St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 21, Number 29, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 8 February 1896 — Page 7

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('HATTER XXVII. (Continued.) Rut her cries were drowned in the raging murmur of the excited crowd, which clamored loudly now for the conclusion of the rite, and the mutterings rose into a roar of passionate exultation, for, forget it ng their prisoners where they had been cast down, all present watched Genie as with vindietiive haste, she caught Aulie’s wrist, ami imide a sign to the Ida- k. He, too. once more caught the soft white arm. drawing hack his knite. and then lurched forward and tell heavily, as the sharp report of a revolver rang | out; another ami another, ami two fresh । comers fought their way to the platform. J For sickened by the heat, disgusted by ' the proceedings. Saintone ami Deffrard. I in total ignorance of what was to follow, ; had left the scene a few minutes before, ■ ami were sauntering slowly back to the town when they were arrested by the out- i cry. and reached the doorway in time to i recognize the victim Genie's diabolical ingenuity bhd prepared. Saintone stood for a moment paralyzed, and then with a quick order to his friend, snatched out his revolver, rested the barrel against tin- doorpost, ami tired. The encounter that followed hade fair to be a repetition of that which had gone before, the negroes setting up a tierce howl of rage and rushing forward once more as the newcomers reached the platform: but Deffrard's pistol Hashed twice in defense of his friend, and at each shot a man fell. Meanwhile Saintone. who hail swung up. seized Atibe and dragged her from Genie, sending the priestess staggering with a blow from his pistol, and he was making his way down, burdened with his load, when Genie snatched a knite from her waist and sprang at him. but only to fall downward with a bullet from his revolver through her brain. There was a pause. Another furious howl arose as the people recovered from their astonishment. 'The shots had dazed them for the moment. and they had shrunk from the deadly v.mapons. but as they saw their two leaders fall, and the victim again about to be snatched from their hands, about a score rushed forward. Shot followed shot rapidly, and others fell, but there were fifty men ami raging furies ready to take their places; and as Aube fell back upon the platform the last chambers of the revolvers were emptied, and Saintone and Deffrard were surrounded by a howling throng, who fought and strm k at them, striving to drag them down it. suite of thetr brave resistance. Another minute amt they would have been torn tv pieces where they so ight for ’ dear life, but a shriek of horror arose, and the whole mob. as if moved by one impulse, rushed for the door, bearing , their breathless and panting victims in their midst. It was none too soon, for the temple of their obscene rites was doomed. The thrown down lamp had remained unnoticed, and the smoke had veiled what had been taking place, till, as if with a pound, a great pillar of flame had shot up one side of the brushwood walls and leaped along the rafters and the dry leafy thatch, which roared and crackled as it burst into flame, casting down a lurid glare through the smoke upon where Aube lay. white and still, apparently doomed to die a purer death than that designed—a burnt sacrifice in the serpent's name. "Creep now. and carry her right back. No; m>t yet.” Paul was cheeked in the act of rushing towards Aube, and he saw what was being done. His appearance might have made some i of tin tierce spirits rush in beneath the falling fragments of the burning roof, and to screen their movements from those outside by the door, Nousie. deep in the < raft and mysteries of the place, and being invisible to the watching throng, seized the red curtain and ran across the opening, partly screening the platform and its dead priest and priestess, while a yell of horror rose from outside at what seemed a miracle to the wretched crew. Rut a bright keen knife was at work behind the great red curtain on one side, and Nonsie whispered as she cut Tani's and Bart s bonds: "Draw your revolver, man," whispered Bart: ”1 had forgotten mine and used my lists," as Paul now stepped forward, raised the deeply drugged victim and bore her behind the screen at the back, Nonsie guiding him to where a narrow entrance helped the priest in his mystic jugglery before his miserable disciples. It was none too soon, for as Bart came last and passed through, a portion of tike ; burning roof fell, and the sides of the building tottered in the furious blaze. But this opening backed on tn the forest. and the escaping party passed in at once among the trees, the burning build | ing being between them and the now bushed crowd hushed save in one partwhore sumo half-dozen held Saintone and I Deffrard. the former still struggling fee- | bly ami calling upon the people to rescue | Aube. One or two made a step or two for- I ward. In * turned back, shrieking with dread, for through the open doorway, j glorious now with the golden light of the blazing timbers which were rapidly turn- i ing the interior into a furnace, some- ; thing was seen to move rapidly. It was the great god of the burning ' temple forsaking his high priest and priestess, leaving them to their funeral pyre. Fur the serpent, still unharmed, had crept from its hiding-place beneath the platform which had sheltered it. and was making rapidly for freedom in the ilark undergrowth of its native wild. CHAPTER XXVIII. From the shelter of the dense forest the fugitives watched the reflection of the blazing building. Nonsie crouching on her knees with Aube's head in her lap. They had watched the Hames as they blazed up above the trees, and still gazed

A as the fire gradually sank into a glow which grew fainter and fainter till there was nothing visible, the shadows beneath the trees being black, and the silence perfectly awful. for the wild creatures of the forest had all been seared away. And as they- waited, listening to every sound, the two men with their lingers on their triggers ready for any enemy who might advance, .Nonsie con fessed to them her knowledge of I he Voudoux people mu’ their ways, and how her suspicions had ! been a roused. "And I not to know that she still lived,” 1 sobbed the woman, as she bent down and I i passionately kissed her child's rigid face. ; "More shame for me." said Bart, bit- i terly; “but I could not be expected to I i understand the action of these foreign I herbs." "It is the secret of the Tapaloi." said j Nonsie. simply. "But will she wake?” "Please God!" said Burt, as Tani hung I upon his words. "The first thing is to ! ; get her to town." "No. no.” cried Nonsie. excitedly. "She ! I would not be safe there." "She would not lie safe nt your house," I j said Tan!, angrily. "No." replied Nonsie. "The people ! would soon know, ami they would । ome I and kill me, and drag her away to that > i horrible death.” I "But the law the authorities'.'" cried Tail!. "You must lie protected." "Tmlvi t me. thi n." said Nonsie, as she laid her hand in his. "protect my child. Take her away from Imre to one of your j ships.” "Ah!” cried Tan), as he sank upon his knees, and raised ami kissed one of Aube’s hands. "< ome. thin, before it is : too late.” Favored by the darkness, they traversed | the forest path, and guided by Nonsie reached the port by a deserted way just as the sun rose above the glowing sea. Fortune favored them, inasmuch as a ! large French steamer had come into liar I bor only two days before, and they were willingly received on board; while a few hours after Bart was able to announce I that the effects of the potent narcotic, under whose influence Aube had 111 vn kept, were gradually dying away. In tile course of the day news reached , the vessel that there had been some kind ' of rising among the negroes at one of > l their festivals, a hut had been fired, several burned to death, and a well-known gentleman of the place and his friend nearly killed. Paul and Bart were still talking of the ' affair o£_lhe past night when Nonsie * joined them on the deck. 'ls she worse’.'” cried Taul. excitedly “No; she is sleeping now ." replied Non ; sic. “She opened her eyes and knew nv ' a littl<* while ago. She remembers noth ' ing about the Voudoux." "And never murt know that.' -aid Bart. . sharply. "Eh? You w ant to speak to ' him. All right." Bart walked away, and \ou- e took a : packet from her bosom and pku cd it in Paul's hands without a word. "What!” he said, "you wish me to take care of it ?" “Yes," she replied, w ith a wearv smile. "It is Aube s. (live it to her when she is well." “Why not you?” "Because 1 am going on shore w hen it is dark.” “Why?" said l’aul. "No; yon n:, >t go. It is not safe. You told me so ye r i self, ami they would try to avenge their I priest and priestess. Besides, there is > that Mr. Saintone.” "He will not harm me.” said km-e. ! simply. “But you ought not to go and leave Aube. She may want you, ami ym might ' be detained. The vessel sails at daybr* ak • to-morrow." "1 shall be back." said Nousie. quietly. “Tell Mr. Durham not r let her know I am gone." "But yon have some great reason for leaving her?" "Yes," said Nonsie. lay ing her hands in his. "I'm going home." "But why? The risk!" "I will lie careful: but I must see poor i ! Cherubine. These twenty years she has I been my servant and friend. 1 cannot ; I leave her alone to die." j l’aul made no further objection, for he । ‘ was touched by the tender, appealing way j ; in which she spoke Io him, and just at I ' dark she went ashore. Almost as she touched the wharf. l’aul : i forgot her existence in the dream of hope ' and joy which tilled his heart. For Aube I was saved; she was in the same vessel I with him. and after a touch at Trinidad i and Guiana, they would To on their way j back to Havre. Nousie evidently smiled, I too. upon his love, and there was somei thing about her now which wont straight I to his feelings, tis ho told himself that, after all, she was Aube's mother, ami it I would riot be so very hard to find her a | place in his heart. Bart joined him and was uneasy when I he Beard what had been done, but said ' he supposed Nousie knew best, and Would I avoid all risks. The night crept on tipace; Aube was । sleeping peaccfplly. Bart said: ami a ! lady passenger had constituted herself i nurse to help the patient's mother, so that Taul's heart grew more restful. He bore | the disappointment of not seeing the suf- | serer with a fair amount of patience, and ! kept on watching from the gangway, for | Nousie's return, a glow in the distance I reminding him of the tire in the forest. It was long after midnight, and just as he was growing terribly anxious. Nousie camo on board, walking very slowly, and as if completely wearied out. “Ah'” sho sighed, as she took Taul's arm. and leant upon it heavily. "My darling?” “Sleeping calmly." ’Take me to her,” said Nonsie, softly, and l’aul led her toward the cabin. "How weary you are?' ho said. "You found f'herubine?" “Asleep,” sho said, gently, and with a strange pathos in her voice; "they had been and stabbed her to the heart.”

“What ?” “And the house was burning as I cam* away." "Thank heaven, we are out of that dreadful place,” thought l’aul. as he stopped by Aube's cabin for Nonsie to enter, but she held his arm tightly. "('ome, too,” she said: and he walked with her into the cabin, where she whispered a few words to the lady watching, and then went to the cot anil kissed her sleeping child. "Take mo away.” she whimpered to l’aul. “I cannot bear it. 1 am rwry weak. It might hurt her.” He led her back on deck, ami she sank into one of the cane reclining chairs with a heavy sigh. "Y'ott are completely overcome,” said Taul. tenderly. "Let me get you some wine?” "No; don’t leave me. dear,” she said. "It is getting so dark. Tell me once more that you love my Aube.” "Love her!" cried Taul. "Ah. yes, you do love her, and will be kind to her. It is better so. Kiss dear Luce when you get home, and tell her always to be a sister to my child.” “Madame Dulau.” cried Tani, in alarm, "you are ill. Let me fetch Durham.” "No, no," she sighed; "don’t leave me. They struck me twice. It is too late. ID is better so. ('ome closer. Kiss me, dear.* Ah," silo sighed, as he bent down, passed liis arm about tier, and pressed his lips to hers, n bile she feebly clasped his neck, "my darling’s husband. Good-l>y. dear Tani. I shall not disgrace you now — good ” She did not finish (he sentence, for her head sank down on Taul Lowther's breast. The last victim of the Youdoux was dead, with tno deadly wounds above the heart. ^CHATTER NXIX. Aube Dulau had been back in the calm seclusion of the pension trying to forget her griefs in the companionship of Luee, some six months before a fresh sorrow came to her in the parting, for with her brother's full eonsmit Luce left France for the country town where Doctor Durham had taken his new degree and the practice that was to be his. The wedding was quiet, and there was tm honeymoon, for the Doctor was too busy making friends with his new patients, But it was none the less n happy match, and the wedding trip monej came in very useful in otln r ways. Nearly a year more had passed before, during a lisit to her friend. Aube could be brought to say the word for which l’aul Lowther prayed. He had long enough before giv> n into her charge tho packet । ontided to him by Nonsie. the contents being the warrants for a large sum invested in England ami France. It was one evening thai Taul at last drugged forth the reluctant words. "It was her wish.” he had whispered to her again "Almost her last words, Aube ‘mv darling’s husband.' ami she kissed me, deari st. as her son." Aube shrank from him for the moment, then yielded herself In his embrace. "My husband.” she said soitly ; and no otlur word was ntter«u| then, for Taul Lowther's lips sealed that which had been said. ”1 am very glad, my dear. It is quit* right." wrote ba< k the old Superior, when Aube sent her the reason why she would not reti.Vn. "Tell Mr. Lowtlur we all thank him f< r the picture, so like the dear^ • |i|M lie |o\ed. < <od bless loU 1s > 111 f**" (The end.l RACCOONS IN LOUISIANA. Hundreds of Them Truppcil Weekly for I heir Skins. 'lhe redemption of the alluvial lands along the Mississippi from ovei flow by the constrm-tion of levees, which Ims been going on wactively for the last few years, is having the effect of tilling up the swamp lands and marshes along the Gulf with immense quantities of game, driien out from aboiiy A few years ago the woods or swamps back of the plantations otl the Mississippi, which seldom extend more than two miles from the river, were tilled with raccoons, 'possums and other game to such an • xtent as to prove a serious nuisance, the animals playing havoc with corn and other final crops. These raccoon have been growing fewer in that section for the last eight or ten years, bin wholly by emigration. They seem to bale pushed further south toward the Gulf of Mexico, and the hunters in the interior settlements or brules, in Lafourche. Terndionne and other parishes containing a large amount of sea marsh, declare that their country’ is overrun w ith raccoons. There have always berm some there. Inn the num-, bers have increased there in a mnni ner impossible to account for in any । natural way. While the 'coons haxc proved rather troublesome in the matter of clearing | out cornfields, they are just at present । yielding the hinncrs and trappers a i rich harvest, and have made up for the ; ruin of the alligator business. The bayous of Southern Louisiana were alive wiiit alligators twenty years ago, but tiie demand for their skins was so great and so large a price was paid for them that the alligators have been well-nigh exterminated. The 'coons now take their place and are proi ing oven tnc.ro proli ta I de. The business of trapping and killing 'coons has reached pheuoniemil proportions this season, and several hundreds of these anima's are brought into Thibodeaux and other towns weekly from er.ch of the surrounding brules or bayous. The skins sell for from 15 to 50 cents apiece, in proportion to the size and quality of their fur, and are r< adily sold to Northern dealers engaged in the fur trade, while the negroes purchase the skinned bodies at from 5 to 10 cents. The trappers make a very hamlsoine living out of the business, which lasts only during the winter enough to support them throughout the year. The 'coons are said to support themselves ]irinci]>ally upon the corn they steal from the fields and the crawfish, ehouphitm and other fishes with which the streams of Southern Louisiana abound, the 'coon being an expert lisher. The 'coon trapping has almost doubled the receipts of pelts at New Orleans this year since the hunting season began. New York Sun. There can be no high civility without a deep morality. Emerson.

ALL ABOUT THE FARM SUBJECTS INTERESTING TO RURAL READERS. tonveaient Device for HangiiiK Hoch — Coop for Shipping Poultry in Win-ter-How to Use the Crosscut Saw — Farming Requires Skill. Device for Hansinc Hoch. A convenient device for hanging hogs is a valuable assistant in the handling Os heavy animals. The accompanying Illustration, which is from the American Agriculturist, represents the principal jKirts of such a contrivance. Stout posts •'« ami b). seven or eight inches tiquart, are tirmly fixed in the ground about 10 feet apart, and stand 10 feet or moie in height. These are connected above by a hardwood beam (cl, three indies thick and ten inches in depth, mortised into the posts and held by plus <>P bolts. At f. near the post b, and <L&eetl7 over the platform upon which has been made ready for hang'Jpx* small pulley is suspended from Inmin. using for this purpose an passing through the b(>am. but not extending above it. The frame of i I I T S ^4Ol Ui 1 'yirrnij DIAOKAMOt' AITAHATI ' Foil IIOISTIXG | HOGS. “ r 1 — this pulley should be large enough that the hook on tho end of the rope may ! be readily put through it or removed. A number of carriagi s similar to e are ' made to run on the beam. They eonsist of hardwood roller four inches in diameter and of about the same length, from which hangs a long iron loop in i closing the beam. This loop should be wide enough Iwlow. and extend dow n w ard far enough that the carriage may pass the pulhy at f. From the loop hangs a chain nb mt is inches in length. Through the post a an opening is cut just Iwlow tht> beam, and a piillei (ki Inserted, over w hich the rope is carried down tn a windhiss tixed on the post a few feet from tlm ground. A hanger tin is provided for each c-arriage. In this q different 1-mgtli of stick may be ns<sl ns a "sprcmH i. ' thus adapting it to larger <>i smaller animals In Working fids device, all tin* rar riages to he used are transferred to the rigiit end of the I>eani exi - vpt one. n Meh is brought into position on the bf| of the pulley, at f. The r<>pe Is pn^ed through the loop of this e:i". ria^e. over the pulley, and downward tli4 hook at the end of the rope taking h<v! of the large ring of the hunger, tisi-d as t gambti'l. The cat' ass is raised to a proper height, whin the hook at the top of the hanger is placed ip one of the links of Ih ' chain suspended from tne carriage. The rope Is now withdrawn fmm the pull x at f and hung upon the carriage, an I by the continued use of the wlmlla s the hanging animal is G»riw away to the left The second carriage Is now brought to flu- left of the pulle; . the I r«»pe rearranged, mid the same operation repeated for the second animal. As it Is important that the upper s>e face of the beam remain smooth ami liard. it is protected when not in use by a board covering extending a few Inches on either side, or the shell er box (tn) for the carriages mai extend from i»ost to post. Growing the Cranberry. A Cape Cod grower said to a B<'Sp»n Glols? man that analysis of the < ;an •icrrj plant shows a large .percentage of po’ash, whereas muck contains but Httle potash and much nitrogen, our ’ muck gives a rank growth of vine. When too rank v e mow them off, get ring new growth and stiffer roots, th< i usual result of pruning. ((.■ we i sand tb.e meadows, which will renew the vines and kill out foul growth. \\ ■ . begin sanding by putting on only a few ini'hes. adding more from year to rear as the vine seems to med ir. We run our ditches diagonally, slanting to- . ward tho flow of the main ditch, to avoid obstruction at the mouth. In starting a bog we use a complete f< r tilizer. After the young cranberry slip is set a man makes a hole in the sand ■ w ith his dibble about an inch from the plant, and another man goes along with a pail of fertilizer and a common , clay pipe, and put a pipeful Into each • hole, covering it with bis foot. The next year " ’ — eall er fertilizer 1 > r< ».ad east abt tllc plau’- After that we use oiilv w«*d ashes, these giving us pot- i :i^l, on-1 phosphoric acid. We have : tried both carbonate of soda and nitrate of soda, but get the best results from wood ashes, tmr object in using fertilizer the first two years is to get the plants so cover the ground as quickly , as possible, and thus shut out grass and foul growth. A good crop is about a barrel to a square rod. Cure Founder in Cows. < ’ow.s will founder tb.e same as horses from being overfed with some food which cannot readily be digested. As it sours in their stomachs cows will show the characteristic lameness which results in horses when they are overfed with anything, of course, as diges?ion is interrupted the animal becomes feverish, and her milk flow ceases. It will take several days of careful feed ing to put a foundered cow in good condition again. She should be kept In a dry place ami given all the water she will drink and light, easily-digest-ed food in small quantities until digestion is restored to its normal condition. How to Bae a Crosscut Saw. Hold the saw in position square ; across the la®, the center of the saw’ directly over the center of the log. Stand

so that you face the line of the cut with the handle opposite the center of your body. Keep as close and let the saw miss freely your body and clothing. Get the stroke with your arms and tho bend and turn of your body. Hold the handle loosely in both hands, with the outside hand below. I’ull the saw straight, through the cut. both laterally and perpendicularly. Practice so you can change sides and draw either right or left handed. With a little practice this ca« be done more rapidly and easier. A etdini; Market Gardens The o' i idea that fertilizers were noi adapted io market gardening was long ago expoded by the practical experience of Jho big market gardeners near <mr lais? cities, and by the truck farmers in tl'r South, says the Agriculturist FabbaEt», cilery, lettuce, spinach and similar leafy vegetables depend for quality Upon quick growth, and it results oq.ly from plenty of soluble plant food in the soil. “A slow growth is usually tough, dull and rusty, while a quick xtow tli is tender, bright and crisp.” Only by tilling the soiL with decomposed stable manure in excess of wha the crops need, can the needed supply cf available plant food he obtained irom manure. Fsually it is cheaper and more satisfactory to feed these market garden crops with fertilizers than to buy horse manure at high pi ces and haul or ship it long dis- ' tanees. Incubators for Early Chickens. All farmers want to have chickens come oft’ as early as possible. The early i pullets wall begin laying in the fall and will continue to lay more or less through the next w inter. But early in the season no good laying hen can be induced to become broody, or if she is she will no' sit so determinedly as when the weather is warmer, later in the season. lae incubator comes in handy for these extra early chicks. If well cared for it never gets out of order or goes off the nest. It is the nest itself, in fact, ami will hatch mu more chicks in cold weather than the most careful hen can do. During the summer season there are more or less broody hens, and to give th an a setting of eggs rests them 1 om the burden of egg production. There Is no loss of time in hot weather in allow ing a hen to sit Then’ is when the sitting has to bo done late in w inter «>r early in spring. I old, XX eat her Shipping Coop. Xlore fowls are shipped away by ex • press in cloth coops in winter than a: any other season of the year, and innn.v unfortunately have their combs frozen , A cloth-covered coop is s< am protee- : lion against the cold. Take the sam coop, put cover pieces on outside tin . i cloth cover, as suggested in the sketch — ... <<cl> WIXIII'l: SHICPING < OOP. and o\ r these stretch another covering of < loth, and we have an air space bet wen that will protect the fowls from cold Have a tight Cover i xcept the slit for the ham! of the expressman. w lii' a w ill also afford ventilation. Wit'i plenty of < haff in the bottom to keep the feet warm, birds ought to be very comfortable in such quarters, even in very : cedil weather. XVherc Are the Farm Tools? There is much less leaving of farm tools in the fields where last used than there formerly was. The kind of farmers who practised this negligent and wasteful way have been weeded out by the Darwinian process <>f natural selection. I. i' doubtless irtie that even i w hen the mow ing machine and harvester are sheltered in winter their waste by ruM is as great if not greater than the deprei i nion in value by use. All wo tdv.oi k that me s it should be painted during the winter mouths. Iron should be rubbed clean from dirt or rust, and thoroughly oiled or greased w ith grease that does not contain salt. This will prevent nisling, while the salt in grease is the direct cause of rust.

How Grease Destroys Lice. It is not necessary to use kerosene \ emulsion to destroy lice, i hat is the ; most convenient way to kill lice in lien houses, as it tan be sprayed to reach ■ every part. But win n applied to fowls or animal;-- to destroy lice on their bodies, any fresh grease rubbed into the skin with the hand is more pleasant ; and quite as effectual. The grease I ' closes the small orifices through which I ail small insects take the air they I breathe, and thus suffocates them. As the insects are always moving, rubbing | the grease about the head, neck and ! breast of fowls and about the nocks I of cattle will usually he sufficient to rid I the animal of them. Extra Teed 1 i toll Wra her All who have fattened stock in winter know that the animals eat more heartily and are less likely to be cloyed with an excess of grain or meal when the ■ weather is cold. It is then. also, that the greatest gain is made if the stock is given a sufficiency of fattening food. But the stock is not fattening, which is giving milk or simple kept in store condition. needs extra feed during cold weather. This is especially true at night, when the animal is likely tc have less exercise and be less able to keep warm than in the day time. The Beautiful Gladiolus. Os all the flowers none will return greater satisfaction for trouble ami expense than the gladiolus, and yet they are not common in our gardens. The bulbs take up so little space and the bloom is magnificent. The flowers come soon and succeed each other tot; months.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. A Scholarly Exposition of the Lesson - Thoughts Worthy of Calm Reflec-tion-Half an Hour’s Study of the Scriptures—Time XVell Spent. Lesson for Feb. SI. Gohlen Text.—Why call ye me. I.ord. Lord, ami do not the things which 1 say? Luke G: 40. The sermon on tb.e mount is the subjc<-t of this lesson, which is found in Luko C>: 41-49. “In all thy getting, get wisdom.” And here surely is wisdom. “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Treasure up these words of (’hrist, they are heavy with wealth, they are freighted with blessing. (> men of the world, "wherefor do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satistieth not?” XX’e hare heard of a company of sailors who. east upon a certain island, discovered that it had mines containing gold and silver, ami forthwith fell to digging ami delving. They spent the whole of the precious springtime seeking madly for wealth, when they should have been planting seed corn for grain. When the harvest time came they had gold but no bread, ami they miserably died. Are men of this world less foolish? "Seek ye the Lord while Im may be found, call ye upon him while he is near?" Lchsou Hints. I “Cornfield chapter" we have called this, for convenience, because it begins with the account of (’hrist and the disciples going through the cornfields and rubbing out the grain between their hands as they went. There is corn in this field for yon if you will take it. only we must thresh it for ourselves. I land-threshed wheat tastes the best. "Why behohlest thou the mote?" not cutching a glimpse of it. but looking at it intently, i. e„ efit; • He <:• refill how yon use y- cr eyes. ”.It;dge got that ye be not judged.” The example of the I’hari- | see probably suggests this admonition. The word "perceive” means to take account of. It suggests humble consideration. "He that is without sin among yon. let him first cart a stone.” Christ uses here in the mote and the beam a strong figure of spets-h. To think oneself aide to pn-seribe as an oculist for other* when your own eye is wholly im-apacitat-ed. has. as it were, a stick of tlmb. . it. seems utterly foolish. There is just , ii tom h of ridicule here and some humor. • Our Lord is here speaking to his disci■ph s. taking the Pharisee for his text. He I is solicitous that the spirit of Phariseej ism be kept out of the church. To that : end he uses on this occasion forceful similes, three in all. viz.: the beam [ and the mote, the tree or vine, ‘ anil the house on the rock and on the • sand. This may give us our division for the full study of the lesson. 111 listrations. The Sermon on the Mount, if rightly observed, the Man of the mount kept close in the midst, would settle nil disputes. There is "one Mediator,” and but one. One for all the world and for all earth's differences and disaffections. His name is Christ. Arbitration is good, but mediation is better. Arbitration has to do witn things, mediation with persons: ar-I-Itration quiets disputes, mediation unites disputants. The strike is not going to settle our industrial troubles. It is at the best but a method of protest and in its ordinary form nothing biqter than a mode of retaliation. Reprisals suggest reprisals; they do not make for peace. Neither I does counter-organization help the matter ; much. It is but a menace for temporary i restraint. We can expect no happiness in ' tne family circle while members of the ■ family hold cocked pistols at each others’ heads. The man of peaie must intervene I and bring warring factors into one, mak- ' ing them to see their interests identical. The beam of selfishness must be cast out j of the eye both of labor and capital, and I each l>e made to look u]>on the things of I another. Mutual concession and consid- | eratin is the solvent of ail social difficul- ' ties. He is the "one Mediator” who I said, for the staying of all strife foreign and domestic, "Whatsoever ye would that • men should do to you. do ye even so to j them.” (’hrist is the Man of love. As ! such he comes tn bring a new principle into tite world, and by that sign to conquer. This morning for our before-breakfast i reading we pressed our way through the sceoml epistle of St. John. It made no impression upon us. save of something strongly and fervently written. It had been passed that way several times be- ‘ fore. This will not do, we said, and we ’ went back to read more thoughtfully.

i Then the richness of the word began tn j reveal itself. It is an epistle not simply ■ of ••truth." though that seems to be the I principal wonk but of love. It links the j two. and makes them as it were, to catch step together. .John is writing to a : household of believers that seem to have been great for the truth, but are not j speaking or holding that truth in love. The ; two must go together, he says, and he hath not "the >f Christ, i which is love, hath not God" (tin truth!. Let the Jew observe. Let us all be admonished. and so keep the Heavenly Father in the midst by holding the Christ in the heart. The hatefulest thing in this universe is selfishness. The deadliest thing is selfishness. "To be carnally-minded (to mind the things of self) is death." and sin e “that which is born of the flesh is ' flesh." just to go on in the ways of flesh and seif, "looking out.” as they say. "for number one. ' is a process of moral suicide, a.id it means death, (let up out of this, unto Christ's high thinking. Get up into the high uplands of Christian living. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made ns free.” Ah. brother, the air is better up here. Let us stay. Next Lesson "The Great Helper.”— Luke 7: TIB. Never Without Help. We arc never without help. We have no right to say of any kind of work, it is too hard for me to do. cr of any sorrow, it is too hard for me to bear, or of ant sinful habit, it is too hard for me to overcome. Elizabeth Charles. Postal Cards. An idea of the number of postal cards used in the Inited States may lie gleaned from the official announcement that It takes I>2l tons of paper a year to make them.