St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 22, Number 6, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 29 August 1896 — Page 2

THE WRATH OF CUPID. Whets Venus roamed Olympia’s height. Io radiant, heavenly beauty, And aought to set all things right By arts ot love and duty, She found her Cupid weeping sore. His bow and arrows broken, And thus did he his griefs deplore, , And legends told in token: **l sought to win a blooded maid— She fled and went to voting; A ballot on my bow she laid, Her virgin scorn denoting. 8 begged her kisses —she cried ‘Nay,’ And said I was a bear if I joined not in the license fray, And fought not ’gainst the tariff. "Again I found a lovely lass, She was a platform preacher; A gentler creed I dreamed, ulasl That I could eftsoons teach her. She gave me Spencer, Huxley, Strauss, I found no way to fault her, (With texts she did my transports douse, My bow broke on her altar. "When next I sieged a maiden's heart. And wooed her toward compliance, Ebe nipped the point from off my dart, Because she’d studied science. 'And when I sang an amorous lay Os Venus and Apollo, Ebe turned on me a Roentgen ray And said my heart was hollow. "At last I met n cycling girl. In bloomers she was riding— The chemic art made gold eaoh curl; Her native beauty hiding. 6he had no use .for ardent ways, She pitied not my torture, But said she might Love's ante raise If I’d become a scorcher.” ’Then Venus fair embraced the lad. And bade him calm bis sorrow, Nor worry o’er each earth-maid’s fad, But hope success to-morrow. "Dear child,” she said, “you must not cry, These fads thy work ne’er covers; For bloomers never reach too high y’o hide the hearts of lovers.” —Life. SMUGGLER'S LAST RU N On the wild promontory of Portland • little to the west of the famous “Bill,” a rude stone dwelling was dovetailed into a chasm that broke the scarp of the cliff some thirty feet below the brink. Ingress and egress on the landward Bide could only be had through a trapdoor on the roof; but, as much of the itraflic to that house came from the sen, there was also a door In the side flush rw!th the cliff-face, from which anyone stepping would have fallen sheer on to the rocks below. This difficulty,• (however, was obviated by the dropping of a rope ladder when occasion required. The almost impregnable citadel fonn•d the lair of Steve Kern, the most darling of all smugglers who, 100 years ago, burrowed and nested in the "Island.” Every revenue cutter and preventive snan, from the Start to Dover, knew •^^fiteve for a smuggler; but It was iris ’^rbud boast that not one of them had’ been able to catch him in the act of ruuailng a cargo or,disposing of his goods, and to this he owed his immunity. On a November evening in 1804 the large kitchen, used also as the general living room of the queer roust, was occupied by three persons—an elderly woman, a dark, well-dressed, youngish man of rather foreign apearance, and a beautiful girl of IS. The elderly dame was Mrs. Kern, the girl was her daughter Margery, and the man was Pierre Roublot, the French brandy merchant of Feeamp, whose extensive dealings with Kern necessitated frequent visits to this side of the water. At least this was the Frenchman’s explanation, though old Kern had long suspected that Margery's bright eyes tormed the real attraction. The brandy merchant had arrived in Kern's lugger the night before for a ithree days’ stay, and he had just taken the opportunity of the smuggler’s temporary absence, and of Mi's. Kern’s deafness, to make the girl a formal proposal of marriage. But Margery shrank away from the that sought hers. 1 am sorry, M. Roublot, but I cannot listen to you," »he replied, speaking in very good French, which she had learned from iber mother. Mrs. Kern had been a Bretagne peasant girl. “And why not?” persisted Roublot, a •cowl darkening his swarthy face. “1 sm rich. I am not old or ill-looking, and I ” ‘‘Spare me a catalogue of your virtues,” said Margery. “You may be all that and much more, but the reason why I cannot wed you Is that I do not Jove you. Besides ” and the girl paused and blushed. “Ah-ha! with your ‘besides,’ which you hesitate to detln cried the angry lover. “Come, let me finish your sentence for you. It is that you love the young sailor who assists your father—ids mate, Dick Langston—is it not so?” But before Margery could utter the retort that rose to her lips, an interruption occurred that relieved her from the necessity for reply. From far down at the foot of the rope ladder a pistol •hot rang out, followed by another in nulck succession, and immediately affcer.vard, evidently startled by the Bound, a tall young fellow came running j^nto the kitchen from one of the rockhewn side chambers, where smuggled jjoods were stored. “What was that? Where is Cap’n fiern?” he asked. “Oh, Dick,” cried Margery, “someihing has happened to father, I fear.” Dick Langston seized a pistol from a well-filled rack and ran to the door, through which the moon was visible failing over the heaving sea. But be7©re be reached the ladder, the face of ime ascending appeared over the door slll, and the master of the house sprang Nimbly Into the room—a miracle of j'ctlvlty despite his gigantic frame and 1.0 years. “it’s all right; there’s no call to fright

yourselves,” he said, as the women clustered round him. “I blazed off my pistols to try if the powder was wet. Here, Margery: just roll this keg Into the storeroom with the rest.” As son as Margery was out of hearing Kern drew the two men aside and said: ‘That was a narrow shave; I’ve never* been so near took before. I bad to blto as well as bark to save myself. There s a man dead below. “Were there more than one. asked Dick Langston. “No, there was only one. It was that new Scotch preventive from Fortune’s Well-Sandy Mclntyre his name is. He must have crept along the rocks under the cliffs at low water and hidden himself.” “Ah, mon Dieu! But you are unhurt, my friend?” exclaimed Roublot. “Yes; he missed me by a hairs breadth, but he was sighting me with it second pistol, so I let him have a chunk of lead from mine and ho rolled over, as dead as a rabbit, intp a pool. If he’s let bide htere the tide will like as not wash him right into Waymouth Bay. Go'down, Dick, my lad, and roll some rocks atop of him.” The young man disappeared into the black gulf below. No sooner was he gone than Kern filled himself a stiff nobbier of brandy and drank It at a gulp. “That’s better.” he said. "Twouldn t ever do for my mate to see as I was a bit-shook by this. You may believe it or not as you like, M. Roublot, but for all folks do say of me, this is the first time as I’ve took a man’s life.” -“lndeed!” exclaimed the Frenchman. “Why, your reputation on both sides thechnnnelis of the most bloodthirsty.” A faint smile fluttered over the old smuggler’s rugged countenance. “I took care It should be,” he said. “But it was, as you call it, all reputation - worked up for mJ - own safety. I should not have done It now, but that the sneak would have shot mo else.” “You surprise me, mon ami,” replied Roublot, thoughtfully. “But come, let us change the subject. I Imve laid bare my heart to mademoiselle, your (laugh* ter, and she rejects my love. Sho has the soft feeling, I am sure, for Dick Langston, your mate.” Kern frowned, ns though ill pleaded, but bls brow quickly cleared. “1 own 1 am sorry. I had imped Mar gory would have fancied you. seeing as It would have suited our dealings together But if she won’t. I tell you j plain. It ain’t Steve Kero’s way to force a maid. And, after all, Dick la a very proper lad." A moment later Dick Langston r« turned from his uncongenial task, the rope ladder was drawn up for the night and Steve Kern s household sat down to a bountiful supper. secure against all assault. That night when Trnrre Roublot retired to his rock-walled guest chamber It was not to sleep. “1 will have my revenge yet,” be mut- i tered, “and a revenge that shall strike all three. Strange, too, that the very moment when there arwe the need of a weapon. Kern himself should have placed so good a one in my hand by slaying the preventive. With such, ready forged, there cannot be long t.> wait for an opportunity." Six months passed away, and Kern’s lugger, the i’etrel. which In the Inb r- | val had had many successful trips, lay moored alongside the quay nt F< amp. - waiting for her cargo of brandy at i silks. Po-pite the fact that war was raging bet wen France and Engin:; I, : Kern and his merry men were on the i best of terms with the natives. Since the night when be k Hod the , preventive man at the fv >t of the lad- j der he had assumed a more than usually ferocious bearing, and the moment's weakness ho had shown in the pr-sen ■' of Roublot was his last. He may have been suspected of having a hand In Sandy Mclntyre’s disnppc.iran v, but if so, in the absence of proof, no one dared to tax him with it. In other respects, the only change that Time’s flight had ! . mgls’ v. as to Dick Langston and Margery, who were married, some three months :.. icr the episode first related, with Kern's full approval. But while Dick an 1 his father in-law are lounging on the deck of the i’etrel, talking of their home In the cliff, wo must turn our steps to Roublot'.s dingy office In one of the by-streets running at right angles to the water side. On this particular morning he was busy on the invoices of the goods about to be shipped on the I’etrel. when his clerk announced that an officer of the naval administration from Havre desired to see him on an urgent affair. “You-have transactions with English smugglers, monsieur, we arc informed? Yes; well, we of the administration are In need of one such very courageous he must be and discreet to perform a secret mission. Know you of a man whom you could introduce to us?” “Is it permitted to inquire what would be demanded of him?" asked Roublot, cautiously. “But certainly, on this side of the channel, at least, there Is no need for secrecy,” replied the officer. “It is like this: Those accursed English have so blockaded our coasts that such of our cruisers as are not penned up in port are unable to venture iu to renew their stores and ammunition. The Celestine | frigate is in the channel short of powder. It is for the purpose of supplying i her that we want an English smuggler, whom, as well as you^u ls, we shall - treat with the utmost liberality.” “You forget, monsieur le capitaine, l that, even in the breast of a smuggler, , the fire of patriotism may burn,” he ) said. “{s that so? I had thought they were t all rogues and vagabonds,” replied the .' offier, looking crestfallen. t “Not to that extent—at any rate, none f whom I know,” said Roublot. “How--1 ever,” he went on, speaking eagerly, “let not that discourage you, monsieur. : I will undertake to get your powder

conveyed to the frigate If you will send it to my cellars. To be frank with yoji, I have a smuggler in port who l s completely under my thumb. I can have him hanged in England for a crime there committed, and as good as witnessed by me. Where is the Celestine to be found?” “Her captain sent word that he would run Into the west bay of the* Isle of Portland every dark night for a week,” said the officer, in high glee at the success of his errand. As soon as the officer‘departed to see about tlie delivery of the powder, Roublot threw himself back In his chair and laughed softly to himself. “Tills is the chance I have been waiting for, for I have them both,” he chuckled. “I will force Kern to taka the powder to the frigate under threat of exposure for the murder, and then, in an anonymous letter, I will denounce him and Langston to the English Government for the treason -Kern himself also for the murder of the preventive.” So It was that when late that afternoon the heavy wagon bringing th« Petrel’s cargo lumiMU-ed on Jo the quay, Roublot accompanied It, and proposed that he should like to run over for a change of air and also to pay his reapeers to “the so charmiug^Mniei’-'ings-ton.” Roublot made himself so especially sociable that by the time the party came on deck the cargo was all stowed, and Kern gave orders for Immedlau departure. By sundown on the following day the huge mass of Portland loomed up on the horizon, and Kern began to congratulate himself on yet anylher successful run. The old smuggler stood at the tiller, his grim features relaxed Into a placid content as his keen eyes failed to discover any sign of a revenue cutter, and he greeted Roublot, who had just come up from below, with a friendly no*’. "Cargo’s ns good as landed,” he said. "I shall keep her a point away to weather the Hill, and then run In to look for the signal. They always bum a ml flare from the kitchen door if the coast’s clear.” “I know, my friend; I have traveled with you before," replied the Frenchman, "but I should not trouble about the signal to-night. It la not to yon perch among the rocks that the cargo Is consigned this time.” "I don't take your meaning.” “Well. I will do my best to enlighten you," replied Roublot. “I am IsMcre all things a patriot, my friend, nnd I have prnctu ed upon you a trifling decepthm. Those kegs d > not contain brandy, but gunpowder, which we are to convey to a French frigate now waiting In sore ne<sl of It in the West Ray. “When you round the Bill, instead of running In cLae umbr your Int. Testing domicile, you will >’and on until we meet the frigate." “I've cheated the King God blem । him for nigh eti’o fifty made to • good a Lvhig out of kraito nnd round on him like tlint Iff you s mewbere l»cfore I do such a thing, you dirty French d T ” “Not so fast, friend Kern." said Rottblot, u .th a sneer. “VnfortMOatcly, y<>u ; are not in a ) ■‘-itLm to indulge In tht i freedom of choice. If yon refuse t< vbllgo no* In thia matier 1 shall de j noume you for th'- murder of the preI ventive man, and the King whom yon ■ serve so faithfully will most auredly j hang you." At that m- out t lugger rounded ; the Bill, ami lngh up m Use cliff a red i glow shone out. K i n knew that it ws» the signal from his own d- ar bidding ; him welcome home m safety. His hand , went to the knife, but he plucked it oul am! threw it Into the i. “Cwd bio.-de I murder I’ve no mind to, nnd hat would I e the only way out of It.” It sa d nith a sigh. “Wry well, mans eur, I v, ill do your bidding.” “Here arc the Ic’d!) francs, then," Raid Roublot. a .:, ling him a packet of notes. “Be kind <: gh to sign th'#; I will h Id tl..' ’ill< r,” and h ■ p: -ffered pn, Ink hoin ar-l a t-aper, o -b by j the light of the binnacle lamp Kero saw was a fe rm of ri dpt sj»ecifying the service reni ied. But he signed 11 without comment and resumed tbs tiller. As they shot past the house In the cliff a large ship 1 ..med up a quarter of a i lie away nga ■ et the Hngetiag glow la the western sky. “That will be the frigate," said Kern, calmly. “Here, Dick, and y u two others, e uno aft here a minute," a-- - alh 1. "Yonder is a French mau-o’-war. M. Roublot and me are g >: ng to pit some powder aboard her. 1 haven’t got n choice In the matter, but that's no reason why you lads should turn traitor. •Into the boat with you all, and pull for the ladder.” But as the three smugglers, sullen nnd half dazed, having obeyed their old chief mechanically, posiied off from the lugger, he called out in gentle tones: “My love to the missis, Dick, and to little Margery. I may ba some time -In France.” Guided by the red eye shining steadily above, the boat ma le for the base of th- cliff, and as the men plied the oars they strained their eyes on the shadowy forms of the'two vessels now rapidly approaching each other. Dick saw the lugger run alongside the frigate. Perhaps ten sccoifds elapsed, and then a great sheet of fire leaped heavenward, a deafening roar followed ami a blot of mist -the mist of drifting smoke—covered the scene. When the last wreath had rolled away the pink flush on the skyline was perfectly clearfthe frigate and rhe lug- . ger were so many fragments of wood. Smuggler Kern had been one too many . for his enemy—and those of his country ; —after all.—Answers. > Produced by One Grain. Tea wheat, a variety years ago much , esteemed iu this country, is said to have . been grown from a single grain found ■ In a box of tea brought from China,

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HOW TO AID DIGESTIVE ORGANS THE principle that the finer a food is divided and subdivided in its preparation the easier, quicker and better it is digested is seldom borne in mind by either tbe cook or the eater. All of us are supposed to think of the ancient adage of "eating slowly and chewing well,” but very few carry this rule Into practice. Still fewer think of applying the principle of comminution in the kitchen. Thus, for exanqile, a boiled onion is usually served whole, and on account of its slippery character is apt to reach the stomach in a large fragment. If it is cut up finely before tin* boiling or stewing i: is converted at most into pulp, which digests in one-third or even oue-i'ourth the time of the other way. Grated chei se upon toast, macaroni nnd oilier dishes presents no difficulty to the digestive process. When served In pieces, as New York dairy cheese almost Invariably is. it Is rather difficult of digestion, and in its favorite form, the Welsh rarebit, i: is very indigestible to a largo proportion of the community. Another principle which is too often dlsrogaided and which cannot be too highly praised Is that long and slow cooking at a low temperature Is far bet ter than that In quick oven with great heat. This is the bads of the success in many steamers, cookers, heat rs, Dutch ovens, Aladdin ovens am! other contrivances in the market. Oatmeal, wheaten grits, cracked bailey and । crushed rye, whim si aly prepared for twenty-four hours, are converted into a paste or Jelly, which can be used by a person with the weakest stomach. If. as is generally tin- case, they are buihs) vigorously for half an hour, the cells are Imp -rfe !y br »k i d--wn. and the resulting food s oft. a injuriaus to deli ente dig- -ns. Mir rnrr’es t in Record. Probably n> lad,. <y list can equi! the long d mce iceord of Miss id) Greeley .Me, who has covered 15.1*00 1 miles awheel. M-X Ale is a s hod teacher, •< ’iTcn' n, \ J. Sho is also •ccretary and treasurer of the local Club and bn* n-. ■ ut’v b» ■ n made b> A 1 consul for the I, \ W.. ;r ! she now w - * , \ | ! ’ / ' 'Z' J mi- n>s : in > ai m. • has the tl : n< t; m of b« ing the first woman c m il of > w J. r- y. Miss Ale devoted to Shirts of a'l 1 1 k i ! ad - th-'.u ' ■ . .. - 1 . it woman ’ and her "bike” t!.nn any otl. r lady in ' the laud, and she writes well. As a 1 wheel woman, si. is expert and tird* < and can s t a lively p;ne ev<u fur a ! male s- or b r. • Rules for the Summer Gix*l. t Reno-mt t ti nt < n ■ : ty bi- witty ; wd:d; at 1- y p.i’.v ; vobi’du wi '. ''ll being agr« cable; a great talker and yd , a gnat boro. Be frank. A frank, open ci 'tn'enance . and a cl. t, di-■ .y laud are w- id; far i : - ‘ lly tl in “p lantry -a -i j stiff era vat.” । Be sim re. One who b.ildtu.tlly .-'i-- :s . at ev ryt'dng will m t rend -r 1. r-.-lt disagreeable to o’b. ts. but will soon r cease to find pleasure in life. I’.- sensible. Society never lacks for j f.- d. and w hat you may consider very । cim-rnidiug nonsense may soon be , 1« >k <1 upon as very tiresome fdly. Be cheerful. If you have no great j trouble on your mind you have no right j to render other p- plc miserable by your long face and dolorous tones. If you do you will be generally avoided. Above all be cordial ami sympathetic. ? True cordiality and sympathy unite all the other qualiti- s enumerated, and are certain to secure the popularity so dear ' to the heart of everyone. Be amiable. You may hide a vindie- " tive nature under a polite exterior for ' a time, as a cat masks its sharp claws in velvet fur, but the least provocation 1 brings out one as quickly as the other. ' and ill-natured people are always disliked. 1 Remember that a good voice is as es--5 sential to self-possession as good ideas ' are essential to fluent language. The ■ voice should be carefully trained and 7 developed; a full, clear, flexible voice is 7 one of the surest indications of good breeding. Keeping Quiet When Angry. There is in this city a merry little j woman who never is obliged to ask • j twice whin she wants anything. She Un't one of the meek women who never ]

dare to have an original opinion or to Indorse one unless her husband has previously indorsed it. Very often things do not go to suit her, but she lias the good sense to realize scolding or complaining or winning will not help matters. If she is too angry to laugh site keeps still until she can control herself. If very angry she shuts herself up in het* room alone fora few minutes. She says an angry* woman seems to her to be so repulsive an object that she cannot bear to have those women whom she loves best to see her in any such character. She never seems to command, and her husband imagines that he always has his own way. She never disputes tiie point, yet they who know her best know that there are few questions that are not settled to her entire satisfaction. She will appear young when the scolding women of her age ire cons-dered old, and she will always have an influence for good where they have no influence at all.—Chicago Chronicle. Georgia Girl in Politics. Miss Sturgis, a young woman of Atlanta, has charge of the Populist headquarters for the State of Georgia in that city. Miss Sturgis is secretary i "■ mi<s < i ana srutiGis. and treasurer of the People's Barty Pubi -::ing Con ; .iiy and practically runs the People's party paper. Miss Stu-- ■; says that since the nomination j Mr. Wats n for Vice President she ' • ' <1 hundreds of callers, and w : r .r ! ■>? her u!i«-■ is the party . i you - rs n. k. s no difference; for Ft • t <p think so, and they continue to ilu k there. Miss Sturgis is a good .i bl'p* - r in::, an rie ir<- and is an edu- •.:< I w : ;.::i. \\ hen her callers come she knows wh n to talk books, and she knows when to talk crops, but above all vise she knows when to discuss poli! s. She h-s a pile of books around her on tlie desk, books on political economy, hi -ories and poems. Naturally M s Sttrg s b< i.eves in Tom Watson. She was reared in the county in which Mr Ma > n lives nnd has watched his - us - and stu-i 1 his character until the pn sent time. K.l City’H Woman Machinist. Mrs, 11. M. t >oh y, wife of a machini't in K I as City, is a sk'i’ed machinand works dajly in her husband's si p. S!ic served an apprentieosaip of iv. oy- s and is now trusted to do the dei a’c x k that r-‘qu:r<-s skill and She handles a steam drill with th-* utmost prevision and has K.r d in.m 0 holes in brass tubes in a -nigiv day. a rword not attained by any man ia .-I. -p. Mrs. Cooley is small, but muscular, and says that she enjoys t'm* w >rk. She k-eps Imr clothing and f.. V clean, but h<T l.amls become as dirty and greasy as those of any other woikman. Her husband says that she is tiie b.-st artisan be ever had in his >i p. Si •• l.as invent'd otm or two valuable articles, and does not hesitate to -lir gasoline or steam engines when they are brought into the shop. A Garden I’arty Toilet. ■ I ■' A.CT l 'ill \ Said About Women. Woman's sympathies give a tone, like the haiq> of Aeolus, to tlie slightest brea'h.- Donald G. Mitchell. Among all animals, from man to the Gog, the heart of a mother is always a sublime tiling.—Alexandre Dumas, pere. The girl who wakes the poet's sigh is a very different creature from the girl who makes his soup.—Frederick Sheli don. On great occasions it is almost always women who have given tbe strongest proofs of virtue and devotion.—Count | Montholon-

TIIE SUNDAY SCHOOL. INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE LESSON. Reflections of an Elevating Character —Wholesome Food for ThoughtStudying the Scriptural Lesson Intelligently and Profitably. Lesson for An~ust 30. Golden Text.—“ The Ijord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”—Ps. 1: G. i his lesson tells of Absalom's defeat and death, and is found in 2 Sam. 18: 917, 32, 33. M hile Absalom’s plans for a rally at Hebron were being perfected. David was secretly informed of the conspiracy, and immediately determined to flee from .Jerusalem. His old time valor was all gone; no pride remained to prevent him from ignominiously abandoning his capital to a usurper. His departure was indeed prudent, but there is little doubt that he could have defended Jerusalem against any attacking forces unless there were many traitors within the walls. The story of David's Hight is told in much detail (2 Sam. 15: 1G 17; 23). The intrigues and deceptions of Ahithophel and Hushai need not be related here; they are just such as always have been found in oriental courts. It is entirely unnecessary to defend David's action in suggesting to Hushai the cunning plan by which Absalom’s schemes were to be defeated. The question as to the right or wrong of the falsehoods and deceptions which form the chief part of the work of a spy or a detective is not settled even now; and David certainly was no worse in this respect than the men of his day; neither was h? better. Hushai’s advice to Absalom prevailed over Ahithophcl’s, and accordingly Absalom decided upon a thorough preparation for war, by gathering troops from the whole land, instead of the immediate attack which Ahithophel urged. Os course this gave David time to prepare for defense, as Hushai intended it should, j David made his headquarters at Mahanaim, where he was gladly received by loyal subjects. After an interval of some weeks, during which the rival armies were preparing for battle, they met in a forest in Gilead, not far from Mahanaim, called “the wood of Ephraim.” David । himself, by tiie advice of his people, re- । mained at Mahanaim, and his army was > commanded by Joab, Abishai and Ittai. ; The king distinctly commanded these geni erals to “deal gently with the young man. | even witli Absalom.” The battle went against the relief army, their losses being rtated at 20.CD0. The nature of the ground, thickly wooded, was the cause of great slaughter. While David's men were in pursuit of tlie enemy through the forest, they overtook Absalom himself. Su <£-estioiis for Study. I Rend 2 Sam. 17:24—19: 33. Lmk up Mahanaim on the map—east of Jordan, about midway between the Jartnuk and Jabbok rivers. The tablelands <>f Gilead are heavily wooded in this neighborhood. Tlie site of Mahanaim itself lias not been discovered. In th ir anxiety not to have the lesson exceed the usual length, the members of the lesson committee have omitted one of the most striking passages in all the historical books- the first part of the account of the bringing of the news to David, in verses 19-31. The narrative displnys .. me of the best qualities of biblical style—simplicity, vigor, rapidity of m ivement. By all means include these verst s iu the study and teaching of the lesson. Explanatory. “Absalom rode upon a mule:” the mule was a mark of royalty. See 1 Kings. 1: 33. This may have been David's mule. “A great oak:" rather, the great oak, or terebinth. Apparently the tree was well known ia later times, and hence has tl. ' definite article. “His heat! caught Ie ' I of the oak:” tlie common idea that h ■ hung by his long hair has no foundation in tlie story, though doubtless his hair was entangled in the branches of the tree. Joab’s thought is plain; if the soldier hail killed Absalom, the object would have i>een accomplished without bringing Joab under the king's displeasure. M'< must respect the man for his f< aril ss r fu id to fall in with Joab’s evil di sire. He risked a good deal in so doing. Joab had a private grudge against AbsaL n (14: ”0).. and was not sorry to hide his revenge under a pretense of slaying a public enemy. At the same time, one must admit that by tlie most lenient laws, even those that prevail to-day. Absalom was guilty of treason and deserved the punishment he received. There is much to be said in defense of Joab's summary । ■. ' c:;..n of the rebel, though contrary to ■ ilic orders of the soft-hearted father. If I Al nl -rn had been spared, his existence j v mid have been a continual menace to • the State. ! "A very great heap of stones:” a mark • of a disl. iioire.; grave. In the east to-day. ' travelers utter pious ejaculations as they pass the graves of holy men. but cast s; i s a» the tombs of infidels and criminals. “The enemies of my lord the king,” etc., Cushi shows a fine tact in making his sorrowful announcement. Indeed, he mayhave chosen his words to escape the wrath, as well as to soften the grief of the king: for in the east the bearer of evil tidings is often hold personally responsible for the misfortune. Only a few weeks ago an eastern monarch, according to report. crucified the messengers who Drought to him the news of his army's defeat. But David was not to be feared; oven Joab, who had directly disobeyed orders, escaped blame. FrobaLiy no one can fully understand David's grief who has not been in a similar position. Sorrow was made more bit- : r by remorse; Eli. on a similar oc asion, ken with death. David must live and mourn. Next Lesson—David’s Love for God's House —1 Chron. 22: G-IG. Our Lower Levels. M e all live on far lower levels of vitality and of joy than we need to do. M e linger in the misty and oppressive valleys when we might be climbing the sunlit hills. God puts into our hands the book of life, bright on every pa"e with open secrets, and we suffer it to drop out of our hands unread.—Canon Farrar. Os late, you can't tell whether a m*an lias softening of the brain, or is in love^