HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1894-11-8, Page 2'
'TIS A CREERY MESSAGE
TRU DR. TA.LX4DE SENDS OUT TO
Tit flUX WORLD.
Let ns make a Song', says bae-from the
Birds and. their Amnia/ rugut we
mae• learn metele—They are more Sa-
gaelous than V.
BROOIefirfe, Oct, 28.—Bey, Dr, Tal-
mage, who has just left India and is now
on his homeward journey, b,as selected as
the sabjeet for his serin.on to -day through
the press, "October thoughts," hie text
being Jeremiah 9: 7 ; "The stork in the
hea,vea kuoweth her appointed time; and
the tarble and the crane awl the swallow
• observe the time of their owning ; but
my people kno w not the judgment of the
Lord.,"
When God would set fast a beantitra
thought, He plants it in a, tree. When
He would put it afloat Be fashioets it into
a fish. When he would, have it glide the
air, he molds it into a bird. My text
speaks of four birds of beautiful instinct
—the stork, of such strong affection that
it is allowed familiarly to comegin Hol-
land and Germany, and build its nest
over the doorway; the sweet -disposition -
ed turtle -dove, mingling in color, white
and black and, brown, and ashen, and
chestaat ; the crane, witla voles; like the
clan`a a a trumpet; the swallow, swift
as adart shot out of the bow of heaven,
falling, mounting, skimming, sailing—
four herds started by the prophet twenty-
five centuries age, yet flying on through
ages the rousing truth under glossy
wing and in. the clutch of stoat (slaw. I
suppose it may have been this very season
of the year—autumn.—and the prophet
out-of-doors, thinking of the impenitence
of the people of his day, hears a great
ory overhead.
Now, you know it is no easy thingfor
one with ordinary delicacy of eyesight
to look into the deep blue of noonday
heaven; but the prophet looks up, and
there are flocks of storks, and turtle-
doyes, and cranes, and swallows, drawn
out in lonablines for flight southward.
As is their habit, the cranes /tad arrang-
ed themselves in two lines making an
angle, a wedge splitting the air with wild
velocity, the old crane, with command-
ing call, bidding them onward; white the
towns, and. the cities'and the continents
slid. under them. The prophet, almost
blinded from looking into the dazzling
heavens, stoops down. and begins to think
how much superior the birds are in
sagacity about their safety than. men
abbat theirs; and he puts his hand upon
the pen and. begins to write: "The stork
in the heaven kao wetb. her appointed.
times, and. the -ha:de-cloys and the erane
and the swallow observe the time of their
coming; but my people know not the
judgment of the Lord,"
U you were ill the field to -day, in the
clump of trees at the corner of the field,
you would see a convention of birds,
noisy as the American Congress the last
night before adjournment, or as the Eng-
lish Parliaraent when some unfortunate
member praposes more economy in the
Queen's household—a oonvention of birds
all talking at once, moving and passing
resolutions on the subject of migration,
some proposing to go to -morrow, some
moving that they go to -day, but all on-
animous in the fact that they must go
soon, for they have marching orders from
the Lord written on the first white sheet
of th.e frost, and in the pictorial of the
changing leaves. There is not a belted.
kingfisher, or a chaffinch, or a fire -crest-
ed wren, or a plover, or a red -legged. par-
tridge but expects to spend the winter at
the south, for the apartments have al-
ready been. ordered. for them in South
America, or in Africa ; and after thout-
ands of miles of flight they will stop in
the very tree where they spent lest Janu-
ary. Farewell, bright plumage I Until
spring weather, away! Fly on, great
band of heavenly musicians! Strew the
continents with music, and whether from
Ceylon Isle or Carolinian swamps, or
Brazilian groves men see your wings, or
hear your voice, may they yet bethink
themselves of the solemn words of the
text: "The stork in the heaven knoweth
her appointed times; and the turtle and
the crane and. the swallow observe the
time of their comin.g ; but my people
know not the judgment of the Lord."
War/elle is his works and ways,
Ve are travelling home to GO,
Ili the way year fathers trod;
They are hamar now, acid we
Soon deer haiminese shell see.
The Churoh. of God never will be a
triumphant ohurekt nutil it beownes
staging chureh.
Igo further, and remark' that the birds
of the air are wiser than wo, in the feet
that their migration they fly -very high.
Daring the summer, when they are in, the
fields, they often come within reach of
the gun; but when they stint for the
annual flight soatitward, th.ey take their
pieces mid -heaven, and go straight as a
mark. The longest rifle that was e'er
brought to shoulder (sauna reach them.
Would to God that we were as wise as the
stork and crane in our flight heavenward.
We fly so low that we are within easy
range of the world, the flesh, and the
devil. We are brought down by texnpta-
tions that ought not to come within a
mile of reaching us, Oh, for some of the
faith of George Muller, of England, and
Alfred. 0ooltman, once a the Church
militant, now of the °bench triumphant!
So poor is the type of piety in the Church
of God now, that men actually caricature
the idea, that there is any such a thing as
a higher life. Moles never did. believe
in eagles. But, my brethren, beacon°
we have not reaehed these heights
ourselves, shall. we deride the fact that
there are such heights? A man
ones talking to Brunel, the fanaous engi-
neer, about the lextgth of the railroad
from London to 33ristol, the enginner
said, "It is very great. We shall have,
after a while, a steamer running from
England to New York." They laughed
him to scorn'but we have gone so far
now that we have ceased to latte,h at
anything as impossible for human
achievement. Then, I ask, is anything
impossible for the Lord? I do not be-
lieve that God exhausted all his grace in
Paul., and Latimer and Edward Payson.
I believe there are higher points of Chris-
tian attainment to be reached in the
future a,eass of the Christian world. You
tell me that Paul went up to the tiptop
of the Alps of Christian attainment.
Then I tell you the stork and crane have
found above the Alps plenty of room for
free flying. We go out and we conquer
ortr temptations by the Grace of God, and
lie down. On the morrow those tesnpta-
tions rally themselves and attack us, and
by the (race of God we defeat them
again; bat, staying all the time in the
old. eneampnaent, we have the same old
battles to fight over. Why not whip out
our temptations, and then forward march,
making one raid. through the enemy's
country, stopping not until we break
ranks after the last victory. Do, my
brethren, let us have some novelty of
combat, at any rate, by changing, by
going on, by making advancement, trad-
ing off our stale prayers about sins we
ought to have quit long ago, going on
to ward a higher state of Christian char-
acter, and routing out sins that we have
never thought of yet. The fact is, if the
Church of God—if we, as individuals,
made vapid advancement in the Christian
life, these stereotyped prayers we have
been makingfor ten. or fifteen years
would be as inappropriate to us as the
shoes, and the hats, and the coats we wore
ten or fifteen years ago. Oh for a higher
flight in the Christian life, the stork and
the crane in their migration teaching us
the lesson!
I propose so far as God may help me, in
this sermon, carrying out the idea of the
text, to show that the birds of the air
have more sagacity than men. And I
begin by particularizing and saying that
they mingle music with their work. The
most serious undertaking of a bird's life
is this annual flight southward. Natura-
lists tell us that they arrive thin and
weary, and. plumage ruffled, and yetthey
go singing all the way; the ground, the
lower line of the music, the sky, the up-
per line of the music, themselves the
notes scattered up and. down between, I
suppose their song gives elasticity. to their
wing, and helps on with the Journey,
dwindling a thousand miles into four
hundred. Would God that we were as
wise as they in mingling Christian song
with every -day work! I believe there is
sach a thing as taking the pitch of Chris-
tian devotion. in the morning and keep-
ing it all the day. I think we might take
some of the dullest,heaviest, most dis-
agreeable work of life, and set it to the
tune of "Antioch" or "Mount Pisgah."
It is a, good sign when you hear a work-
man whistle. It is a better sign when
you hear him hum a roundelay. It is a
still better sign when you hear him sing
the words of Isaac Watts or Merles Wes-
ley. A violin. chorded and strung, if
something acoidentally strikes it, makes
music, and 1 sttppose there is such a thing
as having our hearts attuned by divine
grace, that even the rough eollisions of
life will make a heavenly vibration. I
do not believe that the power of Christian
song bas yet been fully tried, I believe
that if you could roll the "Old.11undred"
doxology threagh the street, it would put
an end, to my panic! 1 believe that the
diseords, and. the sorrows, and the sins of
the world are to be swept out by heaven -
born hallelujahs. Some one askedHeydn,
the celebrated musician, why he always
composedsueh theerful musie. "Why,"
he sail, "I can't do otherwise, When I
think of God, ray soul is so full of joy
that the notes leap and dance from my
pen," I wish we might all exalt melodi-
ously before the Lord. With God for our
Father, and. Chriet for eta. Saviour, and
Heaven for our home, and. angels for our
fatuve companions, and eternity for a,
life: time,we should strike blithe notes of
joy. Going through the wilderness of
this world, let us remember that we are
On. the way to the summery' aline of
Heaverigand from the migratory popula-
tions flying through this autumnal e,ir
learn alWays to keep singing;
Children of the heavenly Xing,
As ye journey, sweetly Ong—
Sing your Soarioura worthy anise,
Where have they gone tee altemeg
Your iniud goes bask through that last
sioltness, and through the aanost super-
natural effort to keep life, and through
those prayers that seemed anavailittee,
and. through that kiss whish received no
reeponse because the lips Were lifeless,
and I hear the belle tolling and' hearths
hearts breaking—while I speak I hear
them break. A heart! Another heart!
Alone I alone! slue! This world, which,
in yo ar girlhood and boyhood was sun-
shine, is (sold now, and oh weary dove,
you fly Around this world as though you
would like te stay, when. the wend. and
the frost and the blaokeeing elouds would
bid you away into the heart of an all -
comforting God., Oh, 1 have noticed
again and again what a botch this world
makes of it when it tries to comfort a soul
in trouble! It says, "Don't ory." How
ecu we help crying when the heart's
treasures are seattered, and father is gone,
and. mother is gone, and companions are
gone, and the child is gone, and every-
thing seems nae? It is no comfort to
tell a man nob to cry. The world eomes
up encl. down, "Oh, it is only the body et'
your bawl one that yoa have put in the
ground!" Bub there is no comfort in
that. Tlae body is preeious. Shall we
never put our hand in that hand again,
and shall we never see that sweet face
again? Away with your heartlessness,
oh world! But come, Jesus! and tell us
that when the tears fell they fall sato
God's bottle; that the dear bodies of our
loved ones shall rise radiant in the resur-
rection, and all the brea,kings down here
shall be liftings up there, and "they shall
hunger no more, neither thirst anymore,
neither shall the sun light on them nor
any heat, for the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall lead them to
living fountains of water, and God shall
wipe all tears from their eyes."
You may have noticed that when the
chaffinch or the stork or the crane starts
on its migration it calls on all those of its
kind to some too. The tree -tops are fall
of chirp and whistle and carol and the
long roll -call. The bird does not start
off alone. It gathers all of its kind. Oh
that you may be as wise in. this migration
to heaven and that you might gather all
your families and your friends with you!
I would that Hannah ;night take Samuel
by the hand, and Abraham might take
Isaac, and Hagar might take Ishmael. I
ask you if those who sat at your break-
fast table this morning will sit with you
in heaven? I ask you what influences
you are trying to bring upon them, what
example you are setting them, Are you
calling them to go with you? Ay, ay,
have you started. yerself ?
Start for heaven and, take your chil-
dren with you. Come thou and all thy
house into the ark. Tell your little ones
that there are realms of balm and sweet-
ness for all those who fly in the right di-
rection. Swifter than eagles' stroke, put
out for heaven. Like the mane or the
stork, stop not night nor day until you
find the right place for stopping. Seated
to -day in Christian service, will yo -u be
seated in the same glorious service when
the heavens have passed away with a
great noise and the elements have melted
with fervent heat, and the redeemed are
gathered arounchthe throne of Jesus?
The. Saviour calls,
Ye wanderers some,
Oh, ye benighted souls,
Why longer roam?
The Spirit calls to -day.
Yield to Ms power
Oh. grieve Sim not away.,
'Tis mercy's hour.
Dear Lord, and shall we ever live,
At this poor dying rate—
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,
And thine to us so great?
Again, I remark that the birds of the
air are wiser than we, because they know
when to start. If you shoedd go out now
and shout-, "Stop, storks and cranes, don't
be in a harry !' they would say, "No, we
cannot stop•, last night we heard the
roaring in the woods bidding us away,
and the shrill flute of the north wind has
sounded the retreat. We must go. We
must go." So they gather themselves
into companies, and turning not aside
for storm or mou.ntain top, or shock of
musketry, over land and sea, straight as
an arrow to the ;nark they go. And if
you come out this morning with a sack
of corn and. throw it ie. thsrfields and try
to get tb.cen to stop, they are so far lip
they would. hardly see it. They are on
their way south. You could not stop
them. Oh, that we were as wise about
the best time to start for God. and heaven!
We say, "Wait until it is a little later in
the season of many. Wait until some
of these great leaves of hope are aU dried
up and have been scattered. Wait until
next year." After awhile we start, and
it is too late, and we perish in the way
when God's wrath is kindled bat a little.
where birde Ircro QM•rti
There are, you know, ,ersi cteop„tiloanteal, acnaaseisn,
the morning yoa have found them dead
on the snow. And there are those who
have perished half -way between the
world and Christ. They waited until
the last sickness, when the mind was
gone, or they were on the express train
going at forty miles an hour and they
came to the bridge and the "draw was
up" and they went down, How long to
repent and pray? Two seconds? To do
the work of a lifetime and. to prepare for
the vast eternity itt twd seconds! I was
reading of an, entertainment given in the
king's court, and there were musicians
there, with elaborate pieces of music.
After awhile Mozart came and began to
play, and he had a blank piece of paper
before him, and the king familiarly look-
ed over his shoulder and said, "What are
you playing? I see no .music before you."
And Mozart put his hand on his brow,
as much as to say, "I are improvising."
It was very' well for him. but oh, my
friends, we cannot extemporize heaven.
It we do not get prepared in this world,
we will never take part in the orchestral
harraonies of the saved, Oh that we
were as wise as th.e crane and the stork,
flying away, flying away from the tem-
pest!
Some of you. leave felt the pinching
frost of sin. You feel it to -day. You
are not happy. Hook into your face and
I know you are not happy. There are
voiees within your soul that will not be
silenced, telling you that you are sinners,
and that without the pardon of God you
are undone forever. What are you to do,
my friends, with the ace -mutated trans-
gressions of this lifetime? Will you
stand still and let the avalanche tumble
over you? Oh that you woull go away
into the warm heart of God's mercy. The
Southern grove, redolent 'with magnolia
and. eactus, never waited for Northern
&eke as God. has waited for you, saying,
have loved thee with an everlasting
love, Come to me, all ye who are weary
end heavy: laden, mad 1 will. give you
reet,"
Another frost is bidding you away—it
is the frost of sorrow. Where aoymoive
now? "Oh, you say, "I have Mneed."
Why did you move? You say, "I don't
want as large a home now as formerly."
Why do younot want as large a house?
Yot say, "My family is not so large,"
THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION.
Compared With That of the United
States—By Edward Meek in the Can-
adian Nagazine.
The Canadian. Constitution was not
modeled upon, nor is it similar in prin-
ciple to, the constitution of the United
States. There are some resemblances
which will be here referred to.
The preamble of the Canadian Confed-
eration Act states the design to be, to
create a federal uniou of th.e provinces
ender one Dominion, with a constitution
similar in principle to that of the United
King.dom. And the Canadian constitu-
tion es so framed.
It differs from the constitution of the
United Kingdom in. the fact that it has
created a Federal Union of 'provincial
legislative divisions, instead of a legisla-
tive consolidation of all the parts. The
result is that the Dominion of Canada is
a Parliamentary Republic, embracing a
number of subordinate Provincial
liamentary Republics, having the legis-
lative powers of each of the Provincial
Parliaments limited, circumscribed and
defined, and. the legislative powers of the
Federal Parliament only limited to the
extent to which powers of legislation are
conferred upon each of the provinces.
The government of Canada is Cabinet
Government, the same as in England.
The government of the United States is
Presidential Government.
In Canada the legislative and executive
powers are combined, and are performed
by the same officials, the same as in Eng-
land. In the United States, the legisla-
tive and. executive powers are separated
and performed by different sets of offic-
ialsgthe legislative by Congress, and the
administrative by the President and his
Cabinet.
In Canada, the powers of Parliament
are supreme and unlimited, the same as
in England. In the United States the
legislative and executive powers are eir-
cumscribed and limited by written eon-
stitntions.
In Canada aU the legislation must be
enacted by Parliament, the same as in
England. In the United States, consti-
tutional legislation, and saiseh other
legislation, is enacted by plebiscitary
vote; in other words, directly by the
voteof the people.
In Canada the residuum of the legisla-
tive and executive powers is in the Fede-
ral Government. In the United States
the residuum of legislative and executive
powers is in the State Governments, or in
the people.
In Canada, the Queen's representative
has no veto power. In. the United States
a real veto power is lodged. in the Presi-
dent.
• In Canada the power of disallowance
actively exereised by the Dominion Gave
ernment over provitteial legislation has a.
tendeney to preserve uniformity, to pro-
mote anity, and to prevent erratic laws.
In the 'United. States no such power ex-
ists. Only unconseitutional legislation
San be declared ultra vires.
In Canada the criminal law and pro-
cedure itt criniinal matters is under the
jurisdiction of the Federal Parliament.
In the United States it is divided between
the Federal and State Governments and
Courts, aecording as the offence may be
a violation of Federal ot State law.
In Canada the conetitution can be
amended eithee by the tenperial., Doraine
ion, or Provincial Parliantents. In the
• United States the Federal conetitution
ean be aMelidea only by the concurrence
of three-fourths ef the States, stud the
State constitution only by the votes of
the people.
The Centedian Senate is differently con-
stituted from the Arnerieen Senate, The
Senate ia Canada is not a House of Lords
nor is it an hereditary House; it was not
created to represent, nor does it repre-
sent, the provinces or provincial rights.
In the United. States the happy idea was
hie upon of constituting a seeond cham-
ber, by empowering (etch of the State
corporations to choose • an equal nonsber
of persons to represent therm Titus, says
Mr. Bryce in his "Antes:lean Common-
wealth," the United States Senate was
erented, and it represents State rights,
• In England the House of Lords and the
Sovereign represent the imposing and
dignified parts of the constetirtion (says
Bagehot ie. his ."Euglish Constitution")
and, in a certain. sense, the House of
Lords represents the traditions, the chiv-
alry, tlae experience of the nation. But
the Fathers of Confederation acicasted a
different plan; they eyiaently intended
that the Senate should be composed, of
experienced representative men, selected
from the different provinces, who would
become judicial, and free from party pre-
judice in their habits of thought, and in
their treatment of questions. In prao-
tice it must be admitted that this ideal
has scarcely'been realized, Senators are
appointed by the Premier to meet party
exigencies. He must preserve the strengtb
of his government and party, and when.
a party has been long in power, the Sen-
ate becomes wholly of the political com-
plexion of that party. A Senate so con-
stituted may have the wisdom but can
not have tile prestige of the House of
Lords. ln England, a deadlook may be
overcome on very important occasions by
the creation of new peers. In the United
States the political complexion of the
Senate is continually undergoing change
by the constantly recurring elections,
and deadlocks are overcome by elections,
or not at all. But in. Canada neither of
these methods is available, the Canadian
Senators being appointed for life, and
their number being limited by the Con-
federation Act. But deadlocks are as
often blessings as otherwise, and this de-
fect in the Canadian system, if it ean
be called a defect, is not likely ever to be
serious.
There are some strong considerations
itt favor of the Canaaian method of con-
stituting an Upper House, as contrasted
with the constitution of the English
House of Lords, or with that of the
American Senate.
The members of the House of Lords
represent classes, families and vested in-
terests. The Canadian Senators do not.
Many members of the House of Lords
are young or inexperienced, and influ-
enced by the prejudices and preferences
of the respective classes to which they
belong. The Canadian Senators have
all, by some means, won their way to
the Senate, and hence they are all neces-
sarily men of some experience, character
and standing.
The Amerman Senators are chosen for
limited periods, and they expect to be re-
elected. They, therefore, retain their
party- connection.. and are influenced by
it. The Canadian Senators being ap-
pointed for life, their party connection
should cease with their appointment.
They have nothing more to gain or ex-
pect from parties, hence they are more
likely to become non-partisan and judic-
ial in their treatment of legislation than
American Senators, and. they are not in-
fluenced by class feelings or prejudices,
as the members of the House of Lords are
liable to be. The Canadian. Senate, thus
constituted, and possessing similar pow-
ers to those possessed by the British
House of Lords, should exercise a salu-
tary influence and cheek upon legisla-
tion.
Upon the whole, I think the Canadian
constitution., by introducing. the Federal
principle, thus giving local self-govern-
rnent to each of the provinces, is more
suitable to a nation composed of differ-
ent races and extending over a wide area
than a legislative union would be; and.
by adopting the parliamentary system,
combining the legislative and executive
functions in a Clabinet, the Government
escapes the paralysis caused by conffiot-
ing departments, and its action is more
direct aed vigorous than in systems where
the legislative and executive powers are
separated and jealously kept distinct from
each other. For exanaple, if a tariff bill
had been amended by the Canadian Sen-
ate as the Wilson bill was by the IT. S.
Sen.ate, the Premier, instead of accepting
the amendments, could have dissolved
the House and appealed to the country,
thus subraitt'mg the questions in differ-
ence to the arbitrament of the electorate.
Such a course cannot be resorted to un-
der the American. constitution; all
parties remain in office for the stated
periods for which they were elected;
there is no fear of dissolution before
their eves. I mention this as a striking
illustration of one of the principal differ-
ences between Cabinet Government and
Presidential Government.
FOUR QUEENS.
IM Brown was a telegraph opera-
tor; besides, he was an inveter-
ate gambler, and it was his
ability to do a little of each of
these quite well that led him
down to a small station on the
Mexican National while work-
ing his way down to the capital to try
his luck against the black and red, or to
"buck the tiger" in the City of Mexico.
He had not mucli money when he struck
lamed° Nuevo, for he had been following
the races on the Western Circuit, and
Nashville folind him. "down to cases."
But Jim was a young man of resources,
and a telegraph operator who is a mem-
ber of the order can generally get a free
ride by rail to the elide of the earth if he
knows the "ropes." it was not alone
the laek of lucre that Caused Jim to take
this southern flight, but the thoughts of
a woman—not a beautiful girl with
wrongs to redress—but one of those
sirens who follow the races, and who,
having become infatuated with the hand-
some young operator, had dogged his
footsteps around. both the Eastern and
Western Circuits. She was a -veritable
nightmare to Jim, for he detested her
heartily, and she was ever boring him
with her protestations of love.
It was not long before Jim got work,
for the operator at Laredo Nuevo had
just, left, and the station agent, who was
doing double duty in his absence, was
only too glad to put some one in his plaee
until the division superintendent should
sena a man clowa to relieve him. Sim
had clone first-chne work in some of the
• principal offices in the east, end soon
demonstrated his ability to handle the
instrument in a manner far superior to
that of the novices who had formerly
been sent clowil by the superintendent.
It was not many deers before he was re-
tained permanently on the agent's re-
conaseenclation. True, the salary was
but $90 a month, in Mexioan money, but
the percentage as express agent, whicsh
his duties combined, brought this up
considerably more—and then the living
was next to nothing.
jian bad been there nearly two months
and was beginning to be homesick for
past pleasaree. There were no aces to
copper," no "jackpots" to open, 89 the
haunting vision of bygone nights before
the green table made him blue.
What's the matter, Brown ?" asked
the station agent one morning. "You
seem down in the depths."
"Ob, nothing, Mr„ Wells," Jim re-
plied. "I get rather lonesome of even-
ings sometimes."
"Why don't yott buy a Mexican to
keep house for you ?","asked Wells. "That
will give you. some one to talk to. Every-
body does down here."
" Buy a girl?" Sim said in surprise.
" Certainly ; I can get you one for $20.
There is an old man back here -who has a
beauty, about sixteen, that he would be
glad to get rid of for that. I'll send for
him to -morrow."
Next morning a wrinkled old Mexican
poked his leathern visage into the office
and inquired fox. the agent. Mr. Wells
soon made known to jun who the man
was, a,n.d. • after the arrangements as
to price were agreed upon, the old father
—for that is what he was—brought the
girl around that afternoon for alm's in-
spection—a stipulation in the terms of
purchase. Carlotta, for that was her
name, took Jim's eye at the first glance.
The pretty olive skin was flushed with
girlish health and the dark eyes -were
iringed -with long, black lashes, while
the brows above were as prettily pencil-
ed as though painted by an artist's hand.
As the old man handed her oyer to Sim
and signed the papers that were a verit-
able bill of sale of his child, the young
operator, although he had already known
vice in nearly all its phases, felt his con-
science and heart smite him as he longed
to undo what had just been done. But
he solaced himself with a "Well, I'll be
good to her. Some one else will get her
if I don't."
The months passed. along and little
Carlotta,, with her warmth of affection
for the Americana made the time pass
very pleasantly, as she taught Jim more
Spanish while be coached her in English.
Carlotta soon learned to play poker un-
der Jim's tuition, and to'keephis hand
in," he taught her tb.e mysteries of iaro
and month. There was a bond between
them which, though not sanctioned by
priest or magistrate, each felt and. rev-
erenced—for a time at least. Daily Car-
lotta cleaned the little rooms at the place
where Jim boarded., and when he bought
her a new calico or some trivial trinket
her warm kisses of gratitude made him
happy. Finally, Jim began giving her
some money to save fox. him. He kept
most of his savings itt the station agent's
safe, but for fear of t'n.e Mexicans about,
-who were loud in their denunciation of
the "Gringoes," might make a raid upon
the station som.e night, he left a portion
of his salary each month with Carlotta.
Thus at the end of a year she had quite a
little sum tucked away in an old water
jar that stood in one corner of their
room and which she guarded. with jeal-
ous care.
When the year was up and Jim had
saved enough to "play bank" intheOity
of Mexico until he should "win out a
stake," he began to fret at the monotony
of his life at Laredo.
One evening when he went home he
told Carlotta, he was going to run down
on the night train to the City of Mexico
for a week or two.
"You coining back soon?" she asked,
as she put her pretty brown arms about
his neck.
"Oh, yes, I'll come back soon " Jim
laughed, but it was an uneasy laugh,
without the ring of sincerity. "How
much money have you, Carlotta ?" he
asked. -
"Oh, macho dinero. Two hun.dred pe-
sos. You want it
"Nd, you had. betterkeep it. I may
need it later."
Jim went to the agent's office and drew
the $700 he had in the safe, and then
went back to bid Carlotta good -by. She
pleaded to be taken along, but Jim put
her off with a promise to take her the
next time, and, with her warm kisses on
his lips, he went back to the station to
say his good-bys to the agent.
"Don't blow in all your stuff, jim,
expect you in two weeks," was Mr. Wells'
parting, as Jim stepped on board tb,e
south -bound train..
Luck was with the young operator itt
the big Mexican. ci., his $700
had turned to nearer $2,700. The allure-
ments of the capital were too great, and.
the weeks sped by like days. Finally he
wrote to -Mr. Wells to get some one itt
his place, as he would not corae back.
"See Carlotta for me, please," he wrote,
"and tell her to go back to her father."
Wheu the agent went over to the little
boarding house and read. this to Carlotta
she did not cry and make the scene he
had anticipated, but sat there as though
paralyzed by the blow.
"What are you going to do, Carlotta P"
he asked. ,
"I no can tell.. I stay here, maybe. I
going think what I do."
Four
Four months passed and Jim was
"dealing bank" every other night, at $10
a night, for one of the big dealers of the
place. On the other nights he would
play against the "bank" for which he
had been dealing. Ara was a lucky
dealer, and was likewise successful when
he went against the game, so as he was
considerect unnenally lucky the proprie-
tor thought na nad securud a treasure in
him.
Ono night as Jim took nas seat and was
shufflin.g the cards to put itt the box, a
slip of a Mexican youth took the chair
directly in front of him and called for
$50 worth of ships. As Jim passed over
the stacks of red, white and blues he
started as he saw the face before him-
-but pshaw I he might have seen it before
in, most any of the gambling rooms. The
table soon filled up, and the usual crowd
of hangers-on lined up behind the chairs
to watch the play, so Sim thought noth-
ing more about the face before him aal he
dealt the cards and raked in or handed
out the chips as the piayers lost or won.
But that night the bank kept losing, and
the usually stoital Jim began to get
nervous. The yotnag Mexican seldom
lost, and always won on. all large plays.
His combination8 seemed always invite
-
able, and soon the crowd about were
watching his plays and. many following
his lead,. The bank lost over $2 000 that
night and the proprietor went home curs-
ing ehxist oluvcenk.,mg saw
Jim
in the seat the
young Mexican had occupied but the
lett& aid not put in an appearance. Jini
won that night as usual and the bank
-^
won from everyone else. As Jim took:
his seat as usual behind the little box the
sweeeeding evening', the Mexican one&
more tool, the chair directly opposite and
again asked, for $50 in chips. Again tha
bank lost. and when the game closed it
was dose upon $5,000 "to the 'bad." , The
proprietor was in a fury this night, and
swore Jam Rrosvn sheuicl never deal again •
for blin or for azynna raise if he could
help it. The young alestican was stand-
ing dose by when he said this, and a.
smile of eatisfaetion could be eeen on his
face, $o Jim no longer sat behind the
table and the young stranger carne no•
longer to his customary seat. This was.
soon noticeable to the proprietor, who.
was not long in hunting jim up and as-
cusipg hire of "putting up a game" on
him, In terms that were just a little bia
more than emnhatio lie told Jim that if
he did not "dig up" some of that money
within twenty-four hours he would fill
hira full of lead, "Uncle" Billy ,Sznith
always meant -what he said, and as Jim
Icnew this as well as the fact that. )1e
could not "dig up," and had not been.
"jobbing" anyone, the next train saw
Jim speeding north toward El Paso.
From point to point along the road he
drifted, generally making winnings at.
each, but always the face of that Mexi-
can haunted him. The more he thought
of it the more he wondered where he had
seen it.
Often he thought of hale Carlotta, but
only to wonder what had become of her.
One day he wrote to Mr, Wells and sent
him a draft for $100 to be paid to Car-
lotta, but the agent wrote back that she
had left the place and returned the draft,
Prescott, Tucson and Kingston all saw
something of Jim, and always he went
away a trifle hotter in pocket than when
he entered the towns. Never had he had
such a run of luck.
"111 just take in Phcenix," lee sail tce
himself one night, "and then. 1'11 go baek
east and follow the races once more.
There's nothing like them after all,"
A few nights after saw jim in one of
the large gambling hells of Arizona's.
et,pital. lie was in the best of spirits,
with $5,000 in bills in his pocket and a.
run, of luck that would probably bring,
him more. He looked at the roulette
tables, then passed by the faro dealers to.
see if among the crowd there was anyone
-
he knew. be liked a "square" game and
generally ran against scene sporting ac-
quaintance who could tell him which,
were "on the square." No familiar face
greeted his eye, so he passed on into one,
of the rooms beyond where a poker game
was in progress. As his glance went frone
one player to another he gave a start.
Seated at the table just opposite him was
the young Mexican who haci been the
cause of his hasty fligbt from Mexico's.
capital. Jim's heart gave a jump; with
his present luck he could get even with
the handsonae youngster. There was no
objection when he asked permission to
enter the game, so he took 8200 worth of
ships. There was no `limit" to the game,
but up to Jim's coming the betting had.
been lig/at. Soon the, hands began to run
higher and the betting because mora
spirited. The Mexican opened a "jack.
pot" for $50, and all but Jim dropped.
out.
"I'll teach you sometlaing," thought
the young operator, as he thaw a number
of bills irora his pocket. As he looked.
at his hand he saw three aces, then b,a
raised the Mexican a hundred. This the
latter "saw" and raised Jim a like sum.
Jim tossed over a hundred and another
with it, which the Mexican again "saw"
and then called for cards. OVer, $700 was
now on the table before the "draw." The
Mexican drew two cards and Sim did,
likewise, and when these proved to be
both kings the prospect looked very pleas-
ing to him,
"Your bet," said Sim.
"Three hundred dollen," said the -
Mexican, shoving out the bills.
"Two hundred more," replied Jim.
"Five hundred mas," was the Mexi-
can's response.
"He may be bluffing or he may not,"'
thought Jim. "I guess I've got him,.
though." "All right; what have you
got?" he said aloua.
"Two pair."
"No good; full house," laying down.
ahis hand and reaching for the money.
"Oh, si, senor. Mine all same kind,"
laying down four jacks and gathering in
the pile of notes and chips.
"Fourteen fifty at a clip," said Jim to.
himself. "I'll have to even up somelao-w.
I'd hate to eold deck him, though, but
I've got to teach that youngster a lesson."'
The game went on uneventfully for
half an hour. Again there was a big
"jack pot" on the table and Jim was
dealing. The "greaser" opened for a.
hundred, and. once more all but Jim
dropped out. As he had taken care to.
deal nimself four kings and his appal:tent
a like number of queens, he had no hesi-
tancy about raising .this time, and so,
fully $2,000 was on the table before the
"draw." Each took one card, and then
the betting began in earnest. Soon Jim's.
pile.of bills began to grow thin, as he.
saw" eaoh bet and raised it, for he was
a certain winner. Finally he called the
Mexican, who laid down the four "la- '
dies" he held.
"No good, sonny. I'm even -with you
this trip." said Jim, laying down his.
hand and bending over to gather in his.
winnings. The young Mexican was now
standing, and as Jim bent over the table
those present saw a knife flash in the air
and bury itself to the hilt in jirct Brown's
neck. Then they heard a musical voice
say:
• "Notta much, Jimmy. I see you fix
the cards. You ruin my life. Now you
like steal my money,"
• "My God! Carlotta," the dying man
gasped as he gazed. up at her, and as
those present sprang to lift his falling
form Carlotta gathered up the incany
and slipped through the deer.
"A woman, by thunder !" said one of
the men. "Gues8 he deserved it, though."
• "Yes, I deserved it," whispered Jim.
"Don't let them touch Carlotta," and
they laid his stiffening form on the table
where he had tried to rob the pretty girl
he once deserted,
Bed Tape and Mail Bags.)
The amount of red tape that legal
forins appear to make necessary is well
i )
shown n the specifications for some
snail - carriers' bags that are to be furnish-
ed to the city postoffice. They are simple ;
leather affairs in common use here, yet
the directions for making them cover
four closely -printed. pages. It must have
takett somebody days to get up the dem- ;
ment. On. the other hand, the fact that
the one document will answer for the
whole country is an argument for a
single management of affairs, and some
day it will come clown with such force •
on the public mind that it will be irre-
sistible,