Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 3, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 July 1876 — Page 3

THE MAIL,

A PAIKRVFOR THE PEOPLE,

TERRE HAUTE, JULY 15, 1876.

OUR MINISTER'S SERMON The minister said last night, says he, Don't be afiald ofghMn If yonr life ain't worth nothln t« other folk*

Why, what'* tho use of Uvln And that's what I say to my wife, sa 01 There's Brown, the miserable He'd sooner a beggar would «tar\e than give

A c«ut towards buyln'a dioner.

I tell you our minister's prime, be is, But I could at quite determine, When I heard hits

glvin' it rlgntand left,

I IJusi who hit by the sermon. Or course there couldn't be mistake When he talked of long winded' For l**»ers and Johnson they sot and scow*

At every word he was sayla

Iff*# 'Sfltftf

And the minister he went on to!»y. Tnere's various kinds of cheatin Aud rel lglon's as good for every ua}

As It is to bring t® 1'don't think much of the man that gives *The leud aniens at my preacnin And spends hl» time the followln

It's very refreshin' diet.

week

In cneaUn' and overreacinu

I Knew that dose was bitter enough For a man like Jones to swaller But I noticed he didn't open his month,

N"ot once, after that, to holler Hurrah, said I, for the minister— Of course I said it quiet— J' Cjive us some more of this open talK

The minister lilt 'em every time

.&,{

—And when he spoke of fashion And rlggln's out In bows and things, As woman's rulin' passion, And comlu' to church to see tho styles,

I couldn't help a winkin' And a-nudgln' my wife, and says It Thats you |And 1 guess It sot her ta thinkin

Says I to niysjlf, that sermon's pat, But man Is a queer creation. ,. Sow, If he had said a worn about

My personal mode of slnnln', 1 'd have gone to work to right ulyself,

And not set there a-grlnnlu'.

Just then the minister, says he,And now I've come to the fellers Who've lost this shower by usin their friends •As sort o' moral umbrellas. Cio home," says he, "and And your faults,

Instead of huntln' your brothers Go home," says he, "and wear the coats You tried to fit for others."»

My wife she nudged and Brown "he Winked And there were lots o' smllln And lots o' look 1 n' at our pew-

It sot my blood a bll In 'I Says I to myself, our mlalster Is gettln' a little bitter I'll tell him, when the meetin out, that I

Ain't at ail that kind of a critter! —[New Haven Register.

A Providence.

The Phelps family were seated at £be tea-table. Mr. Phelps sat at the head and Mrs. Phelps at the foot, or rather let us call it the other head. His bald forehead, the gray streaks in his long silky beard, the crows' feet about his -kindly gray eyes the wrinkles in her vet plump cheeks, her features suffused by that Boft radiant haze which often mellows aging faces to a grace of harmojiy surpassing the sharp-cut beauty of

youth,

respectively justified their claim

to be called father and mother by the four «hildren around their table. Next his mother, sat Bill—his mother and sister called him Will-coming on -eighteen, a promising hobbledehoy awkward, mostly legs, but good-natur-ed, and always the first to laugh at the unexpected transitions of his voice from baes to treble. Like other youths of his age, his conversation was mostly concerning what he called his muscle, and an incipient shadow on his upper lip, rwhich his sister Kate saw or was unable *to see, merely according to his behavior.

She sat uow beside him, and next her father, whose favorite she was because she favored her mother in face and figure. She had the same brown eyes and auburn brown hair, which Will did not scruple to call red, on the days when she

ooula

not see his moustache. She was a bright, fun-loving girl, and her father used often to say after her sallies of wit, that she reminded him of her Aunt Kate so that finally, by one of those odd processes by which sobriquets are affixed, she came to be called by her brothers "Aunt Kate."

On the other side, nexthis mother, sat Reginald, tho eldest, a young man of twenty-five, a student of law and of billiards, who was beginning to feel rather ,to big for the family circle, with a good jnany "engagements" with "fellows" of an evening. Little Tot, the five-years-old, completed the circle.

The lively chatter and scattering fire *f jest and repartee going on around the rtaa-table is interrupted by the sound of the door-Dell. THe one domestic of the household is busy in the kitchen, and ^Reginald, sitting nearest the ball door, rises to answer the bell. As be returns, ^tbe eyes of the group turn expectantly iupon him.

Little imps, I'd like to lay ray hands on one of them. I'd pull his ears till be waa sick of pulling door-bells," he nld.

What was it, Reginald asked his mother. A little samp who rang the bell for fun and then ran. I saw him scudding as tight as be eould around the corner." "They're been bothering the neighbore for several nights, and I supposed At would be our turn soon. But I'll catch the next boy who tries it," said Bill.

A this juncture the attention of tbe young people was attracted to the singular demeanor of their parents. They were oaring at #ach Other, and through oach other, into the vacancy of introspeotlon, with an expression df great amusement, mingled with that tender, nsive look that fills the free when the aughterof lips long silent is echoing 1the ears. "I bavent thought of In twenty "'Spears, Ada," exclaimed Mr. Phelps, *'but it is as fresh in my nttod as If It

.9*1

nSrere

yesterday."

•'I His wife laughed ISO the tears came, and seemed fairly rejuvenated by the lafluence of a train of reconaotkma. And *?both then and afterward daring the evening tbey stole frequent glances at path other of a loving, but moat keen rolse we lemetocompare It the original as now prserved, and

'curiosity, animated by the Imtml always reel when a portrait of thei ory cornea ont brtghUy, to catnpi

Inoto tbe ohangfe, Often, Indeed, doee nrove a Severe tast^ and one to be war•din Its moral as well as It* pfcyikmi

Mrt. Pheipa were a|^J«r«Aly

as oblivious of tbe ^ndren as if had been alone. But tho who had observed their behavior, with lbs utmost astonishment, now broke in rfn»-

Ul^WhaS»it?

sees

do teDtta qnlck!" cried

*^Wbat on earth is the matter?" inquired Reginald, with a petulant eartos-

Il^

sa§

Wbat larks!" said the Irreverent

TERR

It was a singula* expression with which Mr. and Mrs, those importunaUL jj?' their eyes from eager young faces Jbout ,J[* T*? as if they had just wakened to the fact of their ©bildren^tatenoe.^

Children regard# qv^e as a matter or course that theyiXoulqPforget their parents, but resent with surprise and a quite genuine sense of grievance the ?east lira of even a temporary obllvlousof themselves on their parents part. The theory they go on is that what la theirs is their own, and what is

their parents' is theirs too. The feeling of these young people was some astonishment, and a alight ahook to their sense of propriety, that there should be any such things as secrets from them in lives which they supposed to be completely sequestrated to their use and held in common.

Mr. Phelps, looking suddenly at the children, with eyes focused for half a life time before, actually failed to reoogniaethem. They impressed him, just an instant, as interlopers.

Won't you tell us?" asked Kate of her father, in a more subdued tone. Some day, perhaps. It is rather too long a story for the tea-table." "Bill," he continued, "doyou think you oould catch me a boy trick again? Don't night if they try that jstbr._a im a lesson he will re-

hurt him, but iust bring him in to me, and I'll teach member. "Why, George, you are not going to hurt the poor little fellow, said Mrs. Phelps, quite as much in surprise as in protest, for her husband

was

another lad approaching, and,

tingling with excitement, put himself in ambush. See him quivering like a cat about to spring. Now he jumps out there is a

little

scrimmage, and shortly

the two fall to comparing notes as to their exploits of the evening, and plotting new ones. Oh, it is rare fun to be a boy on such evenings as this in a village where policemen are unknown!

Mr. Phelps was reading bis paper before the cheerful grato fire which the cool evenings yet made comfortable Mrs. Phelps was sitting opposite, her cbabby person comfortably filling an easy chair, her small gaiters resting on the fender, and serving her eyes as points d'appui for a complacent revery. Kate could be seen through the open door flitting about the table in preparations for tea. Reginald stood looking out at tbe window, absently drumming with his fingers on the pane. At this moment there was a ring at the .door, a short scuffle in the hall, and an instant later Tot came running into the parlor, crying out with much agitation and immense eyes:

Oh, papa, Will has got him, and it's Freddy Patterson, and, oh! I'm afraid he's hurting him,'' and with this she began to whimper.

What on earth ails the child ex claimed her father. "What is she talking about?"

It's those everlasting boys at tbe bell again I hope Bill will shake him well," answered Reginald.

Bless me, I had forgotten all about it," said Mr. Phelps, lamping tip. "He must bring him right in." "Now, George, don't do anything dreadful," protested Mrs. Phelps.

They're coming now," said Reginald at which Mr. Phelps took his seat again and resumed his paper.

A moment alter, Bill hustled a little fellow about twelve years old in the

Soor

arlor by the shoulders, and stood in the barring his esoape. Ho was a bright, sturdy, spirited-looking lad, as, panting from the resistance he had made to his captor, he stoop fingering his cap. and looking crest-fallen, frightened, and yet half defiant. (It is the very same Uttle imp who was playing those pranks on the street a moment ago. He bad played one too many.) Tot stood in ftont of him, her hand* on her hips, staring at him, expecting something tragical, and ready to cry. Kate peered into the room over Bill's shoulder as he stood in the door, to see what waa the matter. Reginald waa nonchalantly looking on. Mra. Phelps' motherly heart at once warmed toward tbe pretty little rogue, and she turned toward her husbana, ready to intercede. But there waa no need. Rill began:

Here's the lttUe —but his father. without giving bkn a otaanoeto finish Ida speech, pat down his paper with an air of smiling patronage, and welcomed the small pnaoner with the words:

Why, Frsddyl how do yon do Glad to ses you. It's good of yoo to make us call. Sit down, my boy."

The little etiap Was more tint out by this modeofaddrsee than If be had been tioanoed. Ho looked wild. Mrs. Phelpa and Kate took the one at one*. Tbe former asked him how his mamma was, and Katetook his *p aad got hiss into a chair la tho mWdleofthe rooee sitting In which his foot barely touched tboground an attitude which Completed bis embarrassment.

hat

Kate.

"Lofaaee. Do yon go to aetortl now, Fteddy?" asked Mm. Phelps, with an aDDoaranoe of Interest. *Yee, maVBa," he replied In a firtght«md w**tmper.

Who Is ypur tsaaher She saked.*^. oft*, ^r-lmaanma^m." yooatwftv Freddy f* aaked

an' readln'," be

Rihnetic, iogrlfy, «.

*T~

answered, falling Into tbe school boy sing-song.

HAUTE S

not gener-

ally given to harsh methods of disolpline. The following evening was moonless and rather cool. There is something in such evenings that rouses the imp of mischief in the juvenile bosom. Boys, not having any sentimental nature, feel the thrill and stimulus of spring exclusively in aa aocessioa of activity, and a wst for out-of-door life, which boils over in every sort of mischief against in-door

*°On* such evenings as this, bands of urchins race about the streets, playing "I spy" and "Bankallilla," while others tie strings across the sidewalk in shady spots, and from behind trees watch with ecstacy

and

irrepressible laughter, which

too often betrays them, the trips and falls of unwary pedestrians. Still others are ringing door-bells and gloating from secure covorts over the exasperation of the house-holder, whose company smile can be seen by tbe light of his lamp suddenly cbauging to an expression of disgust, as he finds himself the victim of a familiar trick. Some more curious lads tie a string to the knob and thus ring tbe bell from across the street. The chances are that the one who answers the bell will not detect the string, and the contrivance can be worked till the family is half distracted. This is a rare night for mischief, and there will b3 bells pulled before bed-time.

This little chap in roundabout, for in stance, is evidently brimful of impishness.

See him stealing along the dusky street like an Indian scout, bis bright

eyes

peering on every side tor opportu nities for pranks. Now, just for the sensation oi it, he hides behind a bush as a pedestrian posses, and then, pretend ing to himself that he is scouting him, he glides steadily along behind the unconscious object of his espionage, with an immense affectation of caution, till the latter turns in at some gate. Now he

l'rotw wen, t&tnk yon.slr.'' And jfihn thay asked him wb^t hi likM beat of his stndies,and whether be HWd hii iertdher, how «W he was, and a great manv

!more

questions of that

class, and all with an air of so much affiability and interest, that he became entirely bewildered. Did they Know, or didn't tbey? Were they fooled.or

were they fooling him Boy-nature has very little faculty for adapting itself to fali»a position, apd he *ept getting redctar and redder.

Finally, summoning up all his resolution, he slid off bis chair, and mumbled out that be guessed he must go home.

Must you go so soon? 1 so sorry said ^Irs. Phelps graciously. You have made us ever so nloe a call!

He stood a moment, getting very red, aud then blurted out indistinetly: Mr. Phelps, I rang your bell for fun. it I'm sorry, and with that he slid but I'm sorry out of the room 1 fancy he wont trouble us again, said Reginald. "If that's what you will

AfPn/iHvA

coals of fire, treatment." I suppose it's called coals of fire because it scorches one's cheeks so. I thought he would burn up," said Kate.

I'm afraid It wasn't exactly coals of fire in tbe Apostle's sense," said Mrs. Phelps, "for Freddy thought *0 misunderstood him all the while.

It was a much more eftective kind than the Apostle's, for that very, reason."

Wby, Reginald!" said his mother, for it was ht wbo bad spoken. "There's no'why Reginald about it, answered be. "When you act as if you didn't know a person had intended to harm yon anl uo a kindness to hj111!it makes bim live times as ashamed as if he thought you knew what he had intended, and were being good in order to shame him."

The boy's right enough there," re marked his father. "In fact, for my part, I think nothing is more impertinent than being good in an ostentatious way to your enemies. Returning good for evil is fine when you don't seem to know you are doing it, but that is the only thing that excuses it, either as a point of manners or morals, for I believe coals of fire are capable of being used as offensively ss any carnal weapons. 1 have often answered an ugly speech in a sharper tone than I otherwise would, because I thought I should less anger somebody that way, than by assuming to be ha he "Oh, by the way, what was that joke between mother and you last night?" asked Bill, lounging 011 tue sofa. "Oh, yes, to be sure: you know you said vou would tell us," said Kate,' and now'Reginald is at home, it would be a good time. Please do!"

Would you tell them, Ada?" I 'suppose they will n«t fc,lve us any rest till we do," Mrs.Ptielps replied,with a smile of resignation.

If you really don't want to tell us, 1 wouldn't," said Reginald. Wby, no, of couse!" said Kate. 1 didn't mean to tease."

Ob, it isn't so serious a matter as all that," remarked Mr. Phelps. "It's no secret, really. I don't believe in secrets. The only really secret things about people are the things they don't know themselves. We needn't be afraid telling too much about ourselves, if we only tell all we know, for that's mighty little, and generally mistaken at that."

I'm net at all sure that I remember

enough of the story to tell it at all," he pursued, collecting his thoughts you should have heard your Aunt Kate. I never knew anybody who loved a joke as she did, poor girl. Well, it happened in this wise: Your grandfather was living in Pittsfield

Eer

then,

city,

a half grown

one of those hobbledehoy commlxnities that combine the disadvantages of city and village. Katd and I were the two oldest children, as old about as Reginald there, and you, Kate. One evening-—it couldn't have been much later in the year than ncrw—she and I were coming home from evening meeting, it being about nine o'clock. bad on a white dress that, I rem distinctly."

Kate

remomber

Then it must fiave been considers bly later in the year than this, father, because girls don't put on white for month or two yet," said Kate. "Very likely I'm not particular about the season," he replied. "The dress was white, anyhow. Well, Kate and I were walking along in the bright moonlight, laughing, and talking, and having a high ti «ie. She was always full of fun when coming home from meeting, or any other place where she had been obliged to be sober. Such places never damped her spirits as they do some people's, but only bottled them up, and when she got out you might expect an explosion. She was mimicking some of the personal peculiarities of the good brethren who had participated in the meeting She was an excellent mimic, but so tender-hearted that when she bad been taking anybody off, she altfays ended with saying, 'I'm sorry for him.' "Some little scamps were around ringing door bells, just as they are tonight, and Kate, having exhausted the material of the prayer meeting, took a crazy notion into her head that It would be good fan for us to try for ouce. and dared me to ring somebody's bell. It was in vain I argued with her, and showed her how seriously it wonld compromise persons of onr age and re aponsibilitles to be caught in such a prank, Sho would not listen to reason The risk, she ma :e it all the more fun There is nothing crosier, I tell yoo, Reg inald, than a girl who is bent on 1

rank. She actually scares a man by foolhardlness. "All mv

fffjrto

to fftawwi Kate otatbf

her freak," continued 2 lr. Phelps,"were useless', and she finally declared that unless 1 would take my life In my hand and rtng somebody's door bell, she wonld. And she meant it, t«»o for, suddenly dropping my arui, she w*s half-way up the walk to lb* stoop of a house, before I saw what she w*s bcut on. Then 1 whispered: 't'ooie back Kate, come back, l'lldoit.' •,

How well I remember just how she looked under tbe bright moon as she paused and glanced bow at me I I can see her blaok eyes dsnco

now.

She waa

standing in the grasa by tbe brick walk datntUyboldlng ner dreis up from the dew. For a moment she seemed irresolute whether qr not to keep on, and finally cams back to me. ^•Nottbli house,* said I, an* loos to gain time, nd invtsttag a fib for the *Ther»'s so«fbody sick in

Tbe next was Deacon Tuttle's,wbose gift for praying and Uflktrig against time was Invaluable, wtMM the even 10g_ meetings wars thinner than asttaL Ifovertboless Kate bad taken a dislike to him becauae his Wlfte always looked scared, and no alory Of sickness or guests that I *ald trumto wonld do, but that I most ring thai bell.*

But sFthai mocnent steps approached from behind, and Deacon TnttW fcitaself overtook He had not boss prayer meeting ihat evening for a wi der, and so we bad supposed bim to be at home. Seeing ns pausing at bis gate, pausing and looking toward the house, he nat

TTRDAY EVENING MAIL.

urally inferred that wo we: make a call Jk .. 'Come ifirfyonng f«lks, COUM In/ he said with effusion, suppoSS yon ve come to laboir wi(i!i mefcrnfclirtlng^tbe means of grace ^coordingjo Scripture rule.'

The deibon, as a regular attendant, felt that hicoukkjsfford to make this oke. ButlMMPfb urgent to have na come in that I did hot know bow to get out of it, and was afraid we should actually have to accept this invitation and Inakehim a cail.whichwould bavs been rather a stupid ending of bur fserik. But Kate never lost her head, whatever happened. She smiled bewliohingly on the eacon—women art the only strategists who use tbe same artillery aguoa friends and foes,—and answered mischievously, nudging me: 'We were lust debating whether to ring your bell or not, deacon, as you come along, but I'm afraid it is rather late for a call. We shall have to postpone your discipline to another evenlQg.'

And so, with a good night to the deacon, we went along. "'Got out ot that neatly,' said Kate. 'Isn't it fun 1 hi next house showed light in the front windows aud we voted it unsafe. But the next was unexceptionable for our purposes. The front windows were dark, and the gate was quite near to the stoop, so that retreat would be easy, while a row of shrubbery along the fence offered still further cover to the fugitive. A new-comer whom we will call Mr. Jones, though that was not his name, lived there. I knew bim as a bowing acquaintanoe.but nothing more and, whether he had a family, or in what it consisted, we bad not heard. He was not our set. 'Do be careful,' whispered Kate,Just as If she hadn't put me up to it. That little soene with the deacon, though Bhe managed it so cleverly, had left her rather fluttered and nervous, and I believe she would have been willing to let me off. Pretending to be children was funny enough for a few minutes, but it had already palled on us. Still I thought it would be a pity after so much talk and maneuvering not to do something and

BO,

telling Kate to be ready to run

I stepped lightly up by the side of the walk to the door. I felt for the handle of the bell, bound to have It over with 'as soon as possible, and jerked it with that thoroughness one puts into a thing which he does in spite of himself.

Another moment would have seen me flying up the street dragging Kate by the band, but, while I was yet in the act of pulling, before I bad let go, tbe door opened the dark hall, like the mouth of a dragon, gaped upon me, and Mr.

Jones

sprang out with a vindictive

ejaculation. It took only an instant. Instinctively I dodged, just in time to save my collar Irom his grasp, and was in the act of taking to my heels in a panic, when he started back, exclaim ing with an appearance of great regret and chagrin:

I beg your pardon, sir, a thousand times. I took you for one of these ras cally boys who have been tormenting me all the evening. I had been lying in wait, and thought I bad caught one for sure. I cannot sufficiently apolo gize.'

His profuse regrets gave me time to recover a small share of my scattered wits, and I managed to mumble in re ply. "Certainly, sir, very excusable odd mistake, and even forced a very feeble

"''Come in, sir, come in,' said Mr Jones with effusion, anxious to make amends for his rough reception, and ev idently ascribing wholly to that, state of confusion.. "I had nd choice but to follow him in. As I did so, I heard something that sounded like an hysterical giggle from behind the shrubbery.

As I stood under the hall lamp, I was conscious that Jooes was regarding me rather closely. As I said before, I barely knew him by sight, and could think of no possible excuse of business or politeness for my presence in his hall. No rule of etiquette made it in tbe least suitable for me to be making a formal

call, besides the facts that it was a full hour late for that purpose,aud my toilet was by no means faultless. I came to a desperate resolve thafrif be did not recognize me, of which I was quite doubtful, I would ask for some money anJ pass myself off as a gentlemanly mendi cant. But ho did. "'Mr. Phelps, I believe,' he saio with a slight hesitation, and paused as If to allow me to announce my business.

I stood looking like a perfect fool red in the face, speechless, abject, not daring to meet his eye. No chickon-tbief caught with chickons' legs sticking out under bis coat, wks ever a more complete picture

conscious guilt. That

was what I seemed to myself, but to him I suppose I.appeared merely rather embarrassed at betug obliged to explain that my call was wholly of asocial nature. You he mas himself somewhat embarrassed at having received a guest in so singular a manner, and this made him the less attentive to my demeanor. He thought he was the one who was in the awkward position. So, on seeing tbut my call waa not on buai ness, be said affably: «"I am glpd you called. Will you walk into the parlor? My daughter and I are quite alone.' "I followed him helplessly, like sheep led to tho slaughter, and was ush ered into a cosy room with but a single occupant.

The prettiest young lady that I over saw,

with

the

brownest

eyes,the sunniest

hair, most tempting hands, daintiest figure and dearest smile, that God ever put together, sat demurely reading by a "It waa your mother."

BE OF GOOD CHEER.

A man who acquires a habit of giving way to depression Is on the road to ruin. When trouble oomos upon hlrn, instead of rousing his energies to combat it. he weakens, and his faculties grow dull, and his lodgment booomes Obscnrsd, and he sinks In the slough of despair.

ul«t nulla Him nut.

cultiti

a MMon isiu.

bv tniifl solid

force and places him safe on ground, he stands there dejected and discouraged, and is pretty suns to waste tbe means of help which Aave been glven him. How different it is with the man who takes a ^eery view of llfs even at its worst, and fhee# HI with unyielding pluck I Ho may be

swept away by an overwhelming tide of

L- -~ly

stru^glea for

misfortune, but he velystt^l«»for the shore, and Is ever rwdy make the moet OT the belp tbst may be given Mm.

eiptoat may

A cheerfal, Aopefol,. 000

Soys mletahep genins has invented a

Sset

Kjket photograph apparatua. Ton a woman who pleases yon, yon

oat

a^ueaoqn IWWJP to be sstonlshed, vou have her likeness In yonr pocket. man operattevenina for a won gtich an apparatus is warranted to nave an eye poked out with a parasol several times a day.

ksfolO *e

33?

THE FEMALE MOOD Y*#

A Racy rttt-Picture of the WidOV Van Coil, tuf She ppMtred, in Jjpuia.

f-? (Clinton Age.J, This distinguished female

revivaflsL

has been to CllDton and gone elsewhere. Here, as in other placea, she showed herself to be a wonderful woman. In India she would have passed for a great magician. Her powers of endurance are fODlly manralotis. Hour after hour, with but slight intermission, she would discourse to the assembled crowd. Possessing a masculine voice of great power and a good deal of harshness, she fairly drove sinners to repentance, just as oxen hitched to tbe breaking-plow are driven. When she could not coax sinners to come to tbe mercy seat, she would leave the desk, and, walking down tbe aisle, surround some individual of the right make up, and throwing her boantlful black eyes square into the face of her victim, charm bim into acquiescence.

This celebrated lady overflows with mesqierism and electricity. H^r power of persuasion is almost unlimited. If the eye does, not bring tbe game the bands are brought into requisition, and if clasping palms foil to conquer, then the arms are extended and tbe subject taken in at a gulp. Wo to the man who resists or argues. He might as well come down first as last, as down upon his marrow bones he must get, and getting there be must pray or be prayed for.

This aisle-walking feature of tbe entertainment seemea particularly for the benefit of the sterner sex. This was proper and showed tbe lady to be human and "of tbe earth, earthy." In several instances that we know of she

{ent

iroved herself a woman of most excel taste. In the pulpit Mrs. Van Cott is a lady, Not a word that could be construed as personal, or silly, or senseless, does she utter. But every word weighs a pound, and she has a place for every syllable, and never gets a subject or an idea mixed She presents her thoughts clear as the sunlight. Nothing trashv or flashy in her manner or style. She is just what she appears to be—ponderous, powerful, majestic. A wave of her hand means more than some preachers inject into a whole sermon.

Mrs. Van Cott is decidedly pretty, she has a full, large, round lace, very much like "the man in the moon." When she smiles, as she frequently does while preaching, she lischts up the whole church. She has infinitely more power in a smile than a Irowu, in which respect she resembles her master. Her manners In the pulpit are pleasing to the eye, and her voice, though harsh on tbe outer edges, has really a musical ring to it. Her facial expiessions act like magic on her hearers. To go from the gay to the serene without a word spoken, is one of her fortes. Most people have only one forte, but this wonderful per sonage has several. First, it is her !ort

to appoar very masculine, possessing a mas* iiline nower and will, and yet be whoi'v woman. Second, it is her forte to n:: person see things as she sees them. Kifi believe things to oe so because she ti ll* 1 ham so. Four h, it is her forte ti

make

Lord

sinners believe it is the

ualni:g

upon them, instead of Mrs,

Van Con. And we fearoitimesthe lady fails to the Lord credit for much of her sue-'ess.

Mrs. Van Cott is a born actress. Should she go upon tho "Boards" she need not study as has Anna Dickinson, nor would she make a failure as has that distinguished lady. Her success would be assured from the start. In tbe bands of a successful manager and the play of "The Stranger," she would fill the larg est theatres and coin ducats for hersel and employer.

Mrs. Van Cott would have been a success in most any of the masculine walks of life. On the battle field she wonld have been a second Joan of Arc. In the Roman 8enate she would have been the grandest Romaness of them all. As a prosecutor of the whisky thieves she would have begged tbe whole crowd, and wept for more such wretches to satiate her thirst for justice: In the day when pirates were masters of the sea, had she lived and had her inclination run in that direction, she would have out-kidded Cant. Kidd and been proclaimed the piratical mistress of the ocean.

In fact we do not know of any avocation in life but Mrs. Van Cott would have excelled in, except that of a preacher of the gospel of Christ. It is here she is a failure. With all her gifts she does not comprehend the plan of salvation. She possesses none of that heavenly power which ChiTst bestows 011 his chosen ministers. With her it is always a tempest—never the still small voice. She brings tinners to repentance the way the Chinese call todinuer—with tbe gong. Tbe excitement over—the dinner eaten—all are gone—both sinners and Chinamen. But we tread on dangerous ground, and we forbear.

On Sunday afternoon last Mrs. van Cott delivered a temperance lecture in thlacity. It was really a master effort. Her arguments were powerful and convincing. Her logic was of the sledgehammer knd—bringing tears and slgbs from boarts unused to weep on such occasions. Her entire discourse was ladylike, fascinating and convincing. We could not help comparing it with a few remarks uaaue by Mrs* Foster. ThlB latter lady, pitching her voice away up into a painful shriek, screamed out, "There are inen In this audience who rent buildings in which whisky Issold." Suppose there were, Mrs. Foster. It was none of your business. It was not your meeting. They bad been ln^lt^d to listen to the address of a lady, and that lady bad treated them with the most marked respect. For you to make such a declaration was unladylike, uncalled for, and more than likely false.

But Mrs. Van Cott baa gone. The blessing of heaven go with her. in some refpects she is an enigma. But all respects sbe is talented, powerful id the pulpit, ind liusfclnglrt tbe ais'.e*. We have nb doubj. the world will h« hff having lived in it.

{JEER. COMPANIONSHIP. A little girl in Bast bam, taking companion on a sick chicken, placed it behind tbe kitchen Stove, where a little pet kitten nestled down beside it and afterwards became its companion, following bar about and playing wfth her. After laying bee first egg she supposed it waa not ben-like to steep behind tho stove,

Ing-plsce uiie tronl

so selected a

roortlng-place

In the shed.

Poor pussy was quite troubled at first,

but in' tha'evauing waa found quietly roosting beaide the chicken.—[OnrDumb Animal*. .. '•Ml**

T1*

'V*'

A StmftMi man of Detroit, who bhd some excreeeanoe* removed from his foot by a local eorn doctor, about a year aM. caUed sihisofllee again a, fow days sg? wThavn a bonkm ttsatod. "You

quired tbe caller. "Not exactly bo's not In this branch of the profession, hew now on tbe long."

Golden Words.

Our homes she churches, to say

tld be as holy as our be least.

Tbe greatest Josses ariso from "neglect Of smallest opportunities. It is tough to be poor, but to be ashamed of it Is putting salt on a sore.

Cromwell aid that one never goeeso .. Par as when one dues not know whether be is going.

The road to ruin is always kept in! good order, and those who travel it pay the expenses.

People forgive a great man's faults^ much more. readily than they pulse a small man's virtues.

If the whole world should agree to speak the truth, what an abridgment ic would make of speech.

Everything is pernicious that emanci-' ates oor intellect without at the same^ ime strengthening our self-control.

Even the fulfillment of duty leaves a sense of being indebted, because we-| are never thoroughly satisfied with ourselves.

A people mu*t not lie forced. It is a river which outsits own channel, and rou cannot make it change its course.—^

Voltaire. Nature, with Iter countless adaptations,-?, makes some exquisite atonement for that which may have seemed marred and wasted.

Good luck is the willing handmaid of» upright, energetic character, and conscientlouB observance of duty.—[James* Russell Lowell.

Our very mistakes in life may be overruled for a higher end, and our tears water growth that may be rich with immortal foliage and fruit.,/

I hold my peace concerning many things, as I do not wish to perplex my* fellow-men, and am content to see tbem^. rejoicing at what irritates me.

Often in life, in the course of a fewP minutes, some thought is conceived,{ some deed committed, which tinges the 4 whole remainder of an existence. £g

The sledge comes down many times,r and the rock splits at last but it is notv the last stroke alone that does the work.* There must be stroke upon stroke.

Great truths are slow in forcing thfcir way to the ac eptance of the world, while it readily imbibes things of lesser* moment with every passing breeze.

I know against all appearances that the universe can receive 110 detriment that there is a remedy for everv wrong and a satisfaction for every soul.—[Emerson. 1

Superstition fs soTnnafe in man that if we try to expel it it retreats to the oddest nooks and corners, reappearing unexpectedly when it may hope for any security.

Wo were designed in the cradle, perhaps earlier, and it is in findinc out thin design, and shaping ourselves to it, that our years are spent wisely.—[Jayies Russell Lowell.

Many an honest man prnotices on himself an amount of deceit sufficient, if practiced upon another, and in a llttlo different way, to send him to tho state prison.—[Bovee. .'M-hn.tft

The church-yard Is the market-place where all things are rated at their true value, aud those who are approaching it talk of the world and its vanities with a wiedom unknown before.—[Baxter.

There is never a miser who does not intend to make a handsome expendi? ture, some day: death comes, and the intention is carried out by his h?ir. This is the history of more than ono king of

Spain

acquaintance.—[Voltaire.

Jealousy is lusty of life and tenacious of it, and is as the toad which can lie stirlc8s under a stone for many seasons, yet keep its sight and its venom unspent to use when the stone which has liejd it down is rolled off.—[Ouida.

jrl* STRAIGHT-BACKED OIRL8. The Hindoo girls are gracefully and exquisitely formed. From their earlier childhood they are accustomed to carry burdens on their heads. Tho water for the family use is always brought by tbe girls in earthen jars, carefully poised in this way. The exercise is said to strengthen the mUscles of the back, while the chest is thrown forward. No crooked backs are seen in Hindostan. Dr. Henry Spry says that "this exercise of carrying email vessels of water on the head might be advantageously introduced into our boarding-schools and privato families, and that it might entirely supersede the present machinery of dumb-bells, back-boards, skipping ropes, and so forth. The young lady ought to be taught to carry the Jar, as these Hindoo women do, without even touching it with their bauds." The same practice of carrying water leads to

recisely the same result in the south of and in tho south of Italy as in India. A Neapolitan female peasant will carry on her head a vessel full of water to the very brim over a rough road and not spill a #frop of it, and the acquisition of this art or knack givos her the same erect and elasttc gait, and the same expanded chest and well formoJ back and shoulders.

WLLL SPOKEN AT LAST 'two Scotchmen occupied the same ottage, each being bound to keep his own sl-lo the hou*A well thatched. They were *adly divided religiously, one being a Burgher and the other antiBurgher. After repeated battles of word® they were not on sneaking terms. Ono day these men were at work, 011 the roof* each thatching his owu side, and tbev met at the top and wore forced to look lnai*h Other's faces. Ono of the men took Off his cap, and scratching his head said to the other: '-Johnnie, vou and me. I think, have been very foolish to dispute as we have done concerning Christ's will about our kirks, until we baoclean forgot Ufa will abont oursels and so we luie faugh so bitterly for what we ca' the trut that it hae ended 1n*plte. Whatever Is wrong, It's perfectly certain that it never can be riobt to bo uncivil, nnneighborly. unkind in flicttae hate ana anither. Na, na, that a the divll's Work, and no God's! Noo. it strikes me tbst msybelt's wi theklrk. as wi' this bonse, ye're working on ao side and me on tne t'ither, but if wo only do onr work weel we will meet at the top at last. Gle's your han» auld neighbor!" So tbey shook bands and were tho best of friends ever after.

A POO* roan wbo had a large family broke bia leg, and as he would be for some time destitute of the means el irrsce, it was proposed to hold a prayer at bis bouse. Tbe meeting was-

Brown. Aloud knock at

led by tbe door interrupted the service. A tall, lank, bine froeked youngster stood tft the door with an ox goad in Us band, and asked to see Deacon Brown. "Fa-

In, in tbe ahape of potatoes, beof, pork and eorn. Tho saoetfng broke up without the benedWtion..