado of the right stufi, she'd have stayed where she was and taken her own part In the trouble. I like one who doesn't go back on her word, no matter what happens.

Amy was wild to get off before court time, so I washed out all of her things on Monday, and promised to iron thorn the next day, for the sheriff said ho would take her to his sister's the following Thursday. When I camo down into the kitchen,* bright and early on Tuesday morning, I found Amy was already there, and she said she was going to help mo with the ironing. I tola her she had much better have stayed in bed, for she wasn't used to such early riping, and looked pale in consequence. Indoed.she didn't look as if she'd had a wink of sleep all night, which was the truth-

Come, make tne fire. Barbara, and never mind howl look," sbejsaid "I feel well enough."

You might have stayed in bed, at least till the irons were hot," I replied, t^ut I began to suspect that she was nervous and anxious to get her clothes ready so she could get off the next day

but one. ..

I

I

spread the ironing blanket on the table, and told Amy to Iron there, and she could use the small irons for her hands were that small it looked past tier to handle the big ones. "Where are you going to iron?" she

A A •.!* S% VtfT 1 asked, as if to fore us.

freat

reat pity men have the planuses, wh«! tkey'tt so little in

"It's a ning of one. Who, hot man. would ever maim so darft a room tabu a kitchen And then thej tutt an&faqae ir there's a fly speck oifr tSfcij- ihiAs, -m if one cAwdweU. Ill Ir6n here, as it's under the window, ana has the most light," I decided. "Why not?" I asked, beginning to lay the Dlanket, fori couldn't seewnat objection there was to my using the bread trough—a great long trough which was a fixture under the window. We madebcead in it for the jail, until the sheriff got the bread from the baker, and now there was a top made to the trough, and we often used it for a table. Indeed it wasn't the first time I bad ever ironed on it, by any manner of means, but I had never heard Amy say anything about it before. '11 do her the justioe to say, though, that she wasn't unreasonable and talked no more about it. How she chattered like a magpie that morning, and told me all her plans, imd a deal about herself. One would have thought there was some one else Tut an old woman in the kitchen, her tongue ran on so fast.

Towards noon she got tired of ironing, and thought Ifmust be too,so she begged me to leave off a bit indeed, she even wanted me to go down to the wharf and see the Cape May boat come in, for she knew I was fond of seeing the folks and the children, and the oarrows of

trunks wheeled on the boat. But wasn't goinir to go pleasuring that day, with so much ironing before me, and that of a particular kind, for I wasn't going to let Amy start away with her things in a trouble. She said she was sorry enough she'd trimmed them so much, and hovered around my ironing board like a hen with one chicken, sol knew she was anxious they should be done well, and I did my best and never stopped even to get a mouthful of dinner. But neither did Amy, for that matter and as the sheriff was away, it suited very well if we chose to go hungry.

Amy was a kind-hearted girl, and tried in every way to get me to stop and rest but when she found I was determined to make a finish of the work, she stuck by me bravely, and never left' mo until the last flounce was ironed. I was dead beat, I can tell you, but Air.y looked as fresh as a rose, for all the paleness I had noticed in the morning was gone. But her color may have been from the heat ot the irons.

It was twelve o'clock when I finished, and Amy insisted upon raking down the fire and putting out tho light, and I was so wjeary I was fain to let her. I had to make the night watchman hear me to let me in, for I wouldn't sleep out of my cell, though. Amy wanted me to, and lie was so cross as if it was a real trouble to turn the lock in my door, that I didn't stop to see hew my siek neighbor was getting on, as I would have liked to do for Amy's sake, though I was only fit for my bed. But I knew I was out of rules, and so had best ask no favors of the watchman.

When I went into the kitchen next morning, it had a queer look about it. There was some bread and butter and some cold meat on the table, but I didn't think much of that, for I knew Amy had eaten no dinner all day, and it was but natural she should have beon hungry and helped herself to something to eat. But the puzzle to me was, that tho cover was off of the bread trough and I knew well enough that Amy could not budge it. It took a man's full strength to lilt it.

I tidied up the kitchen, intending to ask Amy about the trough-cover, for, as I said," it puzzled me. But a bit or news which came near getting some of us in trouble, put it out of my head.

It was, that my next neighbor, the house-thief, had escaped. The marvel was how he got out, for everything was locked as usual, even to our own house door, supposing ho could have hidden in any of the rooms, Of course there wasn't any sign of holp from outside, and his cell was in as good order a« mino was. Nobody cojlci explain, and we were all questioned and vexed enough, lor I f»r ono couldn't get a hand's turn of work done all day. Amy did what sho could to help mo, but I saw sho was anxious and nervous, and I thought sho was a bit afraid that I would tell of her meeting tho prisoner in my cell. But I didn't intend to, for it wouldn't have done any good, and there was no uso in making any more talk than there was.

The next day sho was to go away herself, and the sherifl was anxious to get her off though, of course, it was impossible for him. now to go with her. But then he could put her on the boat, and she knew just how to manage. She was very willing to go, and was busy all day packing. So I did«i't see much of her, as tho house was just beset with folks, and every one could see at a glance how tho prisoner got out, though it was a sore puzzle to all of us in tlio jail. But then, the folks in our town are uncommonly wise in seeing through a mill-stone.

When Amy camo next morning to bid me gooy-bye, she throw her arms around me, and cried as if she never expected to see me again, which I thought silly,*as she woula be gone three weeks at tho furthest. But when her father came to fetch her, she was all bright again, and laughed and went away chattering to him like a bird. I donrt tljink the sheriff heard half she said to him though, for he was sore worried about the prisoner escaping.

A week passed before tho excitement died out, and tho newspapers stopped telling lies, and saying the sheriff hadn't done nis duty because the prisoner was something like a gentleman, and had a good coat on his back—which made him angry, until be forgot It in a fresh trouble, which was, that bis sister wrote to ask what had become of Amy, for she had been expecting her for a week, and she hadn't arrived. You may depend upon it we were in much more trouble than when tho prisoner escaped through tho keyhole,as

pfitisif

Jteg'fii. iai8al«S^ fc"\w

1 always con tended,seeing

there was no other way for him to get

"d«n'tknow what the sheriff mightn't have done, he was just that bewilder* when he heard that Amy wasn't with her aunt but fortunately tho next mail brought him a letter from Amy herself, dated way out west, and saying she was well and married to the prisoner that escaped though she gave hiin a respectable name, which I might am well not mention.

It was a right pretty letter, and told the sheriff all about how they had fallen in love, and that she was going to tell liirn ^hey were engaged, only for the unfortunate circumstanco of her husband's arrest. And the prisoner that was, added a line to say be was innocent about stealing the horse, but not about ihe theft of his daughter, but he intended to keep her and make much of her.

There were no telegraphs nor conveniences for Matching folks in those days, so the matter dropped, andas the

Ee

lere are you going to iron j- spe beginning to work with a will, expedite the work which was be-

I don't know," I sa:td, looking round.

risoncr was never tried, most thought wasn't guilty, and sotne said he wouldn't have married pretty Amy Wallace if he hadn't wanted to get out

°rJaDi'd you ever hear, Barbara, liow Amy got him out?" I asked.

Ob, yes, it all came out in time. She ot him into the house, and then hid im in the bread-trough, and tltfftre he was through |B that! long dayfs itoning. What the gift!* despair was. whet^sbe could not get rfd ofripe for all her urging, so as io let him have a breath orair, you can imagine, as well as his feeling, cramped in the trough all those weary hours. There are long days In all of our lives, but that must have Been over-long to them. And to think of a girl's planning it, and never breaking down during all those hours. A pretty, blueeyed thing, that was scared if a mouse chanced to run across the floor! I shouldn't have wondered if she bad outwitted the men, for they aro none so sharp, except the lawyers but thatsho should have fooled me, and I half suspecting her! I've no faith in blue "eyes, I promise you." 0

ft

OSK of the most painfully interesting •apers in "Lotus leaves" is that which tells how John Brown was hung, by Col. Henry S. Oleott, who was an eye witness of tho spectacle and this is his account of the last scene:

The cortege passed through the triple squares of troops and over the hillock, and wound around tho scaffold to the easterly side. The body guard—our company of Grays—opened ranks, and John Brown descended, with self possession and dignity, and mounted the gallows steps. He looked about at earth and sky and people, and remarked to Capt. Alvis, his jailor, upon tho beauty of the scene. It was beautiful indeed. The sun shone with great splendor, and the gleaming guns and sparkling uniforms were strongly relieved against the somber tints of sod and woods. Away off to the east and south, the splendid mass of blue ridge mountains loomed against the sky and shut in the horizon. Over the woods, towards tho northeast, long, thin stripes of clouds bad gradually accumulated, foreboding the storm that came in due time that evening while looking toward the south thero lay an undulating fertile country, stretching away to the distant mountains. Brown s" eve lingered wistfully upon the few civilians who bad keen permitted to gaze from a distance upon

the far away Blue Ridge, he turned to the sheriff, and signified that he was ready. His slouch hat was removed, his elbows and ankles pinioned, and a white hood waq drawu over his head. The world was gone from his sight forever, and he and Eternity were face to face.

THAT mast have been a diverting scene in a doctor's office in St. Louis. The physician had been troubled with a non-paying patient, who had for two years neglected a bill of a few dollars. The other day, in balancing his books, the doctor gave it up for lost, and with a polite note made the lady who owed It a present of bis servioes. Accompanied by one male and three female friends, the ladv visited the doctor, paid his bill, and ordered the male companion to cow hide him. The doctor romonstratod by thrashing the breath out of his assailant until he sprained his wrist, when a colored girl, who was engaged as kitchen maid, appropriately "settled his hash" with a supplementary pnmmeling. Tho ladies retired in great haste, the doctor mildly intimated that, but for tho unforeseen accident of his wrist, he would have subjected them to that timely correction which, according to appearances their mothers had neglected in their earlier days. If ungallant, such heroic remedies would be more effectual than any other.

AMERICAN HUMOIL [From Bunset Cox's Lecture.] Americans havo veins of humor of their own, and he would first speak ofa little silvery vein that runs through our newspapers. One little paragraph gives an account of a catastrophe. A woman undertakes to foment a llre'by taking observations with 4 kerosene lamp. It was a wet day or the funeral would havo been larger. [Laughter.] If George had not blowed into tho muzzle of his gun he might havo got lots of squirrels, but he blow in the muzzle and put on his angel clothes.

A man attempted to get a mule ashore from a steamboat by twisting his tail. It was tho man that landed. A young lady, aged seventeen vears, raised a large family. She used a keg of gunpowdor in her cellar. A woman put nor tongue to aflat-iron to see if it was hot. That household is remarkably quiet nowadays.^ l'"1',""

NOT

long since a German was riding along near Sansom street, noar Sacramento, when he hoard a pistol-shot bv hind him heard the whizzing of a ball near him, and felt his hat shaken. lie turned and saw a man with a revolver in his hand, and took off his hat and found a fresh bullet-hele in it. "Did you shoot at me?" asked tho German. "Yes," replied tho other party "that's my horse It was stolen from mo recently." "You must be mistaken," said the German "I have owned the horso for three years." "Weil," said the otheij "when I come to look at him I believe 1 am mistaken. Excuse me, sir won't you tako a drink?"

TUB Medical Times wants doctors to itemize their bills. It is well. The world should know what it is paying for. Instead of charging $3 or |5 a vfeit, Esculapius should certainly be compelled to render *n acoouut, it it be only in this form: "To look at thy tongue, 50 cents to feeling thy pulse, 60 cents to diagnosing thy gastric juices, and informing thee that thy liver was afflicted with torpidity, cum multum vino,et turkeyo, ot pudain a la plnm.'ad nauseum gl. To prescription and directions |2." By all means let us have the items.

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