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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1887-4-21, Page 741, El:Od'e Measure. L, A, MOARISON, "An4 God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was good.”_,Ge4 3L Ven/ good," is the measure at last : With. Creation's labor ended, The nights and days of uprearing Past, When the " eintshed moor sublime and vast Shines out in the beauty and smile of God, The shadows all are blended With the glorious light of a perfect morn, When from Owl's conception a World was born " Very good." Tis the measure of love ; Who saw Its sublime fruition ; The glad new Earth, and the Ileaven above ; The sweet -voiced lark, and the cooing dove; The infinite life in the air and sea, Their wondrous, God -sent mission ; .And the crowning glory of all the rest, Alan, ",A.fter His Likene36" supreme and blest, Very good :" the measure again ; Though Sin with its dark defiling Had bondaged to Death, the nee of men With a bitter hate, beyond human ken ; And Earth seem'd receding away to the night, 0 t'Of the light and the sinning. Jesus a Ransom for sin was made, "Pinishoe Redemption" by Love displayed. " V ry good :" the measure of life, Each mortal life before Him Re knows the toiling, the weary strife And bitter pain, with NdliCh earth is rife ; But he knows that each faithful heart will bow And gratefully adore Him, When at last they come to the light above, In the " &Wished life," of Eternal Love. BY EXPRESS. Early morning in the Sierra. A faint glimmering of dawn in the east, tinging the lower edges of dark storm -clouds rifted by the icy winds; distant peaks dimly visible through the twilight, looming ghastly in their snowy shrouds against the paling gray of the murky horizon. Tall pinesshadowing in graceful grimdeur the moist and slippery sides of the dark ravines, through which gurgle the vagrant waters of a storm that has raged through the night. Absolute soli- tude—even the wind has ceased its mono- tonous requiem, exhausted by its mad efforts in the hours of darkness. The air grows colder. A snowflake flutters down through the uncertain half-light, hesitates an instant, as if struggling against a manifest destiny, and then falls helplessly, hopelessly, into the yellow, watery mud of the torn and gullied mountain road, to be absolved with impunity and lost forever. Under the silent boughs of a great pine, watching the gather- ing light in the east—a man—the only liv- ing oreature visible in this sad, gloomy pic- ture. A mask veils his features, and in his hands, cooked and ready for instant use, he holds a double-barreled shotgun. "1 wonder where I will be this time to. morrow ?" Most men soliloquize when alone, and this man simply obeyed a natural impulse in uttering his thoughts aloud. The sound of his -voice seemed to relieve the monotony. "1 won't be here, that's cer- tain," he continued. "I know where I think I'll be, but it's a mighty long distance, and the trail's through the woods. I've got three chances at the outcome—safety ; bolts, bars, and strong walls ; or—" The musical jingling of spurs and the ir- regular slap -dash of a horse's hoofs trotting through the mud interrupted the vague spec- ulations f ). t ..e man and caused him to draw closer in the shadow. The horseman pass - ,?,1„ ed. As t e jingling of spurs and splutter of hoofs died away over the hill the man emerged from the shadow and looked down the road. He listened; his form, slightly bent, was outlined against the dawn -light, a sinister silhouet, only hall human, if the imagination were to seek a resemblance be- tween the motionless form in this attitude and a bird of prey. Suddenly the listener ' started back once more. The movement was agile and cat -like; firm, determined, desperate. A singular medley of sound floated through the still air—the creaking of wheels, thtegrattling of harness, the constant cracking o-M`whip, the constant splashing of horses' hoofs, and the hoarse cries of a man urgings: a spirited team to renewed ex- ertions. Nearer and nearer came the dis- cordant noises. The man in the shadow ot the pine grew more rigid and more alert. His fingers sought the triggers of his gun, and his thumb pressed more firmly over the hammers. His neck was stretched forth like the neck of the condor as it watches herdsmen on the plains below. "Git along there! What's the matter with ye, Blaze? — thesh roads !" and the driv- er threw "the silk into the off leader" at the rate of twenty cracks a minute. The four mustangs plunged furiously, and the stage creaked agonizingly, the harness straining , with the spasmodic efforts of the horses to drag the heavily laden vehicle up the grade. "Hold on, there, Baldy I" It was the man in shadow who spoke. The horses swerved to the right and almost overturned the stage,. The driver. however, had presence of mind, and was skillful; he dragged the leader trembling with ,fright back into the road and turned his attention to the man with the shotgun. "Moist morning," the latter remarked in a somewhat sympathizing tone. " Purty wet," the driver replied. "Roads bad ?" inquired the man, throw- ing his gun into the hollow of his arm, so that the muzzle bore directly, though ap- parently unintentionally, upon the door of the stage, from the interior of which a head had been suddenly projected, when the stage stopped, and which was as suddenly with- drawn when a certain instinctive curiosity had been satisfied in the twin depths of the gun barrels. "Purty bad, stranger, from the Crimea House down," said the driver. "Anything I ken do fur ye? I don't mind swappin' a lie or two 'ith ol' friends when I meet 'em, but ye see I am a leetle behind time this morning', an' I haven't got much leeway ef I'm g0in' to git into Stockton afore night." "That's so, Baldy, ol' man," replied the mafamiliarly, "and you needn't put your- self " W, ch box 1" gits) on my account. Just chuck down thittle. f mine and we will call it square." "That one under your seat there; it's marked ' Wells Fargo an' Co. I'm Fargo." "0, you're Argo, eh ?" said Baldy, simu- lating a renewed interest in the adventure. "Well, I declare, I thought I met you afore, and I'll be d—a ef I could place you. How's the fam'ly, Fargo !" "First rate, Baldy." " OP woman's as spry as ever, I s'pose ?" "Never felt better in her life." " Kids all hunkiclori, eh 1" "You That. Clan around and see es, Baldy, when you get a chance; Mrs, Fargo'd he de- lighted to see you, old nutn." "So I will, Fargo ; so I will. But I say, Fargo, this yer bOx o'' yours is a valu'ble package, and goes through to the 'address' o' the firm." "Never mind that, Belay. You tell I took charge of it. That'll be all right. There's documents in the °box that I can't get along without just now—business of the firm you know—end seeing you are behind time maybe you'd better not fool round any more gaasing with me." As he mid this the muzzle of the guri gradually lifted, until the yawning barrels covered the dtiver, inducing two Chinamen on the back seat to shrink nervonsly to- ward the opposite aide of the stage, Balcly Wrapped the lines atound the brake and difficulty in extracting the bulky padloelt concern from the pile of mailbags, but he finally succeeded, and raising the box on the edge of the boot inquired; Is this the bizness, Fargo ?" " 1 reckon—throw it down, and I'll make an inspection. Yes, that's what I'm looking for," he added, after the box had fallen with a jingling crash at his feet. " Wane a re- ceipt, 13tildy ?" "No, I guess not," said the driver. " tell Wells you took &large o' the yalu'ble package, and'—" "That'll be all eight, Belay," interrupted the man. " Wells won't kick. Hope you'll make the trip all right, old man." "Anything else, li'argo ?" " Don't think of anything else just now. I guess you can drive right along." No message to inquirin' friends ?" "Nary message." " Be here when I get back 7" " Meet likely I won't he here." " Well, so long, Fargo ; take care o' yer- self." " So long, Baldy - Pll see you later." And so they parteil. By this time the morning was well ad- vanced. The clouds hung low and the air was moist and uncomfortable. Snowflake's drifted through the pines and great masses of vapor shifted along the slopes of tlae dis- tant mountains. The highwayman dragged the express -box into the ravine, where he would be free from observation and shelter- ed from the growing inclemency of the weather. Here he broke open the box with a hatchet which he carried in his belt, and in a few minutes he hacl transferred all the coin packages to his pockets. As he arose, the superscription of a letter caught his eye—the letter lay half buried in the mud, where it had been flung by the robber when he rifled the box. The impress of the highwayman's heel was upon it, but the ad- dress was clearly legible: John R. Rich- mond, Columbia, Tuolumne Co.; Cal. The robber stood for a moment as if spell- bound, contemplating this letter as Robin- son Crusoe contcmplated the footprint in the sand. Then he picked it up and rubbed the mud from the envelope upon his sleeve. He examined it with deep interest. The superscription was in the handwriting of a woman—small, delicate, but faltering, as if the fingers that held the pen srerobled when the writing was done. The envelope was postmarked "Utica, N. Y.' The robber slowly tore the end of the envelope and withdrew a sheet of note paper, closely written, As he read he smiled, and when he had finished he returned the letter to its envelope and placed it in his ocket. Glen cing swiftly around, he stood for a moment irresolute. Having decided what direction he should take, now that flight was neces- sary, he climbed to the ridge above the I'll have to peg out." The rude realism of the simile amused the stage -robber and his eyes twinkled humorously. "Mee I /start. ed on thie risky enterprise I tried to look ahead into the future a day or two. I won- dered where I'd be about this time. I took my chances on tw o losing cards—a jail and a rope—and I reckon I won the rope. The gang don't leek like a crowd of missionaries chasing me to save my immortal soul. It ain't the Sheriff, because the Sheriff don't hunt coyotes with a brass band. I think it is this horse that has settled my business', Well, what of it ? I played it for all it was worth, but two little pair don't beet a king full, and I don't think my bluff is going to work." By this time the pnrsuere were thunder- ing up the slope, their heroes reeking with sweat and panting with their exertion. There were ten men in the crowd, and. their stern, bearded faces wore an expeeasion anything but reassuring to the man who o calmly awaited them. They oireled the tree with- • t a word and hastily secured their animals o the branches. One of them, a tall, bronzed, muscular young man, uncoiled a lariat from the In rn of his saddle and flung it defiantly and with ominous significance at the feet of the robber, The leader of the horsemen than approached. "Good morin, stranger," he remarked, in that easy, familiar tone peculiar to the mountaineer of California, with whom the time of day is always morning until night. Good morning," the highwayman an- swered, extending his hand with a cordiality that was ironical in its effusiveness. The leader graqind the proffered hand half me- chanically, his face indicating surprise at the 000lness of the man they intended to hang. "Belong in these parts ?" he asked. " No ; can't say I'm exactly a residenter of this quarter -section just now." "Maybe you're thinkin' o' pre-emptin' a claim ? "You've struck it, pard. I've been run- ning pretty free of late, and I've about con - eluded to settle down, quiet -like and easy." The man looked steadily into the eyes of his executioner, his cheek unblanched and his voice as calm and passionless as if the idea of a painful death at the hands of these de- termined men was the last thought in hie mind. The leader of the horsemen whisper- ed softly. Then he said: "Been here long?" " Halt an hour." "Haven't seen anything of a claybank mare branded J. C.' on the left flank, have you ?" " Pacer ?" "That's her gait." "White spot in her forehead ?" "You know her, stranger.' canon, and with a swift stride pressed stead- ily forward, During the morning he tramp- you ?"' guess I've seen the mare. Belong to ed through unfrequented paths, avoiding "I paid $160 fur the brute, an' I haven't sold her yet." "Had an offer ?" " No." "Want to sell ?" "Well, I can't say 1 do—not just now, anyhow. Why? You wasn't thinkin o' buyin' the mare, was ye ?" casual passer-by he was sunply a hunter, "0, I didn't know• but we might make whose luck or skill had been bad, returning some sort o' trade. I've been traveling pret- empty-handed through a driving snow- storm. ty lively the last two days, and this mare of mine is petered." At noon the snow fell so thick that he pears to me could scarcely follow the trail. An hour your mare's a claybank, later he stopped. He began 'to doubt too,," and the leader approached the animal, patting her gently on the neck. whether he was pursuing the right course. cs He strained his eyes to catoh some familiar sg That's her color, pardy," said the other, landmark, bit the snowflakes fell around and she's a dandy. I wouldn't take $200 for her if she was in condition." him like a fleecy, shifting curtain. He' strode forward once more, ;this time slowly " White spot in her forehead, too. .Stran- g earsmine" , mefteh.i,s, warn't your mare I'd swear she —feeling his way. He was beginning to be w confused. Again he paused. This time he He walked slowly around the h realized the dangers which this circumstance horse, examining the animal in detail and commenting upon her various points of re - entailed. He had but one recourse at that moment. He would descend the first gulch semblance to his own. Yes, sir; this yer mare o' yours, stranger, is the dead image of and follow It to its outlet. As. he hurried forward, floundering through the deepening bo I lost yesterday mornin'. I shouldn't be surprised ef she was my mare's twin sis- drifts, he found that he was traversing a ter." broad plateau. While speculating what "fiat" this could be he plunged headlong into a bush fence. He was saved. .As he arose he heard voices. Guided by this wel- come sound he soon reached a barn. Shel- tering himself under the lee of the barn, he waited until the men retired and then he crept into the building. Several horses cm. cupied stalls in the stable, and farming im- plements and harness were scattered about. The robber climbed into the loft, and, bury- ing himself in the hay, was soon sleeping Soundly. the habitations of men, and seemingly heed- less of the storm that now whirled and roar- ed around him. He had discarded his mask and hatchet beside the eepress box, but he carried his shotgun, not so much for personal protection as to afford an excuse for prowling through the hills. To the "You say you've lost your mare ?" " Sartin.' "Broke out o' the corral, I s'pose." "With a man on her back." " Ah 1" "You say you've seen the critter, stran- ger ?" "Perhaps." "Maybe you noticed the party a-ridin' her?" "1 took particular notice of the individual. He was a tall man." "'Bout your hight, maybe ?" When he awoke it was night, and the "Yes, and he wore a broad -brimmed stars were shining clear and bright in the slouch hat, something like this one." The cloudless sky. The snow lay thick in every imperturbable robber removed his hat and direction, and the only sound that broke held it towards the other. "Notice his hair and beard ?" "Sandy." " Light complected, eh ?" the silence was the dripping of water from the eaves of the barn. He looked out and saw a horse a short distance from his place of concealment. NO one was stirring and " 'Bout my color." no lights were visible. Descending to the The leader turned to his companions and lower floor of the barn the highwayman said:' "Boys, I reckon were much obleeged to the stranger." There was a murmur of assent. " Reckon we're hot on the trail ?" " You bet." "Stranger," began the leader, turning once more to his victim, we're much ob- deeged to ye fur yer information. The party ye saw ridin' that claybank pacer—that tall, sandy-complected party you say looks so much like present company—stole the mare, and we're—" "May be he only borrowed the mare," interrupted the robber. "That's so. I didn't think o' that. But he borrowed her in the night-time from my barn, close to my house, while I was asleep." "1 guess he didn't want to disturb you— some folks are considerate, you know." "He might 'a waited till mornin'." , "Perhaps he was in a hurry." "Precisely; an' come to think of it, eo are we. I guess we'll have to be on the move ef we colkerlate to ketch up 'ith the hoss- thief." He picked ...tp the lariat and threw one end over the branch of the oak. The other men took hold of the rope and ranged themselves in a line. The leader adjusted the noose and placed it around the highwayman's neck. The latter, stibmitted without a shudder. He even smiled, and, as the loop wag drawn tight, said : "Thanks, I forgot to put on my necktie this mornin'." "Ye don't know how a necktie improves ye," the leader replied. " 0, I'm a dandy in full dress," said the prisoner. "But, I say, pard, can't we make some sort of trade on that hoss biznese ? I'll tell ye what I'll do, I'll give you niy mare and $500 cash for your horse, and take the chances of finding the man that borrowed lighted a lantern and began to search for something among the implements scattered about. In a few moments he found a sad- dle, which he carried to one of the stalls, and, speaking low to one of the horses, placed it on the animal's back. Having secured the saddle he took down the bridle and adjusted it in the horse'smouth. Then he listened. The silence reassured him. He opened the door and led the horse out into the starlight. Choosing a path that led away from the house, he was making good progress toward a gate when his plans were disturbed by the sudden, fierce out- cry of dogs. They mune at him from every, direction, yelping, barking baying. There was not an instant to be lost. To hesi- tate meant an unequal struggle. with the dogs and ultimate capture by the inmates of the house. Leaping to the saddle the desperate man urged his horse at the fence. The animal was game, and answered the hoarse cry of its rider by rising at the fence and clearing it at a single bound. He thought he heard an answering shout from the farmhouse, but he was not certain and he had no desire to solve this doubt. In two hours, by hard riding, he had left danger miles behind and reined his horse into a rapid walk. The foothills of the Sierras are thickly wooded with white, black, and live oak, thus relieving the monotony of an otherwise bar- ren landscape. Even in the depth of win- ter these oaks retain their foliage, and one never lees in California the gnarled branches and leafless boughs so conspicuously wintry in their nakedness in less favored climes. Standing beneath one of these oaks, the clay following his escape from the mountain ranch, the highwayman watched the ap- proach of a party of horsemen. The horse he had stolen stooct beside him, cow ered with mud from rieck to fetlock—found- ered. The horsemen in the distance rode furiously, and they were heading directly for the tree beneath which the fugitive stood. There was a smile upon his lips, and he seemed in en unusually cheerful rimed. Those fellowe Mean businese," he mut- tered. "They wohldn't have followed nib so close if they didn't, Looks as if the grime was up on this side of the board --home to as a red Kish on a greaeer'e atomaeh. There I reckon that'll do.' "Much obliged, pard." The voice of the highwayman waa somewhat choked, but it was not with his emotion. "Are you go. ing ? Well, good luck to you." The men on the rope stepped back two paces. The lariat tightened between the robber's neck and the bough over which it had been flung. "Any word ye'd like to send your be- reaved relatives 7' asked the leader, as he moved'`Naotllivinu'gy, partielar," replied the high- wayman. "Nothing except an answer I'd like written to a letter I've got in my nese," said the loader. "1 reckon we ken 'tend to that little biz. "1 don't like to trouble yo, gentlemen, 1 ut it would be a great accommodation to me." No trouble, etranger. Where's the let- ter ?" In my coat -pocket." The leader, after eonsiderable fumbling, found the letter. "Is this the doclayment ?" he inquired. "That's the paper, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, perhaps you'll read it aloud to the boys. They might suggest some points for the answer. Besides, I'd like to refresh rey ow a memory a bit." The leader glanced at the address: "John R. Riclunond, Columbia, Teolumne Co,u, nithy." at,s me," said the robber. The leader drew the envelope ansT read aloud : "bWEET HOME, Oct. 21, 1859.-214 Dar. ling Boy : The years are dragging wearily by, a,nd I am growing old in my loneliness. The grave seems colder and more cheerless as I totter toward it, bereft of the loving presence of my darling child. Why do you leave me thus in my old age? 0, John, I yearn for you. 1 long to clasp you in my arms °nee more, to lay my cheek againgt yours ; to kiss the lips I kissed so fondly as you slept in your cradle before you knew a mother's love. It has been fifteen years since you left me—fifteen years of waiting, and watching, and praying for your return. Do you realize how my heart goes out to you—a mother's heart? Do you realize the fear that oppresses her as she thinks of the dangers that surround you in that far away land, among desperate men, whose hand may not be restrained against you by the love a mother bears for a wayward child. Have you forgotten me, John? I almost feel that you have, for I have heard nothing from you for months. 1 am uncertain that this will reach you. John, your mother, who loves you better than life, is waiting for you, and her eyes are dim with tears of disappointment. My heart aches as I think that perhaps I am forgotten by ray beloved son—the only tie that binds me to earth. Shall I ever see my boy again? Shall I clasp him to my bosom once more? 0, I could die happy with his arms about me'my head pillowecl upon his breast, his head was once pillowed upon mine. • r cannot realize that my darling, my baby, is a man, for in my heart's memory he is still a child—an innocent, laughing, mother -lov- ing boy. Come home, John. It will not be long, and when this feeble body lies cold in the grave you may wander out into the world again. Remember, John a mother's love is more precious than all besides and until death comes to end my longing 1 shall wait -0, so patiently—and watch through my tears for the coming of him who is dear- est to me on earth. Montan." The bright sunlight flooded a landscape barren and cheerless. The blue of the sky above was simply a relief such as Nature, in her regard for the fitness of things had spread over the unattractive prospect for pleasant contrast. As the leader's voice ceased there was a silence in that terrible group for a moment; even the restless horses were still. The stern judges stood like sta- tues grasping the lariat. But the rope had slackened as that mother's pathetie appeal was read. And, standing there on the brink of his grave, John Richmond faced his exe- cutioners as calmly, as resigned as if the soul of a martyr animated him instead of a sin. stained, reckless, desperate heart that might shrink from no villianv. "He's game." The man who spoke had released his hold on the lariat. The leader replaced the letter in Richmond's pocket. Looking around upon his followers be ob- served that only two of them retained their hold upon the rope, a.nd even these men were doubtful and hesitating. The leader understood the temper of his companions. ",Stranger," he said, striding close to the pinioned man, " whar were ye goin' when we met you ?" "1 was going home." "It's a long way home, stranger." "1 know it." "And the trail's crooked." "I won't lose it, pard, if my life is spared." The leader unbound the highwayman, and, turning to his companions, remarked, in a voice softer than usual: "Boys, eozne of us have mothers back in the States, and maybe we re thinkin' o' those mothers at this identical minute. It's my opinion that those mothershave saved a man's life to -clay." Then to the highway- man : "Stranger its nigh sundown, an' we've got a long road afore us. Good -day." They shook hands, ard the leader mounted his horse. As the men rode out from be- neath the shadow of the oak the highway- man followed. "How 'bout the mare, pard? I stick to my bargain." Never mind the mare, stranger; there'll be horses when were dead, out a man never had brit one mother." The highwayman watched thehorseman as they rode down the hillside—watched them, silent and motionless, until they disappear- ed from his view. Then his hand slowly rose to his ,neck, and lingered there a mo- ment with a soft -clutching movement of the fingers, and the smile that seemed habitual with him swept once more across his face. "I'll thank that man if I ever meet him," he murmured. I'll thank himfrom the bot- tom of rny heart, and I'll ask him to thank that good, kind old mother of his for me. It was lucky for me that his name was the same as mine, or I'd never saved it. It enlist have been a special Previdence, or something of that sort, and I'm thankful to all parties concerned; but it was a dose call, all the same. Patience 11'17011N TIMM meoteo. Patience I thou art a giant in thy strength, A miracle of Wonder.working power ; By thy endurance success orowris at length As eortain as the fruit succeeds the flower I your animal." Patience—bravo heart 'tis step by step we go And l'each at last the haven of our hopes I " That's a pretty good offer, stranger., 'TIB drop by drop-.. then hidden springs o'erflow bat ye see the mare't sort of a favorite with And rush in torrents down the mountain slopes ! the women folks, and they'd break their 'Tie one by ono our inoinentS swiftly 11,V m the deathless history of the past 1 heartTo for s of they thought I sold her. No, Then patiently pursue thy purpose high stranger, I can't sell ; I'd never hear the While genius, hopeand emulation Tat. lest of it, an' peace in the family's wiith Patience is trite greatness I—e'en though defeat rriore to me than S500. I'm sorry, but g Stiein limninent, yet patience still is sweet I reckon the trade's off. Ilow'e that tort of ri knot suit ye? lam t at MeV as I like, Whatever impel tent crop the fs rus beet but in' fingers are alle.thumbe togley, ahd produces, let that take the lead, regard. bent over to drag out tile boX. He had eonie deal rued a hendlui of small cards. I gimes you must excuse ine ef it don't look as pretty less of flucthations in prices. HOME AND GENERAL NEWS. I ELPLORER JOHNSTON IN A FIX. _ The three pereolls concerned in the at. itrititsititteCitn:utitbdojiautlakittttno!liAestketneeniluf14,01 from tempt to aseassinate the Czar in St. Peters- buringh eo nRtuh seal:nth nvi have °bile: hhaa: g eci'placed la°°eld'nesie. 6001fo flt YhAee efbrtieCesatoaliTt°nlwloanwtiovfaestil,hrueins3ien7srbligiener htehaxse: at the dispool of the police £37,000, to be I used in unravelling the Nihilist conspiracy. been released within the past few weeks. . He is if. H. Joheeton, the explorer of IVfouet A strong° feeling in favour of the resuset- Kilimanjaro, and tee only traveller except tation of the Dominion Board of Trade is Stanley who has written a book in English said to pregail among the different loeal oars. A French eaplesive which will explode before anyone is ready for it has just killed off seven French soldiers. It must be a success. H. T. Bush, owner of the victorious yatcht "Coronet," has sent $560 of the premium won in the race to the Beecher monument committee, All the boot and shoe manufacturers of St. Reel's, Quebec, are said to have so many orders on hand. that they are working night and day to fill them. The rumour that a new Dominion elector- al district will be carved out of the Nipis- sing district at the coming session is stated to be without foundation. Three cases or Asiatic cholera have been discovered at 13ada Pesth, and the nature of the malady in each case has been clearly es- tablished, Much alarm prevails. The roof of a church at Lingwaglossa, Sicily, fell without warning, during service on Sunday, burying one hundercl persons, forty of whom were killed and injured, Gabriel Dumont is reported as saying that in the late rebellion the half-breeds lost -five men ei the Duck Lake fight, and none at Fish Creek, where they had only 47 men. Mr. J. Rusho, of Grindstone Island, near Kingston, while attempting to rescue his horse, which broke through the ice, lost $1,500 which he was taking to the bank. It is reported the Ameer of Afghanistan is seriously alarmed, over the (discovery that a number of'native tribes are combining against him, and has appealed to the Indian author- ities for help. For the purpose of inducing English farmers to emigrate to Canada, the Depart- ment of Agriculture have decided to exhibit specimens of Canadian grain at all the coun- ty fairs in England this summer. Mr. Justice Mathieu, of Montreal, has granted $500 damages to James Tracey in an action taken by him against the Cana- dian Pacific Railway. for having lost two m fingers while working their service. Prof. Max Muller, judged by his titles, is probably the most distinguished man in England to -day. He has more than 40 honorary suffixes to his name, but he does not use all of them in his ordinary corres- pondence. General Strange states that the winter in the Northwest has been the hardest for many years and the cattle have suffered severely. On his ranche the cattle increased to the remarkable extent of 87 per cent., but many of the increase did not thrive. The Attorney -General of British Colum- bia states that the Local Government has commenced an action against the Canadian Pacific Railway Company to recover $250,- 000, amount of the bond guaranteeing the completion of the line to Coal Harbor by December 31st, 1886. A woman named Marie Soum is under ar- rest at Toulouse for drugging her cousin, Bertrande Salage, and then cutting the form of the cross on several parts of her body for the purpose of exorcising an evil spirit, the woman Soma believing that she was under - her cousin's malign influence. At an examination the other day a cer- tain professor of Columbia College electri- fied the students by remarking in an audi- about the Congo River. Last month an Eng- lish gunboat sailed from the Carneroone for the month of the River Rio del Rey to rescue Johnston, who has beenseized by the natives on that river, No news has yet been re- ceived of the gunboat, Mr. Johnston is a brigh band modest young man, who is not yet 30 years' old, though he has been prorniuent among African explorers for five years past. With the Earl of Mayo he was the first Englishman to visit the most remarkable white settlement in Africa, and was able to describe picturesque 11 umpata, the village which several hundred Boer col- onists, after travelling nearly 1,000 miles northwest of Transvaal, founded among the native tribes north of the Cunene River. On that same trip he went upthe Congo ae i far as Bolobo, His specialty s botany, and the rich flora, of the Congo valley was a source of perpetual delight to him. Probably no African traveller has ever suffered less from sickness than Johnston. He has travelled far on both sides of the continent, and has hardly ever hacl a day's illness. He slimmed up his ideas on health a,sfollows: "The whole question of success in Africa depends on regularly and amply nourishing the bodywith as good food as can be got. Let nothing if you can help it, interfere with your meals ; eat whenever you are hungry, andab- stain when you age not." The results of Johnston s journey were so fruitful that the Royal Geographical Soci- ety of London sent him to Mount Kiliman- jaro in Mist Africa to study its natural his- tory. He spenthalf a year on the mountain, and ascended soraeways above the snow line, though he was unable to reach the summit of the perpetually snow-covered dome of the great volcanic mass. After he returned to, England. and wrote his second book of Afri-- can adventures, the Government sent him to • the Cameroons, on the west coast, as British Consul to the new German possessions. The Rio del Rey is the boundary between the British Niger protectorate and the re - glens now under theprotection of the German flag. It is known only near the coast, but it was thought that with Johnston sonear at • hand it would not be long before it was map- ped to its sources. Sure enough the young: man started up the river, but he had not gone far before the nativesgobbled him and his baggage. It is to be hoped that the res— cue party had no trouble in getting him out of the scrape, which was tomewhat more Bete ious than the amusing quarrels he had with Mandara, the:one-eyed potentate of Kiliman- jaro. H()W TO BECOME HAPPY. A Physician Sums up the Problem in a Paragraph—Qualities ofIndian Corn. Some good things are heard now and then in the railroad. cars, and the advice of a noted physician to a young man who complained of nervousness, loss of vision, night sweats, and a poor appetite, the other morning, which was overheard by a report- er, is one of them. "Throw -away your cigarets and eat a good bowl of mush and milk for your break- fast," said the learned doctor, and you will not need any medicine. Indian corn is essentially a New World instittitkn. With its product, the hog, it was in the not very remote past almost the sole food sup- ply of the rural districts, and the dishes that can be prepared from its various cholla(' dtonnoet tofinodnehisofhattheanaysswihsteanrets atllashaah thatheforms are of much greater variety than can be prepared from. wheat. Like he was cc almost sure" that he had brought Sambo s rabbit, it is good to roast, to it to the college with him that morning. bake or boil, and can be fermented and When James alordon Bennett was in Pau turned into whiskey, but its stimulating the other day, a talkative nuisance at the qualities are best procured by making it into club was boasting to him of his wonderful a mush. It contains a large amount of nj... shooting experiences. Seein# no other way trogen, has qualities anti -constipating, and to escape a tragic fate, Mr. Bennett yawned is easily assimilated. Through originally and said: "I, myself, had a narrow escape the poor man's food, t has come to be the the other day. I shot at a wild boar, and, rich man's luxury. It is cheap and has great missing him, killed my dog. The boar at nutritive properties.A course of Indian once turned and brought back the body of meal in the shape of Johnny -cake, hoe -cake, my dog, laying it at my feet." The story- corn or pone bread, and mush, relieved by teller retired. copious draughts of pure cow's milk, to Supt. Fisher, of the French Cable com- which, if inclined to dyspepsia, a little lime pany, has arrived at Halifax from New water may be added, will make a life now a burden well worth the living, and you need York and is arranging for the immediate construction of land lines connecting their no other treatment to correct your nervous - cable at Sydney with Montreal, sons to give nee% brighten your vision, and give you Canada a cable service independent of the sweet and peaceful sleep. United States. This land line will tap all leading cities and towns between Sydney and Montreal, where it will give French cable connection with Canada Pacific tele- graphic systems, also an additional connec- tion with New York by way of the Balti- more and Ohio lines. Mr. Fisher says com- petition of the French Cable Company will make it exceedingly lively for the cable pool." A Fertunate The,geader is warned against supposing that the following anecdote establishes any precedent for lying and deceit, but it is a • very good. joke on the commanding officer: The Emperor Paul of Russia was seatedin his arm -chair enjoying an after-dinner nap. It was a hot summer's day, ani the windows of the ground -floor at Gatschina had been thrown wide open. In the adjoining room sat a few ladies of the court engaged in a whisperedconversation. Apert young officer of the gaurds looked in at the window as he passed, and was about to address the ladies when he was given to understand by signs that the emperor was a.sleep in the nextroom. The officer said in a low voice: "Don't be- tray me;. I am going to have a lark," and creeping toward the open window of the ad- joining apartment he uttered the long -drawn shout of the sentries, " Flushay 1" The next moment he disappeared in the shrubbery and got away without being per. ceived. The emperor started outof hissleep, and was highly incensed at the trick which had been played upon him. The ladies pre- tended not to know who had committed the offence. The emperor sent for the general in command, ana orcleredhimto proauce the culprit within anhour, He questioned each one of the sentties but to nopurpose. There was no trifling, however, with an order of the Ozer Paul, and in his distress of mind the geeeral called out a young soldier and said te him, "1 will give you two hundred rablee if you will confess that you were the shouter. The emperor will probably dietate a punishinent,butwhat do you cere for that?" The soldier, a spirited young fellow, eonsent- ed, pocketed the two hundted rubles, arid punctual to the time appointed, the command, ant took him to the emperor, The latterlutd in the meantime forgotten the wnolh affair and his anger had cooled. dogen, Looking at the soldier he said, " Splendid voice, glee him three hundred rubles 1" , Farmers must look for their profit hi re - &iced cost rather than higher prices. Rameses 11. Major Bagnold and a party of the Royal Engineers began the lifting up of the great statue of Rameses II., which has lain for cen- turies on its face in the deep ditch that its own weight has tended to make for it among the palms of IVIitraline, the modern site of the old Memphis. The vast colossus of the King is of fine-grained limestone, about 381 feet high. The monolith leeks as if it had been built into a propylon or gate wall, 8,nd thenseulptured iv, situ. It was discovered by Caviglia and Salt in 1820. It lies face downward, almost clue east and west, with head toward Sakkara. It was erected by the King as a thank offering for escape from a treacherous death byburning at Pelusium. In Strabo's time it stood alone in the an- terior court of the great Temple of Ptah at Memphis'the said court at that tinie being used for bull fights. The ihead wears the "pshent" with the Uraeus snake. An arti- ficial beard is attached to the chain. On the breast is a petiole, prototype of those worn by Jewish priests. In the centre is the King's name, "God of the sun, mighty in truth, approved by the Sim". The interest of the fallen Rameses, now so soon to be raised to his feet, is this—that his features, which have nevet been fairly seen full face, will now be visible, and we shall be able to compare them with the features of the mum- my mini -appeal and visible in the Bulak Museurim e The face, as seen partially, is strongly' Semitic. Fishing VS- Prohibition, Joe—" Where are you going to spend the summer ?" Eli—" I was thinking of going to Simeoe Co., on a fishing trip." Joe—" Going to Sinicee to go fishing? Why, man, that is a prohibition County 1" Stranger (in Yorkville barber-shop)— "That's twice you've cut me." Barber— " Yes, sah." Stranger ---"If yeti can't, do better than that you'll drive etvey custom- ers." Barber—" I ain't had 'sperience 'miff yet, sah, to shave customers. The boss only 'lows me to shave strangere." 'I'm laying for that fellow, rind will get him yet," said an angry man to his erudite wife. You shonldn't hay laying for hilt, Harry," corrected his wife. You shoalcl say lying for him." I should do nothing of the sort, my deer. I'm no lawyer," he replied ; and the 'lady retired in confusion.