The Exeter Times, 1888-5-17, Page 7NUTTIE'S FATIIER.
HY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE.
CHAPTER XXX (commune)
"The insurance office sounds the best, and
would be the least pliook to our belougings,"
Annaple; but it seema te lead to noth.
ing, He would not get on unlees o had
capital to invest, and even if we had any
you wouldn't catch us doing that again
"Does Mr. Dutton advise that ?'
"No, he only thought we would like it
setter ; but we are quite poet caring for pee)•
de's feelings in the matter. They coeldret
pity is worse than they do. I incline to
•etubbs and Co. One of them wee once in the
ereenleaf office, and has a regard for any-
thing from thence; beeides Markwould
have something to ale besides desk work.
He would have to judge of samples, and see
to the takift in and etoring of goods. He
does know re heething about that, and Pm
sure it wouldwigree with him better than an
unmitigated high stool, with his nose to a
desk."
"1 should like it better,"
"That'srightl Now I have gotsome one to
say so, Besides, rising is possible, if oue gets
very maul. I mean to be Mrs. Alderman,
'f not my Lady Mayoress, before we have
one. Then they have a great big almost
deserted set of rooms over the warehouse,
where we might live and look after the
place."
"Oh 1 but should you like that?"
"Mr. Dutton wants to live out in some of
the suburban places, where it seems there is
a perfect population of clerks' families in
senei-detathed houses. He says we should
save Mark's railway fair, rent, and all in
doctors' bills. But people, children and all,
do live and thrive in the City; and I think
iMark'm health will be better looked after if
rem there to give him his roid.clay bite and
eeup, and brush him up, than if he is left to
cater for himself ; and as to exercise for the
Billy -boy, 'tis not far to the Thamea Em-
bankment. The only things that stagger
me are the blacks 1 I don't know whether
life is long enough to be after the blacks all
day long, but perhaps I shall get urea to
them 1"
"Well, I think that would be worse." .
"Perhaps it would ; and at any rate, if
the blacks do beat me, we could move.
Think, no rent, nor rates nor taxes—that is
an inducement to swallow—no—to contend
with, any number of black moors, isn't it?
even if they settle on the tip ot Billy -boy's
nose."
"1 could come to see you beler there
than out in a suburb," said Nuttie. "But
what do these rooms look out upon?"
"Oa one eide into their own court, on the
other into Wulstan Street— a quiet place on
the whole --all walla and warehouses; and
there's an excellent parish church, Mr.
Underwood's ; so I think we might do
worse." .
Nuttie eleseedesery sorry that the gentle-
men can ee up, and Mr. Fane wandered
out and' began asking whether they
were going to the rose show. Somehow
on that evening she became conscious that
Annaple looked at her and Mr. Fano rather
curiously; and when, they met again the
next day, and having grown intimate over
e the iutreduction of the two little boys, were
drivincohnt together, there were questions
ewabout 'Whether she saw much of him.
" Oh, I don't know ! He is the nicest,
on the whole, of papa's friends; he eau talk
of something besides"—Nuttie paused over s
her " besides,"—" homeyness, and all that 1
sort of thing—he is not so like an old satyr 0
as some of them aro; and so he is a re-
tiree."
"1 see. And yo it meet him elsewhere, b
don't you, in general society ?"
"1 don't go out much now that Ledy p
Kirkaldy is not in town; but he always
seeras to turn up everywhere that one
goes." a
"Ursula, I'm very glad of that tone of g
yours. I was afraid— "
" Afraid of what ?" cried Nuttie in a de
fiant tone.
"That you liked him, and he is not really a
nice, Nuttie. Mark knows all about him;
and so did I when I lived with the Del- a
mars."
Nuttie laughed rather bitterly. "Thank
you, Annaple. As if I could care for that
man—or he for me, for that matter ! I
know but too well," she added gravely,
"that nobody nice is ever intimate at
home."
"I beg your pardon. I would not have
worried you about it, only I think you must
take care Nuttie, for Blanche mentioned it
to us last' winter."
"Blanche is an arrant gossip 1 If she
saw a .grandfather and great grandmother
gossiping she would say they were going to
be married."
" Yes, as Mark se.ys, one always swallows
• 'Blanche with a qualification."
"You may be quite sure,Annaple, that
nothing like that will ever btrue about ine I
Why, what would ever become of my poor
little Wyn if I was so horrid as to want to
go and mars y ?"
She said it with an ineffable one of con-
tempt, just like the original Nuttie, who
seemed to be recalled by association with
Annaple.
That sojourn of Mark and his wife at
Spriugfield House was a bright spot in that
summer. If it had been only that Annaple's
presence gave the free entree to such an
island of old Micklethwityte, it would have
been a great p1easure to her ,• but there was
besides the happiness of confidence and un.
restraint in their society, a restful enjoy-
• ment only to be appreciated by living the se
guarded life of constraint that was hers. Tee
She was eo seldom thrown among people whom
she could admireandlookup to, Annaple told ef
her husband of Nuttie's vehement repudia-
tion of any intention of marriage. "1 am
• co
sum she meant it," she observed, "it was
only a little too strong. I wonder if that th
le
poor youth who came, to her first ball, and
th
helped to pick us out of the hole in Blue -
post Brid e, had anything to do with it."
or
Anna e had an opportunity of judging.
Mr. Dut n would not have brought about ee
of the dialect very well, and how perste-
tently either Mr, Egremeiet, or perhaps
Gregorio, prevented their gaining admibteence
at his house; and he gueesed, bub did not
know, that Nuttio could not have got into
personal intercourse with them without flat
disobedience, •
Annaple threw herself into the lerea,oh,
and talked. of St. Wulsfen's ; and the en-
counter ended, leavieg the sense of having
driftedentirely away from one another, and
being perfectly heart whole, though on the
one hand Ursulees feeling wa of respect and
honour and Gererd'e had a considerable
element' of pity and dines). obation.
s "No 1" eaid Annaple when they were
gone, "lie will not cry like the kloaree in
She Breton ballad who wetted three great
iniesals through with his tears at his first
mass. He is very good, I am sure, but he
is a. bit of a prig 1"
"It is very hard to youth to be good with-
out priggishness," said Mr. Datton. "Self-
assertion is neceseary, and it may easily be
carried too far."
" Buttresses are useful, but they are not
beauties," rejoined Annaple.
The warehouse arrangement was finally
adopted, and after the three week e neceesary
for tbe cleaning and fitting of their fieor, and
the bringing in of their furniture, Mark
and Annaple began whateshe termed "Life
among the Blacks."
Nuttie had great de signeeof constantly see
ing Annaple, sending her supplies from the
gardene and preserves Bridgofield, taking
her out for drives, and cultivating a friend-
ship between Alwyn and Willie, who bad
taken to each other Tory kindly on the whole.
They could imp exactly understand each
other's language, and had great fights from
time to time over toys, for though there was
a year between them they were nearly equal
is strength; but they cared for each other's
company more than anything else, were
always asleine to go to one another, and
roared when the time of parting came; at
least Alwyn did so unreservedly, for Nuttie
had begun to perceive with compunction
that Billy•boy was much the most under
control, and could try to be good at his mother's
word, without other bribe than her kiss and
Ah 1 but he had a mother!
CHAPTER XXX. - ,+-
NUTTIE S PROSPECTS.
"Three hundred pounds nod "
Mem Witiei of Windsor.
Again Nuttie's plans were doomed to be
frustrated. It did not prove to be half so
easy to befriend Mr. and Mrs. Mark Egre-
mont as she expected, at the distance of
half London aparneend with no special turn
for being patronised on their side.
Her father took a fancy for almost daily
drives with her in the park, because then he
could have Alwyn with him; and the little
fellow's chatter had become his chief amuse-
ment. Or if she had the carriage to herself,
there was sure to be something needful to be
done which mule it impossible to go into
the ciby to take up and set down Mrs. Mark
Egrernont ; and to leave her to make her
way home would be no kindnees. So Nut
tie only accomplished a visit once befor
going out of town, and that was by her own
exertions—by underground railway and
cab. Then she found all going prosperously;
the blacks not half so obnoxious as had been
expected (of mune not, thought Nuttie,
in the middle of the summer) ; the look -out
over the yard very amusing to Billy -boy ;
and the large old-fashioned pannelled rooms
o cool and airy that Annaple was quite de
ighted with them, and contemned the idea
f needingholiday. a ma e t'nem
very pretty and pleasant with her Mickle-
hwayte furniture whose only fault was
eing on too emall a scale for these larger
paces, but that had been remedied by
iecing and making what had been used for
wo serve one
The kitchen was oa the same floor, close
t hand, which was well, for Annaple did a
ood deal there, having only one young
maid for the rougher work, She had taken
V5011s in the School of Cookery, and prac-
leed a good deal even at Micklethwayte,
nd she was proud of her skill and economy.
Mark came in for his mid-day refreshment,
nd looked greatly brightened, as if the
twat had come and was by no means so
bad as he expected. All thetinee he had been
at Mr. Dutton's he had been depreesed and
anxious, but now, with hieboy on his knem he
was merrier than Nuttie had ever known him.
As to exercise, there were delightful evening
walks, sometimes early marketings in the
long summer mornings before business be-
gan—and altogether it seemed, as Nuttie
told her father afterwards, as if she had had
a glimpse into a little City Arcadia.
" feein 1" said he, "how long will it
last ?"
And Nuttie was carried away to COWCS
where he had been persuaded to recur to his
old favourite sport of yachting. She would
have rather liked this if Clarence Fane had
not leeen there too, and continually haunting
them. She had been distrustful of him ever
since Annaple's warning, and it became a
continual worry to the motherless girl to
decide whether hie civil attentions
really meant anything, or whether
she were only foolish and ridiculous in
not accepting them as freely and eimply
as before.
Of one thing she became sure, namely,
that Gregorio was doing whatever in him lay
to bring them together.
In this seaside temporary abode, great
part of the London establishment was left
behind, and Gregorie condeecended to act
he part of butler, with only a single man-
rvaut under hino and thus he had much
ore opportunity of regulating the admission
visitors than at home; and he certainly
ben turned Mr. Fane in upon her, when
e had intended that gentleman to be ex-
uded, and contrived to turn a deaf or nu-
mprehending ear when fshe desired that
ere should be no admission of visitors un -
es her father was absolutely ready for
em; and also there were times when he
net have seggeated an invitation to dinner,
a joining in a see]. No doubt Gregorio
17,
Mrs. Teathennei cap op," and making the
ohild laugh by pretendime to smuggle in
spapersevereeyes
eesveoefe st siatbeyr sotre enlut bra, ea. part from the
That cut Nuetio to the heart. To epeals
of the evils for which self indulgeime was a
preparation would only xnake her fether
sneer at her for a second Hannah Moore. It
was a language he did not underatend ; and
as to the physical unwholesomeness he simply
did not cheese to believe lt, She elmost
wished Alwyn would for once be sick enopgh
to frighten him; but that never happened,
nor would he accept nurse's etaternent of the
boy being out of order.
Poor little Alwyn, he was less and leS0 Of
ati unmixed joy to her as he was growing
out of the bounds of babyhood, and her no-
tions of discipline were thwarted by her
father's unbounded indulgence. To leer the
child was a -living soul, to be trained for a
responsible position here and for the eternal
world beyond; to her father he was a de-
lightful plaything, never to be vexed, whose
very tempers were amusing, especially when
they Leased the serious elder sister.
"Oh, father 1 do you ever think what 11
will come to?" belittle could not help say-
ing one day when Mr. Egremont had pre-
vented her frem carrying him off in disgrace
to the nursery for tying the rolls up in din-
ner napkins to enact Punch and Judy, in
spite of his own endeavor e to prevent the
consequent desolation of the preparatione.
Mr Egrenaont shrugged his shoulders,
and only observed, "An excuse for a little
home tyranny, eh No, no, Wyn ; we don't
want tame little muftis here."
Nuttie was obliged to run out of the nom
and—it must be confessed—danee and stamp
out her agony of indignation and misery
that her father should be bent on ruinirg
his child, for she could not understand that
all this was simply the instinctive self-indul-
gence of a drugged brain and dulled con-
science.
She did, however, get a little support and
help during a brief stay in the shooting
season at Bridgefield. The Caiaoness was
visiting the Condamines at the Rectory, and
very soon understood all the state of things,
more perhaps from her former nurse than
from Ursula. She was witness to one of
those trying scenes, when Nuttie had been
forbidding the misuse of a beautiful elabor-
ate book of nuraery rhymes, where Alwyn
thought proper to "kill" with repeated stabs
the old woman of the shoe, when prepee ing
te beat her progeny.
• (TO BE CONTINUED)
. The Condition of Cub%
A letter from Cuba allows that that fine
Island is in a most deplorable conditiou. if
the account 'which the correspondent gives
is anything like true, Cuba could hardly
be worse governed than it is. The Post offiee
is not to be depended upon, letters are open-
ed, delayed and in some cases destroyed,
magazines and illustrated papers appropria t
ted, and novels are read by the officials and 0
sent to their destination dirty and dogseamed. p
So unreliable is the Cuban post; offiee that
- those who hove important letters to aend a
e knowledge of whose contents they wish to
withhold from the authorities, must find
some safer means of conveying them than
the postal department supplies. The Custom
House has been seized by the military
authorities and is now in their possession,
but the revenue does not how that the ad-
ministration of the soldiers is a whit more
honeat than was that of the civilian% Worse "
- than this, life and property are not safe on •h
• the Island. "Never before in the world's
history,"writes the correspondent, " has
lawlessness been more comp'ete and murder
/ more common . With perfect imptie
YOUNG FOLI<S.
L. Fox and Mr. Bear,
"Good morniiw, brother 1" shouted A
Fox, one soft epring morning, as he elirn
over the pieleet-fencen into the patch
ground next to the shebby cabin whe
lean and hungry after his long winter's fe
sat Mr. Bear, bathing in et strip of atittehl
"How do you find yourself to-dayV'
'
"Only poorly, thank you, Brother F
I have not begun to pick up espy flesh ye
replied the Bear.
"012, bat you will soon, •you know,
weather like this. It makes one think
plautinglime, does it not ?" added M
Fox, with a sigh. " By the -way, are y
anything of a farmer, Brother Bear ?"
"1 can hardly claim to be a farmer exa
ly," replied the Bear ; "but I have studi
other people's crops considerable and
have no doubt that I could farm if'I tried
"You don't say so 1" returned the Fo
"1 have been at it all my life, but it
dreary working alone • and besides,
field ought to be ploughed under this ye
That is a pretty nice piece of ground
yours over there to the south, Brother Bea •
How would it do for you and me to go
partnership this year—my experience as
offset to your land, you see—and th
halve the profits?"
"With all my heart," replied Mr. Bea
"providing that we plant corn. I dote
roasting ears, and should like to have enou
for mace in my life."
"Agreed I" said the Fox. " Ve'hat do y
think of my share being the half that gro
out of the ground, andbyours the half th
grows in the ground 1"
" Admirable 1" replied Mr. Bear. "Ea
of us to have half of the crop. What cou
be more just 1"
And three months later a field of magni
cent corn was fast ripening under the h
July sun—big fat ears with long even ro
of plump, solid grains.
each one s keeping what he catches; is
there ? And I,think that if I offer to show
you how to fish, and point oub the best
Pieces, thet et is my lees if any one'e.
• However emit yourself, Mr. Bear 1" haugh-
Ir. y eonaluded Mr, Fox, as he etrode out of
bed the field te give his orders about the crop.
of Mr. Bear's bones rattled more loudly than,
re, ever under his dry, rough coat that winter,
et, and as he grew leaner and leaner, hie tail
ne. became better and better adapted to the
purpose euggested by Mr, Fox,
eee. One bitter December day, driven for the
hundredth time to despeir—from which he
„ had walked book ninetynine :times—he
ire started for the river to try what efficacy as
flshing-teckle his tail might possess. But
T. bis evil fortune still purseed him; for al -
00 though peculiar sensations en the tail seemed
to indicate the presence of fish, not a single
ee- one could he succeed in landing.
ed
e Who can this be tripping along so dainti.
ly, clad in the softest and richeet of fur,
w. with the finest of fishing -baskets suspended
es by a crimson silk cord from his neck 1
my Not I%Ir. Bear's ancient friend andpertner
am surely 1
a Indeed yes, he it is, and none other !
✓ Straight onwards the Fox came until he
in reached the middle of the frozen stream,
an nearly opposite to the little cove that Mr.
en Bear had chosen, when he stopped, made a
good-sized hole in the ioe with. a sharp point.
ed ins -eminent that he had brought with
vonh ahtimeshoinndg.then seated himself to try his luck
f" Mr. Bear watched him greedily as he
ou jumped up briskly several times, whisked a
we shining fish from his tail, and slipped hint()
at his basket.
"012, is that you, Brother Bear ?" he cali-
co ed over presently, as though he had but
le that moment perceived his friend. "How
goes it? .Any luck ?"
fi- "None at all," growled the Bear in reply.
ot "Plenty of bites, but not a fish as yet."
ws "Possibly the hole in the ice is not broad
enough. Come take my instrument and
1m bore a better one," rejoined Mr. Fox, most
politely.
to
he Such must indeed have been the case, for
after availing himself of his friend's kind
Y offer, Mr. Bear's success was so good that in
u ashalf hour he a had dozen good-sized fieh.
" Cannot you catch any more fish ?" he
e asked, pretty soon, of his friend, who hed
o, sat motionless for several moment.
"What are you doing with my corn
sharply screamed Mr. Fox one morning
his partner, as he was gathering some of t
choicest ears for an anticipated noonda
feast.
" Your corn 1" cried Mr. Bear. "Yo
are inclined to be , facetioua this morning
think. It is as much mine as yours. W
agreed to halve the crop, if you remember
"My memory is quite good, I assure you,
replied the Fox ; " it is your own th
needs refreshing. Certainly we agreed t
divide the crop, but you were to have t
half that grew in the ground, and I the
half that grew out of the ground. So I'll
thank you for that corn of mine in your
basket, if you please. I have invited a few
friends today to dine with me, and have
promeed them a sucking pig and roasting
cars, and every ear counts at the beginning
of the season, you know."
Stupid Mr. Bear recalled, alas ! too late
he teems ot their contract, and subsisted
ne more winter upon the fitful charity of
rovident neighbors while Mr. Fox and his
uests joked as well as dined at his ex -
0080.
"Hello, Brother Bear 1 Still in the same
lace, I see," celled out MreeFox at about
he same time the following ,year. "Want
o do any more farming, ehr
"No, thanks," replied the Bear ; "my
ones still rattle trom my starvation last
ear. I've had enough of farming, I
elievee
"Tut, tut, comrade ! don't be so down-
earted," returned the fox, in a- sprightly
one; " It was rather rough on you, I con-
fess, but the first year's farming never pays
any one. But 1'11 give you a bit of informa
tion gratis. No plant can flower in the
round, and fruit is always formed where
the flewer has been. Come along now,
rother. What say you to potatoes this
ear ?"
" "01 oourse I can if I want to. f am wait -
at ing so as to get two at once, though: what
o is the use of jumping up for one fish? Bu
he I dare say that is as many as you could catc
at once time with your sausage. Wheobles
me! here are triplets 1" exclaimed he bounc-
ing up with a jerk that sent the three fish
danciug far avvay on the ice.
Unfortunate Mr. 13 sar was torn with the
pangs of envy. To think of neighbor Fox
getting the best once more! Perhaps he
might do as much, in spite of Mr. Fox's
slurring remarks &bout his fishing, he
The Troubles of .13anIg Managen-
Bmk managers seem to be a, s >rely tried
and mueh tempted generatioe, if Due may
judge by the frequency with which they
break down and make shipwrecle of a good
name and is good couselenee. In the last
Old Country papers there is the following
item Which Tninue givez just as it appeared.
It tells the old, old stoey ia very short,
simple, tujgesttve way
PENAE SERVITUDE FOR BANK
-r-At the Salford Sessions on MendaY,
Robert Topham, 35, manager of the Rime -
bottom branch of the Bury ;Banking Corn.
pauy, was charged with the larceny of £4810
belonging to the bank, and also with falsifi-
cation of the accounts to hide the larceny.
The prisoner, who pleadtsd guilty, had been
in the employment of the bank from hie boy-
hood, and the defalcation, which lied ex-
tended over is series of years, were only dis-
covered when the businese of the bank was
taken over by the Lencashire and York-
shire 13 snk. The prisoner had written a
letter to the late manager of the bank,
stating that he began about 1881 to
take different amounts every now and
again, He had also eranefetred several
deposits to his own account. He added,
"I was persuaded to commence and back
horaea, Ss; and every time I thought I
should land the amount lost; but, baying
gone from bad to worse, I had not the heart
to tell you or anybody else, and really I am
nearly off my mind." The Chairman of the
Court said that once a Irian gave way to
gambling, whether upon the Stock Exchange
or home racing, or anything else, there was
no hope for him. He sentenced the prisoner
to five years' penal servitude.
Just how it stands in hundreds of cases in
Canada and elsewhere. The chairman was
quite right when he said that once a man
gives way to gambling, whether on stocks,
horse races, boat races, "shorts and longs' "
or anything else, there was no hope for
him. He might just as well go cut his
throat at once, unless he had vouchsafed the
very unlikely grace of breaking from him
vice and its attendants.
Fruit Without Seeds,
It is well known that high cultivation,
tends toproduce fruit containing fewer seeds,
until at last all the powers of the tree or
plant are directed to the perfecting of the
pulp. In some cases no seed appears. The
finest varieties of plantains and bananas,
.
t pineapples and bread -fruit have no seeds.
h Of course, all such trees and plants have
to be propagated from shoots or cuttings.
s It has been a common belief that the lite
of such plants could not be prolonged inde-,
finitely. In the case of the apple and the
orange this is true. The trees have to be
raised from seeds, and the medless varieties
are grafted upon these.
Such varieties of fruit could not arise in a
state of nature. They are the resale of EC.
lection by the early races of mankind. It
must have been the case that th s fruit was
abaudant, EG that people were content only '
. with the best. It must also bave been a fa-
vorite, if not a necessary article of food, or
men would not have improved it by careful
selection.
Humboldt thought that some species of
the plantain were native to America, but the
early discoverers made no mention of finding
it here. If we could prove it to be native,
it would raise our estimate of the civilization
of the people.
As the case stands, the probability is that
1 these seedless fruits were first produced. in
the East Indies, and from that point have
!
been carried around the world. The name
of the banana indicates thab it was given ha
the East, and that the fruit was a leading
one in the ancient maikets
ould have been delighted to see her mar -
o meeeing vehich might be painful and un- Tre
settling to both; but one afternoon, when
Nuttie was "off duty" with her father,
and had game in to share Annaple's five
o'clock tea, Gerard Godfrey, looking the
curate from head to foot, made his appear-
ance, having come up from the far east,
about memo tall on Mr. Dutton's purse,
The too shook hands with pleaved surprise,
and a little heightening of color, but that was
all. Nuttie had been out to luncheon, and wee
dressed like a more fathionable young lady'
in his eyes; and when, after the classes and
clubs and schools of his district had been
discussed, he aeked, "And I suppmee you
are taking part in everything here ?"
"No, that I can't 1"
"Indeed ! I know Porlocle, the second
curate here, very well, and he tells me that
his vicar has is wonderful facility of finding
• appropriate work for every one, Of course
you know him ?"
"No, I don't," said Wattle.
"Mise Egrerhoht has her appropriate
vellele," said Mr. Dutton, sued the deacon
felt himself pushed into his old position
d, and to be thus free from anyeecounter
influence ever his master; but as she said to
herself, Catch me 1 Even if oared a rush
for the man, I could not do it. I don't do
my poor father much good, but as to leaving
poor little Alwyn in his clutchea---I Meet
be perfectly demented with love oven to
think off(."
Thee° was a desire on the valet a part to
coax and court little Alwyn of which she
felt somewhat jealous. The boy was natur-
ally the pet of every one in the household,
but he was rota less out of Gregorio's reach
in the present confined quarters, and she
could not bear to see hire. lifted up in the
valet's arms, allowed to play with hie watch,
held to look at distant ails on board the
yacht, or even fed with sweet biscuite or
chocolate cream%
The Rectory nursery had gone on a strict
regimen and nurse was as angry as Natio
herself ; but there was no preventing it, for
his father was not above cupboard love, and
xiever resisted the entreaties that Were always
excited by the sight of dainties, only laugh-
ing when Nuttie remonstrated, or even say -
at Micklethwayte. He kneW the clergy in, " Meyer nun& sister Wynine, she's got
II niby murderers ply their daggers in the
streets of Havana in the broad day." A Cub-
an newspaper is quoteerea saying : " As-
s , mu. ers are daily occurrences h
i. throughout the Ielancl." Another journal Y
r, conffrms this in the following terms: "The d
i worst of it is that the footpads do not alone
I beat and rob, but on the :slightest provoca-tion employ the dagger or pistol, and thus
d
r have already caueed the death of many em- ei
t
lent and peaceful citizen." Within the last te
month no lower than seven citizens whi'e
'engaged in their daily avocations were kid- rt
napped by the brigamds. One of them a
wealthy planter, Senor Galindezy Aldama,
was not liberated until he paid a ransom of
$17,000 in gold. The press is muzzled, and
Cuba, in the words of the correspondent, "is
fast sinking into a condition of utter lawless-
ness and despair."
tt
Potatoes ?" repeated the Bear. "
on't know potatoes. What are they ?"
"Don't know potatoes ! What a gumpy-
oodle you are, to be sure 1 Why, pate-
oes are vegetables, and mighty deli-
ous too, I can tell you. How lucky
hat I happened to put one in my trousers
ocket this morning 1 Here it is I Examine
for yourself. No cob about potatoes that
must be thrown away; but you can eat the
whole thing except a sort of jacket just
thick enough to keep off the outside earth—
ahem 1—dirt. And you can bake them, or
boil them, or stew them, or fry them—in
fact, prepare them in a different manner
every day in the week. Come along now,
Friend Bear. Is it a bargain? Shall we
say potatoes for this year? '
"Not so fast, please,' drawled out the
Bear. "1 do not propose to be cheated a
second time. Where is the potato flower ?"
"Outside of the ground, as I am a gentle-
man," replied the Fox, 4' Make yourself
easy on that point."
"May I have the half that grows out of
the ground, brother ?" asked the Beate
"Moab certainly, especially as I had it
last year."
"All right," said the Bear. "The mat-
ter is settled, then."
"It looks as it both of us would go hungry
this year," said Mr. Bear to his partner, as
they met in their field one day that summer.
The flowers came where you said they
would, but no potatoes seem to form on the
stem, and I see that you have dug up whole
rows—in disgust. I presume."
"In disgust 1" repeated the fox, scornful-
ly, " Not exactly. Why, I have had pota-
toes on my table for three weeks, and have
just given orders to have the rest of my
crop dug and stored in the cellars. There
will be about sixty barrels, I calculate.
You have still something to learn about
farming, Friend Bear, I see. A potato is a
root, not a fruit."
"Oh, Brother Fox, do take pity upon me!"
groaned Mr. Bear, in anguish, as the hide-
ous truth slowly dawned upon him. "1
shall certainly perish this winter, for I can-
not steal."
"I am willing to do the generous thing
yon neighbor, as you will soon perceive,"
urn:el the Fox. " You may have all the
ay potatoes that the men leave in the
d : there are alwaya plenty that it is not
rth while to gather. And when the riv-
freezes over well, take you out fishing
th me."
No more partnerships for me," hastily
oined the Bear. "1 haye had quite
ough."
'It is quite possible friend, for a bad far-
e to be a good fisherman," sneered the
x.
I melte no more experimenta with those
o have experience, thenk you, Friend
xr,
'Experienoe, :ndeed 1' mimicked the
x. "Why, tell yon that I never caught
sh in my life, and e canhot say that I
re ever told you an untruth, can you ?"
Nom two, I believe not; but you will
the best of me. in the end somehow.
ero will be 'something I have not thought
and I'll get nothing and you everything,
you alWays do," said the bear surlily.
I do not consider that much understand -
or experience is required t� expiate: down
the ico with your tail poked through is
6, 6,10. when you feel a bite to pop up
th yettr fish. Mot much partnership in
As a Dictator.
In the preface to the memoirs, Garibaldi
advocates on the very first page—writing in
1872—the necessity of "an honest and tem-
porary dictatorship" for nations like France,
iSpain, and Italy, as distinguished from the state of things in England. Repeatedly he
recurs to that idea. It was a fixed one with
him, as I had occasion to find in 1864. Rav-
ing one day, in company with my wife, tak-
ing him from the charmed circle in which
he was then somewhat confined in the house
of the Duke of Sutherland, and conducted
him from my house first to Ledru Rollin
and then to Louis Blanc, questions relating
to future action were then and there die.
cussed. "Are you still a Republican V'
Mme. Ledru-Rollin asked him pointblank,
with that directness of speech which is the
privilege of ladies. "Certainly 1" he ' an-
swered. Then he added : '11 the time should
come for renewing the movement for is Com-
monwealth in Italy 1 believe is dictator will
have to be appointed by way of transition
in order to insure success." Nobody among
us doubted whom he had in view. Owing to
his bringing up as an ordinary seamen and his
freebooter's life abroad Garibaldi, in 1849,
was, in culture of mind, even less to be com-
pared to Maszini than in later years. Of
his natural ineelleetual aptitude I confess I
hold a higher opinion than some of his de-
mocratic compatriots would acknowledge.
I am also convinced that his so-called sim-
plicity was far lees than appearancee might
seem to warrant. This was my distinct im-
pression from personal observation, espe-
cially when, the appointed spokesman of the
Germans in London, 1 was invited by him
to see hibri in the Ile of Wight, Mom hie
entry into London, on which occasion many
political questions were confidentially
dis-
cussmelowever, Mazzini would openly
saMiyong frieteds, with a somewhat startl-
ing candor: "1 am the head, he is the arm
of our cause I" Such claime and counter-
claims could not but create is deal of frietion.
'Mr.
me ?"
ct y
writi
crc
ploye
T
posit°
cc m
over it
"Th
.r.Disposing of Manuscript
by
ret
ate
fiel
We
et
wi
rej
en
me
Fe
• wh
ringer, will you read this for Fe
man, I 64111 t, It is the worst Fo
Ver 'saw, What is it about ?" afi
se recommendation from eny emha
-
it over to the printing office. Cornget
an reed anything." Th
Darringer, they wrestled an hour of,
• as
take ib to Gillingham the drug-
giet. lirell mix you up a bottle of cough • leg
medicine, or something of the kind. Haeg oct
me it / wouldn't get some good out of the hol
pesky scrawl." wi
thoueht.
" Would you advise ine to wale for more
than three bites in order to catch two fish at
a time ?4 he asked some what timidly, of the
Fox, after a long pause.
" Of course, stupid. But tell you
exactly how long to sit, as I see that you have
no watch;' replied the Fox, taking his out.
"Isin't it almost time to pull up yet,
Brother Fox? I've felt at least six bites,"
inquired the Bear, in a few moments.
"By no means; all the more reason to con-
tinue," said the Fox. "1 shouldn't be sur•
prised if you beat me, and caught as many
as four or five at a time, if you arepatient."
I feel as though my tail were being chewed
off by bites, Brother Fox."
"That is as you shonld feel under the
circumstance, Friend Bear. Only five min-
utes more, and then what a haul! Ready 1"
cried the Fox at last, as he again looked at
his watch, which, by -the way, was is magni-
ficent gold stem-winder, purchased with the
Proceeds of his extra potatoes:
" But I don't feel anything now, brother,"
mid the Bear.
"Never mind. Pull up anyhow. Now!
Up, up, up, I say."
Mr. Bear tried hard to obey, but in vain.
He had hearkened too long to evil counsel,
and was frozen stiff and fast where he set.
And as Mr. Fox disappeared homeward
with all the fish, it was poor consolation to
the fast periehing animal to reflect that he
had been duped but once about fishing.
Once was more than sufficient !
The "Reconstitution" of Chime.
Morand and Vacher, Frenchmen, were
charged with the murder of Vetard, a watch-
maker at Joigny, France. Josephine Mar.
tin, a girl, persisted that the accused were
the men, and that she herself wrote to Vet-
ard to appoint a fictitious meeting with
o foriner sweetheart in order to lure him to
his doom. A 4 year-old daughter of Jose-
phine swore the Flaw the corpEe in the room
of her mother, but the accused denied their
guilt. The French authorities adopted what
is known as the " reconstitution of the
crime." Morand and Vacher were taken to
the house. The shutters were closed, can-
dles were lighted, and a figure representing
the mnrdered man was placed on the bed.
Josephine Martin was then introduced with
her child, and she proceeded to give her ac-
count of the crime, even imitating the ges-
tures of the two prisoners. The prisoners
denounced Joeephine as a liar, and underwent
the terrible ordeal with unmoved features.
• Ranching on the Wane.
Cettle ranchieg in the Western American
States is apparently a losing business. The
Pall Mall Gazette gives a table showing
that the Scotch -American cattle companies
suffered severed losses in 1887. Of nine
companies whose paid up capital exceed-
ed ..E3 500,1)00, only two came out of the
year with credit balances, while the debit
balances against seven companies amounted
to 5325,000. In the previous year adverse
balances were only' 5294,000 la the CaSO of
six companies, the other three having 5171-
000 to the good. Not only is there no divi-
deed for the ordinary shareholders
'but
with two exceptions there are heavy debit
balances.
Disfranchising Certain Classes.
The Election Bill now before the Legis-
lature propose e the disfranchising of
Dominion ancl Provinchel civil servants am
follows in elections for the Legislature :—All
officers and employers in the Custom housee,
postmasters hi tovens and cities, Crown,
timber and land officers!, excise officers,
magistrates, sheriffs, deputy-sheintle, lane,
titles clerks and police magistrate's officers;
also regular soldiers, and deicers and men in
military schools in penitentiaries, prisons
and gaols, Couney Court clerks and bailiffs
in cities and towns.
A Foolish Extravagance,
• cis'oung roan," ho said, solemnly, "what
would you thirik if I should put an enemy
into m •mouth to teal m hr in 4"
8 away e
"I would (hie) think eh. " hiecoughed
the young man) "that you were going to an Thoe are ne
unnecessary expense,'' United Kam
The Old -Fashioned Way Good Enough for
Her.
" John." the said, as she toyed With one
ef his buttons, "this is leap year, isn't it 9"
"Yes, Jessie," he answered, as he looked
ndly down on the golden head that was
lowed on his manly bosom.
This is the year when the proposinges
done by the young ladies ?"
it
" hope you don't expect me to propose
to you ?"
" Why, Jessie, dear, I never gave the
matter a thought —I—er—to tell the truth,
I've only known you—that is to say—"
"I'm glad you didn't expect me to pro
pose. No, John, dearest I couldn't be s
immodest. I am going to let you do th
proposing yourself in the old-fashioned way
The old-fashioned way is good enough fo
me."
And the gentle maiden gave her lover
beaming smile and the youth rejoiced tha
he had found such a treasure of modesty.
fo
174
Saving Trouble.
Efueband (in the early morning)—" What
are you going through my pockets for, my
deavveril'04_,, A
little change, John."
Husband—" Have you no money of your
own .
Wife---" Yes; but it is so much easier to
find a man's pocket, John, than a woman's."
A Competent Nurse,
Mistress (to applicant)—Yes; I have ad.
vertisod for a nurse. Are you competent to
take care of young children?
Applicant—Oh, yis, mum.
Mistress—You never give_them paregoric
to quiet them?
Applicant—Niver, mum. I milers prefere
laudanum.
What Re Wanted to See.
A naughty little boy was blubbering he -
cause his mother wouldn't let him go down
to the river on the Sabbath, and upon being
admonished said,:
"1 didn't want to go a-svvimmin' with
'em ma • I only want to go down and—and
see the bad little boys get drowned for
a•swimmin' on Sunday.),
On the Safe Side.
Shoe dealer (to boy)—Where are you go.
ing, Jamee ?
James—Up to Mrs. Smith's, sir : she or -
dared a pair ot No. 2 shoes eent.
• Shoe dealer—All right, james. You had
better take along a pair of No. 3's also.
Spoiled Ms Own Breakfast.
Itusloand (at the breakfast table)—Why,
where is the maokeeel I brought home bait
night?
Wife—Do you refer to the mackerel you
brought home this morning?
erHhttpuabs.ancl—Er-yes, it was this morning,
p
Wite—You put it to oak, John, ie aan
of soft soap, and tho cook kad to throw it
away,
rly 300,000 Chinamen in the