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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1911-1-19, Page 6afofl:ytt'n.0s034,0t9 P,Q'::ha".1i0.'f,Q:YtP BY HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER 4 "Woman] Woman! D'you 'ear me? At the sound oa the thin queru- lour voice, the slatternly dame ferning.out of the front window of the little cottage, heaved a mighty sigh. "There 'e goes agti.n I" she mer- inured, turning a weary . bee to- wards her neighbor, "Just when I thinks I'll 'ave Ave minite peace!" She withdrew her head, and shu- fled across the room, climbed the creaking stairs, and entered. the tiny bedroom. Ex -Drill -sergeant Charles Gray was sitting up in bed, his thin face flushed, and a bright light in his eyes. "I called you—twice," he breath- ed, his voice quavering a little.' "Why didn't you come at once?" • "I only 'eard you once," Mrs. Hopkins unblushingly remarked, "and 1 came as quick as I could. I airg't so young. as I used to be." The old fellow lay back onhis pil- low, his silvered head nodding. "All right," he said; "caution- ed! Don't let it 'appen again." For a moment he laystill then turned to her again. "Do you know what the doctor says i" he demanded. Mrs. Hopkins did know what the doctor said, but she pretended a profound ignorance, her straggling hair fairly rocking to the emphasis of it. "Well," said Charles Gray, calm- ly.. "'E said I was booked! He said that my time was in. I've to die afore very long." "'On, dearie-dearie l" "For goodness' sake don't start blubbering!" he cried irritably. He stretched his yellow, wrink- led hands out at right angles. "Ain't it time T finished i" ho went on. "Eighty-two last birth- day 1 BIess your heart, woman, I'm the only one left of my old corps, the Fighting 200th as was!" He gave a faint chuckle of con- tempt. "They calls 'em by some fancy name now, and I don't sup- pose I'd recognize 'em ; but I don't think they come up to the old lads the the boys o' the old brigade." "Don't you worry yourself about them," said his landlady soothing- ly.. "You jest lie still, and 'ave a nice sleep." -'---'"`'Sleep 1" The old chap fairly barked out the word, sitting up straight as he spoke. "Sleep!, and me got my marching orders!" He leaned over the bed in his eagerness. "I'e got to be 'dismissed,' ' he said slowly. "I—I can't leave my post until—until I'm relieved," Mrs. Hopkins stepped back a pace, and, being completely at a loss, took to wringing her hard hands together. "If if you'd only lie down 1" she reiterated. "Lie down be—be bloomed 1" snapped Gray. "You go and find Sonny," he ordered. "Tell him I want him. Tell' him to come at the 'double.'' Then, as she still hesitated, her . heart aching for the old man, he clenched his fist, and shook it at her. "Go 1" he cried. Mrs, Hopkins turned and fled, breaking into a tearful wail as the door shut behind her. "What's he talking about?" ask- ed her friend. '"E wants your little Sonny; 'e was always fond of him, you know, tellin' 'im stories, and all that, and 'e wants him now." ,;`.And he can have him," said the mother, turning her back for a mo- ment. "Sonny! Sonny]" she called. A bright-eyed child Dame running down the narrow passage, in ans- wer to her summons. The position of affairs was explained to him, and Dan Scott, aged eight, went off at once,in answer to his old friend's sumons. The veteran's eyes brightened when they alighted on the chubby fade. "That's .your style, Sonny 1" he said. "Obey orders at came 'Ow is the battle goin' Sonny's face was very grave as d. ,tee looked up. "I've got all my guns on the hill," he said; "but the enemy are —.are mighty tough, sir 1 The beg- gamr! won't be moved till we shell Absolute joy beamed from the sunken eyes. It had been an end- less battle, this one, fought out on the carpet of Sonny's shabby bed- room; but the daily report of its progress had never failed to inter- est, both General Gray and Briga- dier Sonny. Right you are, then! Shell 'ern, brigadier—shell 'em Thiek • an' 'eavy, Then get a move on wi' the bayonets, It's them wot counts!" A racking fib of coughing, ter- rible, hollow, ominous, checked him for a moment. Sonny stood quite still, his round, brave eyes fixed on the agonized face in front of him, When it was over, Gray lay back on the pillow, the sweat standing in ' bonds on his forehead. "You'll—you'll l;rvc to finish this eesi.npaigr yourself, Sonny, I've got to start on another one. Tint it won't he the worst, Sonny, and I'll be in good company," A deep, tired slgh sounded. "Ml the --the old towneys—they won't have forgotten 'Lueknow Charlie,' I know." Then his wandering mind swayed With into an old train of thought, and he sat up again, "But I can't go until I receive my 'quit.' " he said, "Sonny, you'll have to get me 'dismissed'!" "Will I, general?" There was no doubt in the young voice, only .b- quiry, "Yes," said the veteran. "Y iu see, I'm still on duty 'ere, so . to speak. A pensioner's asoldier, you know," "Of course he is1"breathed Son- ny; "And soldier ain't allowed to quit his duty without leave from 'is superior," continued the voice from the bed. "Sonny, you'll have to go to my superior." "Where shall T find your -your" Sonny took the big word at a jump —"eerier V' A trembling hand went out be- neath the dirty pillow, and a clip of paper was held out. "There's 'is address, Sonny," the old soldier murmured. "I've kept it aside me for years. Just tell 'im that Sergeant Gray, late o' the 200th Foot, is under orders, and— and would like to be dismissed. 'E'li understand." Sonny took the •sorap of paper, gripped it tightly in one grimy palm, and, with military prompi- tude, stalked out of the room. • "His lordship is in," the butler said, glancing doubtfully at the ragged child, and the man in blue who had guided him on the last stage of his weary search; "but he is at dinner. I don't—" A sudden inspiration came to Sonny. This black -coated man was an outpost, and outposts nad to be rushed 1 "Never 'ang about when you're on the attack, Sonny," were the words of his beloved mentor. Right well did the child obey them now. The shocked servant made a grab at the child, but he was yards out, and the next moment Sonny was tearing up the wide staircase as fast as his young legs could car- ry him. At the head of the stairs he heard the murmur of voitos sounding from behind a shut door. Snatching his ragged cap from his head, he entered. The blaze of lights above the long table, rind the 'gorgeous uniforms bnd satin gowns of the guests rought him to a standstill. The noise of his entry, slight as it was, attracted the attention of the little grey -moustached gentle- man, seated at the head of the ta- ble. Sonny felt a pair of keen eyes fixed on his face, and looked u;•.. The clatter of knives and forks ceased, and the buzz of converse- tion died away. Every head was turned towards the child. "Who are you?" The footman, flushed, and ex- ceedingly angry, made a grab, and succeeded in gripping the child by the arm. "Oh, sir, please—please," Son- ny cried, as the man began to has tle him towards the door, "I- I ve got a message for you." "Poor little mite!" a woman's soft voice murmured. "He's only a baby!" At a word from his 'master, the servant released his hold, and step- ped back. "Give me your message," said little gentleman. Sonny's hand went up to the sal- ute. "It's—it's from Sergeant Charles Gray, late o' the 200th Foot, sir!" his shrill treble carried clear across the room. "He—he's unser orders, sir, and wants you to dismiss him!" Some non -understanding person at the table began to laugh, but the grey-haired gentleman sprang to his feet, turning a breast blaz- ing with decorations to the child. "I knew a Charles Gray," the strong voice rang out, "a Corporal Charles Gray." He turned to his guests. "The first man into Luck - now was Corporal Gray." Sonny's face wrinkled into a per- fect mask of delight. "I remember, sir—I remember!" he cried. "He has told me often about that." Again the gentleman turned to him. "And he wants me to—to dismiss. him, does he!" he muttered. "Yes, sir. He is in bed, and he told me that he was starting on another campaign; but he couldn't leave his duty here until he was dismissed by e—by a s'erior I" The field-marshal] thrust back his chair, and took a pace forward. On his right and left sat men in uni- form, and they nodded to him, their eyes bent over their plates. Prom the far end of the table a sweet-faced woman, the tears run- ning deep. in her kind eyes,made a gesture, then„ Sonny founhimself walking down the broad staireese again, with, the little, stern -looking gentleman by his side, At ,eine o'clock thee evening, Mrs. ,Hopkins, dozing fitfully front of her kitchen fire, was arous- ed by the thump, thump of a, stink overhead. She hurried upp, to find the old man sitting up in )red, star- ing at her ,across the gloomy' room. "Light up!” he cried, ",firs corning!" The woman halted in the door- way, half inclined to turn and run. ''Wh—who's coming, deerua4' she £altered, "My superior ()Meer!" cried. Gray, drumming on the counter- pane with one thin hand. "flurry up, woman 1 Light the gas and ev- ery candle you've got in the place. We want light. "St's a waste," thought Hopkins, tearfully; "but I'll 'are to do it. I never could deny 'im anything." But as she placed the last candle stick on . the mantelpiece these sounded in the quiet strc;t below the churning hum of a netor.oar, and presently a loud knock shook the cottage door. '"Urry up—'urry up!" cried Gray, his face lighting up withjoy and gratitude. "Turn out the guard I" Mrs. Hopkins, moving in a trance, opened the door, and step- ped back, making way, for the fig- ure which had followed the child up the stairs. As the bed -room door opened, and the brilliant lights centered on the flashing uniform framed in the doorway, Sergeant Gray sat bolt upright, and his thin hand swept up to the salute, his burning eyes fixed on the face of his old leader. "Halt! Who comes there!" he called. The, upright figure in the doorway took a pace forward into the room. He knew the reply that the old vet- eran expected. "Relief 1" he said. The stiff hand dropped from the forehead. The tired old body sank back lifeless into the pillows.—Lon- don Answers. w*o+o+o+G+o+o4o+v+0+o: 1 THE RED BULL'S PATROL oy It was without doubt lonely for Mina -Hendrik in It tett, as . e strode away from the homestead.' He had not yet arrived at the Phlegmatic condition of mind of older Boers, who invariably said, "The women must bide at home whilst their masters are abroad." But then Mina was but six months married, and there were no sturdy little sons to make her secure with their clamor, and no cradled infant to claim her sole attention. It was lonely for her, but she must learn, and besides much pro- fit might accure from the interview with old Johann Grootje, cunning though he was, for was he not buy- ing up trek bullocks for the coming conflict, and Hendrik had been breeding them to that end for a long time past. It was awkward, too, that the dog had been bitten by a "ringhals" only two days before, and the three "boys" were searching for strayed cattle. It certainly left Mina isol- ated; but a veldt Boer woman knew how to use a gun, and they were handy. Still—he reined back his horse and called "Mina, Mi- na!" and thought how young she looked as aha stood on . the little stoop. "If you are afraid when the sun has set"—she laughed a little trem- ulously—"give Englischmann some mealies through the panel and then unfasten his doorway. Be quick into the house in case he chases you. He will guard the place very well until I come back. I can shut him up after -he knows me—and the sjambok," and with a wave of his arm he cantered off, turning his head once to note with pride the position of the farm. It was curiously situated, right under the beetling krantze, and he had followed the British fashion of fencing it in, so that it lay as it were in a stockade. The sheer wall of rock at the back mads an im- pregnable stronghold should any native trouble break out—and it was impossible to tell, these black beasts were not to be trusted. So he ruminated as his horse bore him away, and Mina returned to her duties when he seemed a mere speck on the horizon, topped it, and was gone. The morning appeared strangely quiet without the deep voices of the "boys" and the occasional bark of the dog; only Englischmann, the great red bull, roared now and again from his pen. Be was resen ting'enforced ban- ishment from his favorite cows, who were busy most of them with mat- ernal cares, and housed in the big caves which tutinelled under the mighty cliff, He was very angry that they should neglect his amor- ous roars; their soft lows were on- ly emitted for their puny offspring whom ho would have willingly crushed. Towards noon Mina came at in- tervals on to the stoop, shading her hands to try and catch a glimpse of the missing Kaffirs with the stray- ed beasts, but there was no sign of them:, Doubtless, having found the cattle,they were sauntering., When was a Kaffir anything but lazy? It was very hot at midday, and she came again for a survey, when, to her aurprioe, a big Kaffir stood below the rtoep. lie had an evil face, and ilia saw at 4 glance he was riot "raw,' bot probably one who had worked at the minds, and, therefore, less to be trusted. Be uttered a request,` for meal- ies, in the Taal, and for the mot s iv him a e w auricled m n he as m nd d give t to g sharp dismissal, but remembering her loneliness she bade him wait, and after giving him some handfuls warned him to be off. "Any 'dop,' missus?" be asked with an half insolent look, "No," she said curtly. "We have not such things," Then, watching him slouching aoross the yard, she followed and fastened the big gate, . which she had neglected to do after Hendrik rode away. The afternoon wore on in sultry stillness, broken by the "woof" of the baboons from the top of the krantze, They were danger- ous brutes at close quarters; but she did not fear them, for Hendrik had given them mere than one sal utary lesson, and a baboon does not for She sagtet. upon the steep to drink her coffee when the sun was begin- ning to set. Still no sign of: the men or cattle, and she'began to be a little alarmed—not very much, of course—but Hendrik was so long, and she had notbeen quite alone since their marriage. The darkness came quickly •and the farm lay in deep shadow, The moon would come presently, but it rose behind the krantze, and the shade of the steep rock cast an additional gloom, so that it enshrouded far be- yond the stockade in blackness. Mina shuttered and barred the windows, and sat indoors, but with the door open. She was averse to light the lamp somehow. Suddenly she began to be afraid wit"i a genu- ine terror, although her feelings were quite unexplainable. Then in a flash came Hendrik's parting words, "Undo Englisch- man's fastening, he will guard the place well." How foolish not to have thought of him, and taking some fresh meal- ies, she stole across to the pen. She dropped them through the panel, and when she heard his loud crunching, crept round to the door- way, slipped the Latch, opened the door a trifle, and made her way to the house in haste. Presently came his ponderous step in the yard, and she knew that he was reconnoitring his new ground. The moon was already riding high behind the rocky fast- ness, and the black shadow cast. gradually receding. Already it had left the high fence facing the. steep. The great beast paced round the barrier; he was very quiet with the novelty of his freedom. Mina heard him blow some heavy breaths by the side window, then by the steps of the steep, which was high; after- wards he retreated into the dark- ness at the side of the house, and all was still again, save for an oc- casional- stamp of his hoofs when the flies stung him. Even now there was no light in the house, and Mina sat back in the room, keeping her eyes upon the distant veldt, flooded in white rad- iance. Her unreasoning fear was somewhat allayed by the presence of her burly guard, lurking in the shade; but how should she unfasten the gate for Hendrik? She was pondering this problem when her fears came back with a rush—a round, black head appear- ed above the stockade, seemed to poise for a moment, then one, two —four llaffirs scaled the fence and dropped softly into the yard. This, then, had caused her intuitive .ter- ror—only a woman, alone, on an isolated farm can know the agony of fright into which she, was plung- ed, and only a woman could gauge the horrible ,certainty of their sav- age intentions. iotina rose swiftly and silently and reached for the light gun -which stood in the cor- ner. It was loaded, as was Hen- drik's heavier one, which leaned by its side. She was resolved to sell her life and honor clearly; but it was bitter to be alone, and in the dark, and she was very young. She watched the approach of her, assailants warily, unwilling to fire a shot without effect. She knew they must have kept watch upon the house all - day, and by this means found she was alone, for they were almost careless in their coming. Their guttural voices were scarcely hushed, so sure wore they of their prey's unproteotedness. A little nearer and nearer they stole—looking a confused . black mass in the greater darkness, and Mina raised the piece for, a steady aim—one barrel, then the other— then, if the Almachter willed, Iiendrik's big gun -both barrels, afterwards for herself, maybe, the big slaughtering knife, when—with a shattering roar, Englischmann charged the enemy. It was as if a battering ram had suddenly descended from the skies; thegroat bull's onslaught was col - lessee With hollows, and grunts of fury he rushed at the demoralized marauders, who, with shrieks of fear, went down under the attack like dead men. Two scrambled to their feet and made, for the stockade, but the bull, who was now fdrious, ewught them ere they had fled halfway. Ho With a swiftness well-nigh incredible in so huge a. beast, lunged with one hare, and then the other, impaling i a quivering„rcresming wretch, and gt icvously wenuitR,r;, his compam len, In a recons, with e, dexterous toss, he oast aside the struggling impediment upon his weapon of de- fence, and trotted back -to the two he had left upon the ground at the foot of the steep, tail erect, scent lug blood and further battle, Mina ehudders to this day at the thought of the awful retribution meted out by Nemesis in the shape of Englisolrmann. There was very little left to call Kaffir when Hendrik rode home et a gallop that. midnight. The yard was a shambles in the cold moon- light, and the red bull stamped and kneaded into the earth shapeless forms that had once been human, roaring defiance meanwhile. He would teeth those thieves to deme and take away his beautiful loves'. Had he not seen it before, not once, but many times from his pen, and been unable to avenge the deadly wrong. Now was his chance to gore and kill, and stamp, and he did it. etendrik, frantic with alarm, skirted the palisade, and scaling it, made a rush for the. steep, only reaching it just in time, for Eng- lischmann was unable to distin- guish between friends and foes then. Mina, her bravery all gone after the terrible scene she had witness- ed, threw herself half -fainting up- on her husband, and with sobs and shudders told him the story of the bull's raging sortie and her own salvation. Then Hendrik, watching the great red victor in his feverish pac- ing to and fro, ever and anon bol - lowing a fresh challenge, swore a great oath to keep and cherish Englischmann, the brute defender of his homestead, and, more than all, his honor. This was all many years ago. The Cloetes have a fine farm and 'stal- wart sons growing up, and among their best possessions is a great red bull. ' He is growing old and less active, but he is the father of many fine trek -bullocks, who favor their sire in color, although' perhaps it is as well they have not his temper._ Vrouw Cloete will sometimes tell a stranger how he saved her from a shameful, .hideous 'death, and that his name is "Englischmann.” PHOTOGRAPHING THE STARS. Estimated There are One Thousand Million in Universe. It is estimated by F. A. Bellamy, of the Oxford University observa- tory, that there are about one thousands millions of stars in the universe. The task of photograph- ing and counting them isnow in progress at about twenty-five ob- servatories in different parts of the world. Greenwich has now photograph- ed and mapped out .the sections which under the scheme were allot- ted to it, being the first observe, - tory to complete its part of the work. Many of thei stars thus cat- alogued are invisible, .not only to the human eye, but also to the eye aided by a powerful telescope. None the less they appear distinct- ly in the photographs. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that in an astograph teles- cope a photographic plate may be exposed to the heavens for six hours or longer, whereas an ob- server cannot keep his eye closely on one spot for much more than half or three-quarters of an hour. Thus the camera, in conjunction with the telescope, sees more than the observer. The longer a' plate is exposed the larger number of stars does it reveal. So minute are thou- sands of these stars that powerful microscopes are used to detect them on the plates.. Only one -ninth of the stars shown by the new Greenwich plates have been recorded on paper before. Great though the achieve- ment of the Royal Observ- atory is it • represents but a fraction of, the work that is being done wherever a suitable ob- servatory is situated. In all 22,064 negatives will be necessary, When this universal enterprise is com- pleted astronomers will know the position and movements of 100,000,- 000 stars. A similar work, but necessarily of more limited compass, is being carried on by J. Franklin Adams, F.R,A.S., a member • of Lloyd's, who at Mervel Hill, Godalming, has one of the Largest private observa- tories in the world. With the aid of a photographic telescope weigh- ing three and a half tons, Mr. Franklin -Adams hastaken plates bearing the images of about 213,000,- 000 stars. His work of counting, indexing and determining theirr ex- act positions is now approaching completion, Seareleatlesaateleeeteseetieselletera el NTJT CAKES. Hazelnut Cake.—Six eggs, one cup sugar, half a cup hazelnuts, half a oup almonds grated fine, one-quarter cup flour, half tea- spoon baking powder, flavor with half teaspoon vanilla, Boat yolks and sugar until light, add nuts, flour, baking powder, and vanilla, and last the stiffly beaten whites. Bake in a shallow pan lined with buttered paper in a moderate oven. When done pour out and let, cool, coyer tvith a .boiled icing, then spread over it some currant jelly, cover again with icing, then sprinkle thickly with finely out hazelnuts. Boiled Icing Boil without stir- ring one cup sugar, half cup of water, until it spins a thread; pour on the stiffly beaten whites of two eggs, add one-eighth teaspoon cream tartar, flavor with vanilla, Walnut lake.—Six cupfuls of flour, one cupful of butter, two cup- fuls of sugar, three eggs, one.half pound of currants, one-half pound Sultana raisins, one-quarter pound candied citron peel, one pound of black salnuts, two tea- spoonfuls of baking soda, one-half ounce each of black pepper, all- spice, cinnamon,. and ginger, and a little milk. Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs, well beaten, the flour and spices mixed, then the fruit and the soda. Warm the milk and add it. ' Mix web. Pour into a buttered and floured cake Bake for two hou;s. Walnut Flakes.—One cupful of walnuts cut fine, one cupful of dates out fine, two eggs well bea- ten, ono pinch salt, one teaspoon- ful of bakingpowder, one cupful of pu , n powdered sugar, three tablespoon- fuls of flour. Bake one-half hour in slow oven in thin layers. -Break into pieces in sherbet cups and serve with whipped cream. 'The woman who spends more of her husband's money with thi gro- cer than she doss with the millin- er isn't the worst kind of• a wife. Wife --"Did you post that letter I gave yon 1" Hubby—"Yes, dear, I carried it in my hand, so I couldn't forget it, and 1 dropped it in the first box.I remember, be- eanso----; Wife—"There, dear, don't say any mare. I didn't give you any letter to post," • SCHOOL LUNCHEONS. I should like to give -other mothers the benefit of my experience in the matter of school lunches. Previous to adopting my present system, if I may call it such,.the children al- ways seemed to be in a starving state when they came home from school. Now, a "May I have some- thing to eat'?" is satisfied by the eating of an apple, or banana, or a few grape.,y, until time for the evening meal. Then, too, 'I've been rewarded by' a happy "0, mamma, my lunch was so good to -day 1" Be- low are a few of the different sand- wiches I use: Cold meat put through food chopper; add a little gravy, salt, or celery salt. Hard boil one egg, put through chopper, season with salt, a little web made salad dressing or cream. Fresh, crisp lettuce leaves, lay on the buttered bread, spread on a little home-made salad stressing. This makes a delicious as well as nourishing sandwich. Take a few dates and nuts (I use walnuts), put through chopper, add a little cream, enough to make it spread easily, and a dash of salt. I also make a jelly sandwich of grape, apple, or whatever may be at hand, and which is often all the sweet the lunch contains. Once in a while I place ewe or three pieces of good pure candy on the top, which is, of course, a sur- prise and a delight. They always have fruit, an apple, banana, grapes, orange, or what- ever is in season that can be car- ried. I try to put up the lunch without their knowing of what it consists. 'There is always enough variety no that they do not tire of any one thing. J. C, A.. • OYSTERS. Oyster Omelet.—Beat six eggs light and mix them with half a cup- ful of cream, with salt and pepper to taste. If the cream be lacking milk may bo substituted. Put a small tablespoonful of butter in a hot frying ran and when it is melt- ed pour in the beaten eggs and cream. Before the eggs aro firm put in eighteen small oysters, and when the omelet is a delicate brown fold and serve. The frying pan should be set on -a moderate fire, so that the browning process will not be too rapid. Fried Oysters,—Drain large oys- ters separately, dip in beaten egg, then in eracker crumbs rolled fine; fry in hot butter, turning each one separately as it browns. • To cook well and handsomely they should nob be crowded while frying. Servo on a hot -platter, VEGETABLES. Escalloped Corn. --Take half ucan of corn, six large crackers broken up, two cupfuls of milk, salt and Pepper to taste ana 1 1 n cd teaspoonful of butter, Mix all together, pour into a fluttered baking dish, an bake twenty minutes. This ' is a delicious, clieh and will be sufficient fora family of three or four, Cooking Pumpkins, --When took - ire; pumpkin if it is first put through the food chopper it will save both Nine and fare, the finely chopped pumpkin needs but little hater .te ' keep it from burning at the ',mein. ' ning. In a short time it has steam ed eterfeetly tender, and the re• maining process is quickly cotnplot' ed as xo little moisture has beer twisted. BEANS., Spanish Baited Beans. --Two cups of navy beans, which have teas boiled well. Then add a small Wee of•baeon, one large onion, one hal oan of tomatoes, two tablespoons et either sugar or molasses, then sees son with a pinoir .of cayenne;peppe and salt to taste. Cut bacon and onion fine, then pub in baking dish and bake for one hour. BREAD, Corn Bread,—Ons pint of flour, half pint ofyellow 'cornmeal, one. fourth pint of granulated sugar, two tablespoonfuls of baking pow- der, one teaspoonful of salt. Mix thoroughly andput in a can with tight cover. To make cornbread from mixture take two scant cup. fuls of the mixture, one egg, but. ter size of walnut, melted, one cup- ful of milk. Bake in a square tie twenty minutes_ SOUP, Bean Soup, -- Three` -quarters pound Lima beans, three quarts water; bring to -bailing point, -then add kitchen bouquet, one carrot and one-half can tomatoes. Boil slowly for four hours, adding water if needed. When done take one tablespoonful flour, butter size of one egg, boil up, and add to soup! season -with salt and pepper and serve. 1t is greatly improved' by slicing three frankfurt sausages thin and adding to soup just before serving. LITTLE HELPS Feathers uncurled by damp wea. ther aro quickly dried . by shaking over fire, in which salt has been thrown. A pinch of salt on the tongue, followed 10 minutes afterward by a drink of cold water often cures sick headache. Carpets arebrightened and colds preserved if wiped with clean cloth wrung out of salt water. Celery Hint. This is not the stringy, wilted kind you buy, but beautifully white and crisp. A small space of ground, two feet. wide and length according to the number of plauts wanted, is need. ed. Buy a package of self-hlanch ing celery seed and plant in a box in March. Put box near a window and water occasionally. Transplant about middle of May or as soon as there is no danger of frost, in a treneh, eight inches deep. Water plants every evening and keep soil loose. As the plants grow, bring the soil up around them, not'eov- ering entirely. Before a frost comes, dig celery roots and got all soil possible and transplant in cel- lar. Water about three times dur- ing the winter. SWISS WOMEN PROTEST. Object to Saturday Half Holism for Workmen. A large manufacturing firm al Zurich recently introduced the -Eng- lish custom of granting their men employees a half -holiday on Settle: day, this being an unknown custom in Switzerland. The form thought they were work- ing in the interest of the families of the workmen. It appears, how- ever, from the feminine point of view they have made a great blun- der, for all the wives and fiances of the men have signed a petition ask- ing that the Saturday hail -holiday should be withdrawn, on the ground that the men spend their liberty and money away from home, with disastrous results to family life and to the family exchequer. The petition points gut that the Sunday has always been a holiday in Switzerland, and asks why a toeless half -holiday in the week should be added. To understand this it should be stated that -by the Federal laws there is no .compulsory closing of shops, cafes, places of amusement, etc., on the Sabbath, In the Catholic, cantons the cafes are obliged to be closed during div. Mc service, but this is not the rule in the other cantons, while in ,the chief towns shows and cafes can re main open at the will of their pro. prietors. Ae a, general rule, the Swiss pen plc go to church on Sunday morn,' ins, and afterwards tend then gardens andorchards, go to a mat. roes in tee theatre and play at foot, ball or tennis. POETIC JUSTICE. "Pa, I've just been Needing about poetic justice. What does that mean 1" "Listen, my child, and you shall hear. ()nee there was a ratan who swindled mo out of a lot of money in an irrigation. scheme, . Well, 11e became • a victim' of poetic justice. , I have' just heard that he died of water on the brain.", It's a joke when somato 1 rle take themselves seriously,