Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 2, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 8 July 1876 — Page 2

•Vt

T*'

I

THE MAIL.

A PAPER FOR TH®

TKRRE

HAUTE, JUJ^Y 8,.

1876

LATE TO CHURCH.

Along the road, on either side. The elder boughs are budding, J£„T The meadow lands a rony tide

Of clover bloom Is flooding The sunny landscape la so lair. Ho sweet the blowom scented air, That when I went to church to-day I could but eboose the longest way.

Loud san* the bo»ollnks,nnd round The milk-weed flowers the bees were humming I sauntered on, but soon I found

Behind me there wan some one coming, I did not turn my head to see. And yet I knew who fallowed me ."4 Before Tom called me—"K ltty, stay, And let me share with you the way!

We did not mind our steps grew slow, Or notice when the bells stopped riaglug, Or think of being late, but, lo!

When we had reached the church the singing Was over and the prayer was done, The sermon fairly was begun ^1 should we go in, should we stay out, Pi ess boldly on, or turn about? Tom led the way, and up the aisle

I followed—ali aronnd were staring— And here and there I caught a smile 1 tried to think I was not caring And yet 1 blushed, 1 know, aud showed A face that like a poppy glowed, For every one seemed saying, "Kate, We all know w.hy you are so Jate!"

Another Sunday, come what will, 1 mean to be at church In season But to regret this morn leg, still

I truft I never shall have reason -i Eor should I wear a wedding dn-ss A year from now, perhaps you'll guess What Tom said to me when, to-day, We walked to church the longest way.

[From the Galaxy .J

Barbara's Outing.

BY THBO. GIFT.

Ifd go right off to the the-ayter, would." She was sitting on the doorstep of a low house, No. 3, Skeggs alley a child of twelve, according to the parish registry but such a child! Hardly big enough in body for seven, aud With a face of seventy sharp, and lined with sunken cheoks and pinched moutb, and eyes weird and hollow as a baby specter. Mulready might have painted that little, shrunken figure, a mere twist of rags hanging loosely over the bony frame the small, skeleton hands supporting the sharp chin the naked, chapped, and mud-encrusted feet dangling in the gutter wherein disported themselves some of her congeners—ehildren of the night side of London—children born in the slime, nursed in hunger, and bred to sin—children to whom jail is a lively variety, and the school board an awful and horrible Nemesis.

Barbara in particular regarded this latter institution with a holy horror, witnessed by sundry fresh and livid bruises on her attenuated person for during the past fortnight the school board had swooped down on Skeggs alley, and had carried off my heroine and some thirty of her playmates to steain and smother in a big schoolroom, there to idle and squabble, to grow sick with hunger, and heavy with sleep, and finally to be turned out into the raw, damp fog, wild for mischief and famishing for food, whooping, shrieking and lighting, hauling at heavy babies, bumping against respectable people, pursued by outraged policemen, and finally drifting home to their several dens and nests among the by streets and alleys.

Barbara's mother, or rather the person who did duty for mother, her original

fy

»arent being deceased, had at first stoutrefused to allow "her gurl to go to any o' them dratted schules whatsumdever." This worthy lady earned her living by washing at a laundry some two miles off and having within the last fourteen months presented Mr. Butts, Barbara's father, with a son and helr.Hho not unreasonably required the assistance of her step-daughter in looking after that Infant hope. This opinion, however, was in-no wise shared by the all-sapient heads at the school board and Mrs. Butts having been twice summoned to answer for ner contumacy before the nearest magistrate, and failing to show why her husband, described as "ablebodied journeyman carpenter," should not support his family, was twice fined, and ultimately obliged to succumb.

Rations In consequence ran short at No. 3, and Mrs. Butts, considering Barbara as the guilty party, consoled herself by mulcting that young lady of her supper and giving her sundry supplemental thrashings into the bargain.

Barbara ought to have been used to thrashings. Indeed, think she was, for Although she howled and shrieked plentifully during the operation, and though her wretched little body was tattooed like a New Zealand chiefs with black and blue, few tears made their appearance, and two minutes after shrieks were over she would generally be seen dandling a baby rather bigger than herself, and chattering glibly to some of "the neighboring fry who bad been drawn by a pleasing curiosity to the scene of ca^ti nation.

To be deprived of supper, however, was something very different and far more unpleasant. It in really astonishing, considering how shrivelled those small stomachs must become from frenuent fasting, that suoh an immense capacity for hunger should still be left In them, or that ths hot and comforting aroma proceeding from a baker's shop should be capable of inspiring such an intense poignancy of anguish In the little nostrils, which yet sniff and sniff as thoush condemned by some infernal power to the tortures of anew Tantalus. Barbara had often gone supperless before but that was In company, and generally because Mr. Butts bad consumed 5 the family supper in drink. To know that there was some supper at borne, and given none of it, was afar worse ex

^Andyet "something to eat" was not with Barbara the sum mum bonun of all earthly desires.

Low ago—before Barbara's entry into this "little heaven below"—Mrs. Butts No. 1 bad filled the subordinate position Sofa "Wry" at the Grecian theater. Mr. iBotttTnS having at that time wholly *, consecrated hlooawf to tbe arduous task of supporting the green lion at tbe corner was devoting a portion of his Urns to carpentry, ana baajjot employment v-Wndthe scenes of the same theater as

as that thin and shabby Wry flgured ln Xe roll of dramatis pemmss. It tbe course of this tently set hto foot.on tjVj saldlSXSS?it,nas tSJ

i'J Butt's only reoulred a night's rest to be r- right as a trivet. Saran Jenks, boweverf was mors compassionate. From

L, rV**-

the depths of what appeared to be her stays she extracted a hoarded sbiliiag, and with that coin hlred a eabtoconvey Mr. Butts to hto dwelling. ^"fher, when the injured

leg turn^

l0s™'patby

ottt to be

so bruised and dwelled Jo Butts' "laying op ,/^V&d!™e«3!d Sarah mulcted henself ofl»dl»ne«*Md breakfasts, and went witbout her S^n day dinner, in order to supply thei sufferer with suridryeomforts, which^e would otherwise h»ve been obliged to

is seldom wasted, even in

this w!rid. Mr. Butts bad at that^ime a verv soft oorner in his heart, and Bar*h lenkn had found the key to it Three weeks after the leg was well she exchanged her maiden name for that of Butts. Th^ee years later she resigned that in favor of a tombstone, and retired into permanent seclusion under the sods of Keusal Green. For more than twelve months previous to that event, she had seceded from the boards of the Grecian in consequence of Mr. Butts having consented to aid commercial prosperity by joining a "strike anc^ becoming merely a sleeping partner in the domestic firm in Skeggs alley. At that time Barbafa was still a mere baby, but having been on one occasion carried to the theater bj her mother, and left in charge of a neighbor boy at the pit door, she remembered till bcr lyl day a vision of a place glitter, of strange, Bhinlng beings floating in the air, and hundreds—millions in baby eyes—of upturned faces reeardin« them. From that day to this the vision never faded out. Strange, bewildering, unintelligible,

bu^°n(|f0"®*

ly,' incomprehensible beautiful, ^remained in her mind from year a efid to yeir'send a thing of beauty planted deep in her soul a thing which to see once again and then die would be as peep of Paradise to some devout believer. Consequently, when beaten and turned out supperless into the traet on this November afternoon, she listened with avidity

to her

friend's descriptions

of what viands they would indulge in, were they ever to find themselves revelling in the floating capital of a whole shilling and yet, when pressed for her decision as to the rival J"®11*8,0?, singers and puddin'," and 'ot kidneys and jammy things," she shook lier razeed head, and answered stoically—

I would raytbergo to the the-ayter. Her companions stared. Their minds did not rise beyond their stomachs, which were indeed sufiiciently empty to be needful of mental replenishing, but Barbara's was emptier still. How eame she to care for merely external delights She vouchsafed no explanation of the mystery. When you have come to middle age unnecessary words seem a waste both of time and trouble, and at twelve years old Barbara was very middle aged.

Barbara! where is that dratted gurl gone to?" It was Mrs. Butts's voice raised to screaming pitch from the doorstep of No. 3. Barbara heard, but merely crouched closer to the gutter. Perhaps she thought it merely signified another beating, and reasoned

RO

a

small child of her own caliber. Ill

I'll be vhipped an' if I stay, 111 be vhipped so I think I'll stay and be vhipped." For copying this philosophical child's argument Barbara stayed and—was whipped. Another call or two, then a clutcn on the back of her neck aud a shower of blows, and Barbarbara was dragged summarily from the gutter, and shaken first on to her leet, and then nearly off them again.

You wicked, owdacious, iuiperent chit of a gurl!" cried the laundress, not perhaps unjustly. "I know you heard me (whack). I saw you sneak out of the way (whack, whack), an' p'raps that poor baby burnt or scalded to death, with me a scutterin' arter you (whack, whack, whack). Oh, you limbo o' mischief you."

Let me alone then. I wasn't doin' no harm," retorted Barbara, amid manifold writhings in the strong grasp. "Why don't you give me suthin' to eat? I'd come quick enough then." "I daresay! Like enough, Miss Imnerence,

an'your

fineschoolin' a-losing

me mv day's work. Get in this minit, an'give tbe baby his grule while I'm cleanin' up. He'll 'ave pulled it all over hisselt if you're not sharp so look alive

Barbara obeyed. Might was decidedly where \Irs. Butts was concerned and might led the way to the small back room which, with th© addition of a cupboard under the stairs, was parlor kitchen, bedtoom and all," for the united family. There Barbara found a broken clothes basket, from which she lifted a heavy and unwholesome looking baby, turned tho basket upside down,

and

seating herself upon it, pro­

ceeded to still the roars issuing from the infant lungs by the aid of a bowl of

thWii1^iT^e^bene^ed

that she nevor

once put the spoon into her own mouth Instead of into that of the voracious infant? And yet the mees, indescribably hasty to us, was appetislngly hot and savory to her. And tbe baby was too young to tell!

Human nature is strange. Barbara had not sherl a tear during the beating, though to be sure she could have avoided it by the simple act of obedience. Long before the gruel was done she was In floods of tears, sobbing passionately with sheer hunger and yet she could have avoided that too by the simple act of robbing her unwholesome little brother. Oddly enough, the one Idea was as strange to her as tbe other. Nay, when the unwholesome baby, being satisfied looked op to see where the tears came from which kept splashing on to Its nose, and said pitifully, "Poor Bar! Poor!" In baby language, Barbara hugwed him oloser to her sklnnv little body, and showered kisses on his uninviting mouth, alternstely apostrophising him as "her own precious chicksey," and informing him thst his mother was a beast —that she was."

Soothed by this lullaby, the unwholesome baby went to sleep and Mrs. Butts, finding him In that happy condition on her return frem neighborly ip, ordered him Into the clothes «»et again, and dispatched Barbara set her bonnet out of pawn for the convenience of "meeting going" on the morrow. Mrs. Butte's bonnet was a very sacred article of Gross. It always spent tbe week days in retirement, emei then ll« artit

to

tiring only on tbe Sabbath, and not ?f fir. Butte had been morethan usually active in his patronage of tbe ne

it was Jark^by this time, and the nawnbroker*s where the bonnet wss at present "locating" was at somedisUnoe

yet Barbara

felt rather glsd than other­

wise at tbe proaped of an outing. The fog, which bad been dense all day. was toning Into test drisallngreln yd she pot on neither bat uor jacket. Tbe former had succumbed in a tbe latter was serving as a pHto* baby. Barbara made light of either circumstance and departed at a trot.

Skeggs alley to not many oi0«« worn »ue itrend. Tbe pawnbroker's ^abop was midway between the two localities. Barbara had redeemed tbe bonnet, wrapped It in an old silk handkerchief ofamplesice, provided by Mr* Butte for the purpose, and was turning homeward,

when a handsome cab stopp?| in front of her with a jerk, a lady shop opposite, sprang lightly lpWlK w»s whirled aw»y in a mamffct, heels spattering Barbies With •"•v flashed past her. th strange sou eeup shriek and a ^, lMp, rolled on the pavement, and then, {fluking herself up, oegari'fco move on hobbling and whimpering.

In that instant Barbara had secroted In her rags a purse dropped by the now vanished lady, and with the histronic talent of a born' artiste was bemoaning herself over an imaginary fall.

Ttosliok up the neawstby stredt, cnsconcelieraelf in a doorway, and Inspect her prize was the vork-of a couple of minutes and Barbara felt almost appalled by the loose heap of diver which, as Uio clasp gave way, rattled musically into her lap. She was in too great a terror of interruption even to count It over. The first thought—in that moment tbe only one—^was, "Now I can get a tuck in." And as visions of delightful eating shops in the Strand crossed her mind's eye, she hastily replaced the purse and its contents in lier bosom, leaving out one shilling only, aud with this in her mouth, trotted off in quost at something to eat. There are, however, ever, other delights passing even eating *khops in the Strand.

Barbara was not awaro of them. She was gluing her nose against window full of eatables, filled heart and soul with the one pronoun "which," when two men jostled against each other near her.

Why, TKIII Simpson Whefe a?o ^?off t« "The theater.*'

The deuce. So am I. Lyceum Lyceum." "The dene" you are! We'd better make hasto then, or the farce will be over."

They made haste. Barbara turned round with eager haste but the deuceisli person and his laconic friend were already speeding out of sight. They were going to the theater—the theater to which she had longed to go all her little life! Now, in one moment, God had sent her the wherewithal. Why should not she go too. But would she be in time.

The thought drove away all remem brance even of hunger. They had spoken of being late and Barbara, not knowing much of theater rules, fancied that the magic doors might be shut if the guests were not assembled by acer tain time. The mere dread was agony to her, and her heart was beating in quick echo to her little naked feet as she sped after the retreating youths. Fortunately they did not go far. She saw them stop and disappear within a great, glaring doorway, and was followed swiftly, when a new idee struck her Would not those grand, medalled per sons on r.uard drive her away if she presented herself, bareheaded, barenrmed, and unkempt, before their scrutiny

For a moment she paused despairing, The next she was seated on a doorstep making her toilot,

Tho redeemed bonnet, a large one of faded purple satin, was tied carefully over her rusty little head, two well licked palms having first smoothed down theelfloeks on the temples. The big silk handkerchief, foldea shawlwise, was pinned across her shrunken little body, the wet hastily wrung out of the toilet her draggled frock, the ragged stockings pulled as high as they would go over the skeleton legs, and—Barbara was dressed

Why not Dress is a matter of taste, varying with different countries and climates. Barbara's toilet might have seemed rather extensive to a Kaffir's squaw.

The ticket porter at the Lyceum was just lighting a fresh cigar within his den when a small and squeaky voice inquired from without:

Please, sir, which is tho cheapest seats Gallerv," lie answered,without looking round^ till he heard a chink on tbe board, and the reioinder:

One, please, sir." Then he did look and saw nothingnothing, that is, but a little red claw in close proximity to a shilling. Following the claw and peering over the ledge, his eye fell on a very large bonnet attached to a very small child, who was standing on tiptoe to look at him. "Is this uieney yours?" he asked, staring.

Yes, sir, please, sir." So it was in Barbara's eyes. And who's the ticket for!"

Me, please, sir." "You! What, you alone! Ain't no one with you "No, sir—me alone, sir, please, sir," gabbled Barbara, in a great hurry to get in.

You bo off," said the man curtly. "We don't want no babies here. Catch and be whipped the shilling off the ledge with the wet ond of his cigar,

Move out ef the way," said a bustling man of tbe lower orders and Bar bara was swopt aside. For a moment it seemed to her as if the world had been swept away as well. Her heart swelled up, and for the second time that day the tears bubbled over fast. Waa She to be foiled In her life's desire with the money for it actually in her hands? "Now, then, what's the matter?" some one said, and looking up she saw towering aliovo her a big blue form and a black helmet. In an instant Barbara was on the defensive.

Please, sir. I alnt done nutbin*. I wanted to go in the gallery and I guv the gentleman a shilling—there it are, sir—an' be said ai I were a l»by."

And so j*ou are," quoth X089. "Get off home to your mother straight. She never gave vou that shilling tor theater going, I warrant, if she gave it to you at all."

Yes, sir, she did, plea«w, sir but I'll go home, sir. I'm just agoing now, I am," answered Barbara, glibly: and then she wriiigled away, and wriggled herself into the entrance to tbe upper boxes. Bobby bad his eye on her, and followed. There was nothing of superior interest going on at tbe moment, and Barbara's appearance wss peculiar.

She hurried up to the man in charge, and asked tbe price of a seat in almost nsnlng tones. He stared at her in surprise, at asked like the first— "Foryou?"

Yes, sir but I ain't alone, please, sir. My brother's up there, be is and be said as I w«re to follow blm, please air." "Two shillings," said tbe collector laconically and in another moment Barbara was out of sight. As she turned for one frightened glanot backward before gaining her haven of bliss, she saw tbe face of tbe policeman below.

He had paused to exchange a word or two with the collector, and then followed in her wake.

That girl ain't up to no good,"aald tbe finger of tbe law. She waa up In heaven just then. Daisied with a flood of radiant light, bewildered by a crash of noise, a butst of many instruments all mingled together, her Don net fallen on to her back, her senses all on the reel, Barbara fought her way to a vacant seat beside a gentle* man's servant, at the very moment that

rBBRJS HAUTE aATURJJAY EVENING MAIL,

Jhe nqvaf felt I, sometMnKheiuejkle, she (jlfde

X080's face appeared at tbe entrance John'Thomaa was Just laugbiyKat some disarm remtyllpg

quip from the stage, when seised in two dirty, littl bands, aad a stroll v«j|oe pa

Oh dense Sav jafm're Oh! plealf do^Plegfe!? Yourfftrotltr l^hA

fng

V§brother,

dj^se do laa^bsk' istpreyoo

rou meanf" ciltd t)M yoin her 0 invHgnawly? up to here?"

PickbockaMag most like," observed 0 8 0 in 9 ii a a with tbe vision of a fairy palacoopening before her, with that one niase or beauty in her eyes, that crash of music in her ears, B^rbjura was dragged away fn 4hf policeman's clutch.'

Probably it was not a very gentle one for in the pro^Bfc something fell with a great chink and clatter and Barbara made a futilo clutch at It. It was her purse!

The lady's purse rather^ X089 lifted it with a gleam of satisfaction on his impassive countenance.

I thought so," he said sententiously, "Now where did you Bteal thai from I didn't Bteal it," sobbed Barbara. "Mother give it me, she did, lo pay the groceries. There was candles and tea, and—lots o' things."

Fifteen and three—four pence," said X080, counting. Where does your mother live? Of course you're lying, but I'll take you to her afbre locking you up, if you are."

It was doubtful whether the threat of "locking up" or the fear of seeing her prize absorbed by Mrs. Butts had most effect on Barbara. She shifted her tack on tbe instant, sobbing despairing ly:

Oh I don't take me to mother—.please don't, sir. I ain't done no harm. I found it in the street. I didn't steal it —indeed I didn't sir."

X089 shrugged his shoulders. "Have done with lying, aud tell me where your mother lives, will you besaid, pocketing the purse with obstinate decision, But Barbara could bo obstinate too Her prize was lost beyond recall, but to be taken home in charge of a "bobby" meant in addition a beating worse than ordinary and Barbara's bruises were still smarting. Without a moment's hesitation, she gave an address about half a mile distant from the real one and her guardian, having first ascertain ed that no one in the upper boxes had lost a purse, walked her off in that direction.

Naturally the walk was vain. No one in that street knew aught of Barbara, and still dreading the sacred name of home more than the vauge one of prison, this voung lady, brought up under the secular rule of the school board, was walked off, howling dismally, to the station.

A night in a dark cell shut up with two drunken women—a night unsoothed by sleep, and with hunger gnawing away at her young vitals all the time, broke down Barbara's oDstinacy at last. Brought before the magistrate in the morning, she still indeed persisted in her story of having found the purse, but gave her right name and address and no one appearing to claim tbe property, was sent home with a stern caution and reprimand.

Skeggs alley was all in a bustle that morning. On the previous night Mr. Butts had crowned his devotion to the "public" by the sacrifice of his life having been found by the police face downward in a swollen gutter where he had probably passed several hours and Mrs. Butts, in the first freshness of her widowhood, thought the opportunity of getting rid of Barbara too good to be lost. "The girl belonged 'er 'usband, not 'er and she'd 'ave to go to the 'ouse as it was. Since the porliceman-had got Barb'ra ho might keep her. Most like she stole the purse. She were always tbievin' round, she were."

Poor little untaught Barbara! It seemed a toss up between

l,bouse"

and

reformatory for her and yet why "poor?"' Surely either were better than Mrs. Butts!

Fate, however, had willed differently. A lady who was passing along the court, a lady in semi-sisterhood dress, and with a kind, quiet face, drew near to inquire into the cause of the disturbance. Some few words took place between her and the policeman, some few more between her and Mrs. Butts. Then Barbara was asked if she would like to live with some other nice little girls at the lady's house and replying promptly in the affirmative, took a cool farewell of her stepmother, hugged and kissed the unwholesome baby with a very passion of tears, and was put, still howling, into a oab, and driven jtway to a quiet nouse near the Regent's canal, where a score of other other little orphans, ip warm stuff dress and neat white caps, were reading, writing and sewing, under the care of two or thiee qsiet, kind looking women like her new friend.

Six ni« nths later, visiting at that house, I saw Barbara, a delicate looking girl still, but the picture of neatness and intelligence, and beloved by everybody for her honesty, good temper, and patient docility.

Six months later, and I got a letter from the superior: Barbara had run away!

Some visitors, pleased with the girl's tenderness toward a sickly baby orpnan, had broken through the rules. That evening Barbara disappeared.

She was brought back next morning. Jammed in a crowd outside a theater, some one had knocked her under tbe wheels of a cab and the whole vehicle passed completely over her body, crushing it like a nut. Life was trickling away fast when we laid her on her bed but she still held tbe shilling tight, and said:

Please give it Baby Nell. Then, after a pause, 'Td ha* come straight 'ome arter I'd saen it." Another pause, very long this time, lieath stooped lower, and lifted the veil from tbe child's face. With a faint cry she opened ber eyes, staring out and upward. "Oh, look, look!" she gasped. "It's all bright. Look! An' sblnln' things, just tbe very same. I shall see it now." And so, with a smile of ecstasy on the poor, white face, Barbara's bead fell back.

The ruling passion satisfied in death.

.\ SINGULAR PAIR. (From the Cleveland Leader.] A gentleman traveling In Scotland says In a letter to a friend in Viitfnla: "I will now tell you of two young women who, disappointed in marriage, and being Intimate, revealed their minds to each other and resolved to live as man and wife in some place where tbey were not known. They drew lots to decide wbo should be the man. The one on whom it fell assumed tbe name of James Han. Tbey then sot out on their journey, and at last came to Epping, leaaed a bouse there, and kept an Inn, each performing the dutiea belonging to bia

or

ber station. They gained a good deal of money, were well respected, and lived together thlrty«one ywi antll at tbe wife died, when the discovery waa made. James Han served in all the offices of the place except constable, and wss to bave been church warden if the discovery bad not been made."

Golden Words,,

Tbe voice o, jnstioe. Persecution age 0f TWtb.

One mean man will sour ten miles of good neighborhood.—[Brick Pomeroy. Thefts never enrich, alms never Impoverish, and prayers hinder no work.

If thoVi art a master be sometimes blind: if a servant, sometimes deaf.— [Fuller.

Friendships begin to grow here which must bave eternity in which to mature. Religious belief is not usually a matter of thought, but of tradition and predjudice.

Anonymous letters are the illegitimate children of mental vagabonds.—[Brick Pomeroy.

Truth is always present it only needs to lift the iron lids of the mind's eye to read its oracles.—[Emerson.

LfOvc of truth shows itself in discovering and appreciating what is good wherever it may exist.—[Goethe.

It is with flowers as with mortal spirits—tbe bright are sometimes poisonous, but I believe never tbe sweet.—[Hare.

What religion do you profess? None of all that you have named. And why none? For the sake of religion.—[Schiller.

We must be as courteous to a man as to a picture, which wo are willing to give tne advantage of a good light.— [Emorson.

Liberal minds are open to conviction Liberal doctrines are capable of improvement. There are proselytes from atheism, but none from superstition.— [Junius.

I bescech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words: Be ashamed to die yntil you have gained some victory for humanity.—[Horace Mann.

Somo days seem to come from nearer heaven than others—filled with a sweet influence,as if tbey had walked reverently through holy places before they came to us.

The true motives of our actions, like the real pipes of an organ, are usually concealed but the gilded and hollow pretext Is pompously placed in the front for show.—[Colton.

Accustom yourself to overcome and master things of difficulty for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not adapted to general business, yet it holds the bridle better than the right, from constant use, —[Pliny.

Reading without purpose is sauntering, notexercise. More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from librari- skimmed over by a wandering eye. A cottage flower gives honey to the bee. king's garden none to the butterfly.— [Htilwer Lytton.

DECA DKS OF THE PAST CENTURY. [St. Louis Kepubllcfth.J 1776—Tbe worst penmen in America sign the declaration of independence, and the United States is born. Jenner invents vaccination, and Garrick, disgusted with amateur Hamlets, quils the stage forever. 1786—Articles of confederation. Treaty with Morocco. Columbia College, New York, founded, but no crew entered for the regatta. 1796—Tennessee, nature's hoop-pole and tar repository, admitted to the union. Washington steps down and out. Susan Anthony just getting into society and smashing male hearts generally. 1806—Fulton hopes to blow up the world and invent steamboats. Total eclipse this year of the sun and Aaron Burr. First soup-house in the world established. 1816—Indiana admitted to the union. Treaty with Algiers. Dr. Mary Walker first meditates pantaloons. 1826—Adams and Jefferson die. Sing Sing prison built and stocked with the great spirits of the age. English grammar kicks the bucket in the person of Lindley urray. About this time the "little hatchet" story was carved out of gossamers. 183J—Arkansas admitted. Seminole war. Railways begin to slay their thousands. The baggage smasher springs into existence. Anthony no longer dotes on slate pencils ana pickles but aspires to suspenders. Davy Crockett kills his last "b'ar." 1846—The sacred order of "Mexican Veterans" is founded. The author of the "Star Spangled Banner" dies and leaves the country weeping. Under the influence of a new invention called free lunches tho country recovers. 1856—Kansas begins to bleed and so does Sumner's head. Braggart Brooks pays a fine. Base ball and sewing machine agents spring into existenoe. Mrs. Southworth writes twenty-five red-hot novels. 1866—Andrew Johnson vetoee every bill except bis washerwoman's. Fenlanlsm "goes up" and tho Atlantic cable goes down. Aoout this time Beecbe. sees Fliaabeth quite .frequently, and Sergeant Bates, having escaped from tbe lunatio asylum, continues his flag-per-a a 1876—Centennial. One hundred million acres, all in Philadelphia. Everybody's going, if tbey walk. Board $18 a day. One buscult and fish ball 12.60. Striped stockings lovelier than ever. St. Louis wins the base ball championship. Hooplah!

-A COFFEE PALACE. I** In London they have what they call a "Coffee Palace'1 for tbe working classes, an immense building, all brilliant with light in tbe evening. In the locture room you will find thiee hundred persons listening to a miscellaneous entertainment. In another room men are smoking and talking, reeding the newspapers and writing In another, playing billiards: still another, all sorts of games—draughts, cards, chess—whatever tbey please, for mere harmless amusement.

There are reading, coversatlon and music rooms for women, and on tbe main floor tbe great dining-bail. ^There can be get a cup of delicious, good milk and sugar for one penny, and a large dinner plate of beef or mutton off a Joint, with potatoes and bread, for five cents. Music and laughter are beard In every part of the palace, and one feels that life la worth living for when men and women, and girls and youths can come away from a nard days work and meet thus for rest, refreshment and the education that such beneficial associations Inevitably lead to.

WHKJI

yon are

WE

'jotfty^ l#^f ..proof

lit" the fruit-

Vou ciijBnotiilll tttno Without hearing eterolty^Ttore*? yr' So far as we are concerned, action is nothing, motive is all.

lt iv

angry

.don't write.

Words, when spoken, ate air, but when tbey are wrlttex, they are thing*.

Saturday Evening^

I

FOR THE YEAR

1876.

4f*

—.r .JoV

A MODEL WEEKLY PAPER FOR THE

«. Ji JL JL

iri TERMS: A

One year, (with chromo).......tvit.-13 00 Six months, (without ofaromo) OC Three months, (wlthoiA clyomc^...,.^„Wtts.

Mall and office Subscriptions will, Invariably, be discontinued at expiration of time paid for.

Encouraged by the ex(r.u»tfilnary success which has attended the publication of THE SATURDAY EVEN IN GMAIL tke publisher ha« perfected arrangements by which lt will henceforth be one of tbe most popular papers In the West.

•*..!' I t" ..Vr*"1

K'" THE CHOICE OF

Two Beautiful Chromos

Presented to each yearly subscriber, from and after this date. Thet^ beautiful pictures Just from the hands of the French ohrom artists, are faithfal copies of oil paintings by the artist W. H. Baker, of Brooklyn. One, entitled

"Cherry Time'

Represents a bright faced boy, coming' from the orchard, bountifully laden with the redripe fruit. The other, entitled

"Lily of the Field"

Is a beautiful little girl, with ene of tbe sweetest of faces, gathering lilies In. the field. One Is a wood seeiie. tho other has an open meadow In the (jack ground. They are of striking beauty. ... ,,

For one dollar extra (83.00 iu all,) we will send The Mall one year and both cliremos mounted ready for frami ng. These pictures are catalogued and mold IN the art stores at FOUR DOLLARS EACH.

FRAMES. 'tml

We have made arrangements with an extensive manufactoiy of frames by which we can furnish for One Dollar a frame usually sold for $1.50 and $1.75. These frames are of the best polished walnutand gilt. Here is the

BILL OF PRICES.

The Mail one year and choice of Cliro* mo W The Mail one year and Both Chromos mounted 8 00 The Mail one year and Both Chromos

FRAMED 5 00

THE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL Is an Independent Weekly Newspaper, elegantly printed on eight pages of book paper, and aims to be, lu every sense, a Family Paper. With this aim In view, nothing will appear in Its columns that cannot be read aloud In the mofct refined fireside circle.

CLUBBING WITH OTHER PERI. ODICALS. We arc enabled to offer extraordinary Inducements in the way of dubbing with other periodicals. We will furnish TI1E SATURDAY EVENINO MAIL, TRICE $2.00 PER YEAR, and either the above Chromos with any of the periodicals enumerated below at greatly reduced rates. These periodicals will bo sent direct from tbe offices of publication. Hero Is the list:

SEMI-WEEKLY.

Weekly New York Tribune, priccT SS.00, Tbe Mail and Cbromo 94 50

WEEKLY PAPERS.

[ncUanapoUt Journal, price $2.00, The Mall and Chremo $3 50 Indianapolis Sentinel, price $2.00, The

Mail and Chromo 8 60 JV. Y. Tribune, prioc $2.00, The Mall aud Cbromo 3 50 Toledo Blade, price $2.00, The Mail and

Chromo 8 50 JV. Y. Sun, Tho Mall and Chromo 3 00 Prairie Farmer, price $2.00, The Mall and Chromo 3 66 Western Rural, price $2.50, The Mail and

Chromo 8 50 Chicago Advance, price $'J.00, Tho Mall j,nd Chromo 50 Chicago Interior, price $2.50, The Mail and Chromo 4 00 Chicago Inter-Ocean, price $1.50, The

Mail and Chromo

3 25

Applettm's Journal, price $1.00, The Mall and Chromo 6 26 Rural New Yorker, price $3.00, The Mall and Chromo 25 Hearth and Home, price $3.00, The Mall and Chromo 50 Methodist, price $2.50, The Mall aud

Chromo 3 80 Harper's Weekly, price W.00, The Mall and Chromo 5 SO Harper's Bcuar, price M.00, The Mail and Chromo 5 50 Frank Leslies III tut rated Newspaper, price $4A»Q,

The Mail and Chromo 5

0

LesUes Chimney Corner, price $4.00, Tho Mail and Chromo 6 CO Boys' and Oirlt' Weekly, price 52.50, the

Mail and Chromo 3 76

MONTHLIES.

4

Arthur Heme Maontine, price $2.50, The Mail and Chromo 00 Peterson's Magazine, price $2,00, The

Mall awdChromo...... 3 50 American Agriculturist, price $1.50. The Mail and Chromo 3 0i) Bemorest's Monthly, price $3,00, 1 year,

Tbe Mail and Chrwmo. 4 86 Uodep'i lAdu's Book, price $8.00, The Mall »Od Chromo 50 Little Corporal, price SI-50, The Mall aud

Chromo...

0|O^„„

3 60

Scribner's Monthly, prlo $4.00, The Mall and Chromo AOantte Monthly, price $4.60, The Mail and Chromo 6 20 Old ond New, price 54.00, Tbe Mail and

Chremo 00 Overload Monthly, price W.00, The Mali and Chromo 6 00 Harper'-* Maeratne, price $4.80, The Mall

And Curomo... 6 60 Oardeher's Monthly, price $2J», The Mall and Chromo Young Folks Rural, The Mali and Chro-

The Nursery, price $1.50, The Mail and Chromo. I 8t. Nicholas, price $340, The Mall and

Chromo...

To

40

All (he premiums offered by the above pub licatlons are Included in this clubbing ar* rangement.

CLUBBING WITH COUNTY PAPERS. We have made arrangements to furnish THE MAIL, with Chromo, and any one of the Newspapers in the neighborhood ot Terre Haute all for $3.00.

JUST LOOK AT IT! •_

The Mall, price.

%i

00

Your County paper, price..— —... 2 OS The chromo, worth— 4 00 Total

$8 Ot

All these—(IBJOO)—for $3-00. Address P. 0. WESTVA.LL, Publisher Botvrday Evening Mall,

TERREHAUTE, 1ND