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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1897-2-19, Page 2NABOTH'S VINEYARD CHAPTER 1'I, (Continued). "Sbe had a beautiful face," Frank Continued, speaking ets if to himself "a perfect face; fair, with glorious viol et eyes. Fancy her coming all the way from England to nurse a brother who was wounded! ale died, you see; and she stayed on to do all the good she might, Thee she found me %moonset - ons, and at death's door, and nursed me to life, God bless her 1 because I was something like her lost one. Under Providence, I owe my health and strength to her." "It was nobly done," cried the Col- onel, catcbiug some of his son's enthusi- asm. "1 should like to hear tee name Df this angel of mercy'." "That is precisely what I can't tell you. I did ask her more than once when I was getting better; but she never would disclose her identity. "Call me Gladys," she would say; "it reminds me of my dear brother;" and Gladys I always called her after- wards," "EMI You seem to have done Con- siderably well for an invalid,' said the Colonel grimly; "fortunately, that kind of romance soon wears itself out. And besides, I have formed other plans for you." • "That's uncommonly kind of you," re- turned the younger man its grimly. "Let us be candid.—Who is the lady you have chosen?" "What do you say to Ethel Morton:" Frank burst into a laugh so spontan- eous and full of merriment, that the Colonel was compelled to stroke his moustache to hide a half -smile, though his face preserved the same look of judicial gravity. "My dear father, you can't be serious? Consider ho,v long we bave known each other, and how well rye understand the weakness of each other's disposition. Be- sides which, there is another Richmond in the field," "Oh, indeed," cried the Colonel rue- fully. "That's the first I've beard of it." "It didn't take me long to find it out. You don't suppose that a really nice girl like Ethel can go through the best part of two London seasons with- out admirers ?—Cresswell told inc." "Oh, it's Cresswell, is it? Now I come to remember, he leas been un- commonly civil to me the last month or two." "That's the gay Lothario. We had a talk about Castleford a few days ago, more particularly touching the salmon - fishing. He seemed to be very much inclined to run down here for a week or two. I shouldn't be at all surprised if he turned up any moment." When a man has been nursing a pet '"I was very nearly calling upon you this afternoon, only 1 dlct not like tc disturb you," Frank replied, -."Mind, I ; am net asking out of an impertinent auriostty, but I ehoutd like to know b th 1 d UI k tUa ono i„ It - he be n- or nd tr- ed id 11 w. ly t, be d a d 11 so e to es Heath s lichens for some years, till it becomes almost a part and parcel of his exist- ence, the sense of uefeat is very, bunt - Mating. And so the Colonel found it at this moment. Not that he attogeth- er despaired;but then Sir Edwin Cress - welt was a gentleman of fortune and irreproachable social position, such as no guardian would have the right to dismiss on politic grounds. "1 might have anticipated something like this," he replied in much perturba- tion, 'That is the worst of having girls to deal with. So saying. Colon - ed Sandhurst rose from his scat and strolled townwai'ds. Not that this un- expected contretemps affected his op- inion respecting the purchase of Fern - 'eight though he Pett somewhat sore, and not a little inclined to be quarrel- some even with his much -beloved, who walked alongside with a grave face, at the same time observing a discreet sil- ene. "So the Morton scheme is postponed sine die?" he asked, as the Colonel made a pause at length on the club steps.— No, thank you; I am not going into the nub this morning. 1f you don't mind, 1 will look up Ethel, and give her my assistance in the proposed raid upon the local tradesmen." Frank Sandhurst stood for some moan - ants before his hotel door, idly smok- ing, and contemplating the passers-by. In a small country the contemplation of human nature is apt to pail, even with the most enthusiastic student of his fellow -men; and Sandhurst, after a few moments, felt his interest in Castle- ford affairs to be rapidly fading. A na- tive of the sunny South ,grinuiog pop - aloe tunes upon an ear -piercing organ, and the gyrations of some merry chil- dren, were not calculated to river at- tention; but presently, when a slight elegant figure in deep mourning emerg- ed from a chemist's shop uppo tt and walked rapidly towards All Saints' Church, the young gentleman's languid interest quickened into something like emotion, '.le that isn't Gladys, my eyes greatly deceive me," Saying these words to the extreme astonishment of a passing stranger he dropped bis cig- arette and started in pursuit of the rap- idly vanishing figure. Turning along liig hStreet, she proceeded in the direc- tion of High Town, where !'rank ar- rived just to time to see her disappear into a passage between two shops, on the lintel of one being a brass plate bearing the legend, "Heath and Star- ling, Solicitors." "Well, I'm in luck so far," murmured the discomfited youth, as he gazed blankly at the dine portals beyond which the peri had flown. "Mein, To cultivate the ofd friend Ileethe: acqu- aintance without further delay. 1t wouldn't be a bad dodge to leave. any card and ask him to call round at The Dragon after dinner." 1t was not. until some time after the meal in question that the lawyer made his appearance. Ile found Sandhurst and Mtss Ethel seated on the balcony, the Colonel being engaged to take a hand at whist with a trio of old milit- ary acquaintances a class of gentlemen who abound in tyle majority of cath- edral towns. At this apparently deep stroke of diplomacy to engender confide ence and hasten the consummation of love's yoeng dream, Mr. Heath smiled to himself, but what he said was that it was a beautiful evening and delight- eul after the hot afternoon. "Why haven't you been to see me Isefore t" Ethel demanded. "I can't name to you now, as I used to in the aid days, and upset the inkpot over your cleanly engrossed parchments, " "Do you remeamber that?" the law- yer asked, "Whet a memory, to be sure! The trouble we used to have With you two. It makes me feel quite old when I see the captain here,' who was only a boy yesterday." 1 nv o e young n who Maid you a y10 as 11— visil this morning "Tins is a chapter out of an unwr ten romance," Ethel explained. "T wounded hero resent before you; t gently nurtured girl who braves a fo elgn climate to nurse the prostrate w rdar, The brave soldier recovers, a seeks his nurse; but she has disappea eel, In plain English, Frank thinks the fair visitor of yours he has disco Bred the girl wbo, be maintains, say his life, There is not a doubt of it," sa Prank, with a warm flush upon h cheek.—"Ilave you any objection to to me her name?' Not in the least, my dear fello That was Miss Charlesworth, the on daughter of my dear friend and ellen Mrs. Charlesworth, of Fernleigh," "And her name is Gladys?" "Perfectly right. Gladys Violet, to correct," "Then it is a romance," Ethel arie enthusiastically. -"Is it a fact that sh went to Africa to nurse a w•ounde brother?" Perfectly true, my dear," Mr. Heat replied more gravely. "11 was impos sible for Mrs. Charlosw'ortb to go, she went almost alone, Conventionall speaking, perhaps it was not quite" — "Oh, bother conventionalityl". was t1 abrupt reply. It was a noble thing clo. How many girls would have dare to do the same? -The name seems fs miller to me. I fancy Colonel Sand burst told me something"— That he had bought Fernleigh, per haps?" Oh yes; I remember now,—Mrs Charlesworth has got into difficulti over some wretched law business, and i compelled to sell her house. What pity it seems, and such nice people, hear I" 1t is a very old story,', Mr. Ileac observed bitterly. "There is a large sum of money in dispute, which i claimed on a young lady's behalf by her friends. You see, Mrs. Charlestvocth' grandfather, Martin Ilay"— A sudden exclamation from Miss Mor- ton out short the conclusion. "Why you aro talking about my very own case. If I am right, then Mrs. Cherd- esworth and myself must be related." "You are Miss Morton, plaintiff in this action ?" asked Hoath helplessly. "Why did I not guess as much before? Of course, Martin Hay was your great- graadfather, and but for the missing assignment"— . "Oh, I am tired of hearing about that wretched document; in fact, reprehens- ible as it seems, I Kaye not taken the slightest interest in the proceedings. Do you think there was any such paper 1" "Certainly, because I once had it in my odyn hands." "If it can be found, I have no right to any of this money?" "Not a penny of it. But as it can't be found, and there seems to bo no pros- pect of cls turning up, you are legally entitled to all." "Legally ? But what about morally? And 1 have more than enough nor?." !:'rank, who had been listening in lost amazement to this, to him, inscrut- able mystery, at this point asked for an explanation. In a few words Dir. Heath told the whole story, touching briefly but clearly upon the strong attach- ment lfrs. Charlesworth had for her old home. For a time there was a dead silence between them. 'Ethel, what do you think of it?" Sandhurst asked presently, 11 was too dark by this time to see the girl's face. She did not reply for a momeut, and when she spoke there was a strange catch in her voice, as if the enunciated her words with difficul- ty-. "I think," she said slowly—"I think that if I have a voice in the matter, Fernitigh will not change hands .11111 yet." THE BRUSSELS POST. gentleman, they had met and settled the avhole thing before breakfast." Mr, Heath ga.vo a glance at the Col- onel's doleful face and laughed aloud It struck him as exquisitely absurd that an individual $o singularly bleseed both .in body and estate should rail at for- ' tune or-'tune with the petulance of a child ory-, ing for the moon. Nonsense, man, You can't have everything your own way ; and, besides the young people are not like a lot of soldiers, to be ordered about on par - ode, Anyway, you can set your mind at fest anent Fernleigll. I have a note from the lady this morning, saying shr will be pleased to see you any after- noon. As I ain going there after lunch, you had better call about three. I have some business in the neighbourhood.aud will meet you there at that time," "1 suppose it must be done," Sand- hurst repl ied reluctantly. I don't half Like the idea, all the saute," "Of course you don't. What num would, who has in ltim is spark of•kind- liness or gentlemanly feeling? All the same, it semis only right and proper towards the lady that you should go." Vert, well. I will time myself to arrive there about throe, and i only hope you will not keep me waiting, I am beginningto understand the feelings of a man in possession," "Better feel them than the emotion of those driven out of possession," the lawyer returned grimly. I don't pro- fess to have any sympathy with you in the matter,—And now, as my time is limited, I must turn you out. Three o'clock sharp, remember," With military punctuality, Colonel Sandhurst walked through Feraloigb gates as the stable oloak struok the hour. Hot and dusty as it was outside, the sudden change to the cool green lawn with its shady ash tress and dark - leafed copper beanies was grateful and refreshing. The house, partly in sha- dow with climbing rose and starry jes- samine ki'ovving round the open win- dows and up to the carved oaken gables, presented a pleasing picture to eyes wearied with the contemplation of glar- ing roads and sunny meadows. Over all there seemed to Jiang the spirit of silence, broken only by an occasional bird -note, and the Low moan of doves resting in the branches of a yew -tree, sombre against a belt of living green. Inside., there appeared to be the same graceful harmony, the same sweet sense of refinement, a humanising influence borrowed from the presence of womanly love and delicacy—a fragrance of flow- ers in dragon vases, and China brack- ets, with long spiral sprays of foliage hanging far down the nark polished walls. An open piano filled a corner ; in an alcove gay with summer flowers stood an organ piled up with music, And into this pleasing picture there came presently a more beautiful vision still, a slight fair figure in deep mourn- ing, relieved by white lace rattles, at 111e wrists and throat; the sight of which caused tbe Colonel to rise from his seat and render homage to the shrine of beauty. You are Colonel Sandhurst, I pre- sume?" she said in a clear sweet voices, looking at the same time into his face with her beautiful violet eyes.. I am Gladys Charlesworth," The Colonel bowed again, and mur- mured some platitude in which the words ' honour and pleasure" were alone audible. Old soldier, and man of the world as he was, he felt a strange sense of awkwardness and confusion 111 the presence of this simple English girt. (To be Continued.) CHAPTER III, Mr, Heath, examining his correspond- ence a morning or two later, was ab- ruptly aroused from that fasoinating study by the arrival of Colonel Sand- hurst. The gallont officer appeared to be greatly disturbed, oven so far as to have forgotten his gloves, a sign with him of some intense mental erup- tion. Tho solicitor, who had already ventured a pretty shrewd guess as to the primary cause of this perturbation, suavely asked for an explanation. Now, what do you think of this?" the injured one replied. That girl— Ethel, you know—us doing to prevent myS purchasing li'ernleigh.' Very pleased to hoar it," Hoath an- swered unfeelingly i " only I should like to know bow she is going to menace it ?" Why, this way. You see she hap- pens to be the plaintiff in this lawsuit you were talking about, and has got the idea into her head that the assign- ment you people set up is really in ex- istence. She is actually going to aban- don her claim to all this money, and allow Mrs. Charlesworth to take pos- session. There is no need to ask if your client will accept such an offer." Mr. Heath at this moment would have cheerfully forfeited a good round sum to say that airs. Charlesworth would accept it; but he did not, for the sim- ple reason that he knew full well that nothing but the production of the as- signment would induce her to accept the offer of her generous enemy. T don't think she will, though, even for tbe sake of Fernloigh. All the same, this is very noble on Miss Mor- ton's part, 1f the offer is rejected, it will be no fault of mine. But so con- vinced am I that it will be refused, that I have already commenced draw- ing the conveyance." "You really think so?" asked the Colonel, with a jubilation ho was at some pains to conceal, ' You seem to have a quixotic lot of clients," Perhaps so; but you will see I am right all the same. Even if Mrs. Char- lesworth is inclined to listen, her daugh- ter Gladys will not," The Colonel's face darkened at the mention of this young lady's name, He had heard the romance on the previous slight, with a feeling that Prank's in- terest in the girl was likely to end in a wady contrary to all his fondest hopes. That is the hospital nurse, I presume? I hope Frank isn't going to make a fool of himself in that quarter." "Frank might do a great dual worse," the lawyer answered curtly. " And I will thank you to speak with a little more respect of Miss Charlesworth, wbo is not an hospital nurse, as you know as well as I do." "I beg your pardon, Heath," return- ed Sandhurst humbly; " but everything seems to have gone wrong lately. First, there was my scheme about Ethel and Frank ; well that's all knocked on the head. Imagine my surprise this morn- ing to find Cresswell—you know him —111 my.sittieg-room, talking to my ward, as if the place belonged to himi It appears he earns down last night; and, 00 my word as an officer and a SOJIE WHEEL IOVELTIES Members of the Thompson Street Bieyole Club Give Their Thoughts to Invention. When the routine business of the re- gular Saturday night meeting of the Thompson Street Bicycle Club had been disposed of, President Toots in- troduced the Hon. Castaway Jones, of Toledo, who is known as "The Hur- ricane Bikist of Ohio:" The honour- able stranger made his bow and said he did not intend to make a speech. Ho had read and heard of the club, and was glad to see the coloured man com- ing to the front. He was, he believed, the first coloured man in Ohio to mount the bike. When he began rid- ing he had public opinion and the de- claration of all scientists to overcome. It was contended that no man with a heel six inches long could work a pedal, and that the kinks in his hair would lift him out of the saddle. He had proved that scientists did not know their business. When he began riding his left leg was six incheczloort, he had a cataract on his right eye, and lits backbone was at least six inches out of plumb. How was it now? That short log had come down, the cataract had disappeared and he stood as per - pent icular a9 a lamp post. He had other reasons to bless the bike .11 bad renewed his youth, made peace in his family, made him believe in qa here- after and cured his taste for chicken meat. He hoped the day was not far distant when every coloured man and woman in America would be gliding about on the silent steed, and it was his opinion that it would do more to elevate and educate than all the cue, koo crooks which could be turned out, THE PATENT CHICKEN CARRIER, Brother Abraham Higginbottom, who had been asked to investigate and report on the subject of riding the bike at night, announced that he was ready with his remarks, 10 order to get at bottom facts he had practised night riding for the last four weeks. Up to ten o'clock and so long ee he had a lighted lantern and the police wore about, he had felt no peculiar sensation. After that hum he had, Tho bike had instinctively taken its way toward the suburbs. The lan- tern had gone out and the thoughts of its rider turned to chicken pot -pie --chicken on toast—chicken served up in variolas ways. His eyes began to search the darkness for alleys and hencoops—his cars were strained to catch the suppressed crow or the ehan- ticleer—he found the taste of watr- inelon in his mouth. The result was :nevitahle. By and by the bike atop- pod and bounced him otf, A shed was close at hand, Within the shed roost- ed a score of Leghorns. ltwee need- less to say more, but he desired to call the attention of the club to the fact that he haat invented a chicken car- ries, to be attaubod to tbe bike—all ex - ranggeamment which would hold four I1 ohieltens and still preserve an Intro cent look ill the eyes of a policemenBrother Hiigginbottoni was ip'eeto with appinase se he closed his re marks diad sat down, and though 'nothingwas said about adopting buti report, t w"as plainly evident that the terms majority of members leanedthat way. TILE DOG KILLER AND THIS RAZOR at THE FARM. HANDLE'S, The Han. Cataleptics Tompkins, an active member, who had been on a visit to the West, '.8118 called upon for a few remarks, and he arose to say that he had found coloured gentile at work improving the bicycle wherever he went. One man had invented a handle bar with a razor in eitber end ; another had ievented a saddle which would restore gray hair to its original colour; a third was attaching to the hind wheel a music box which plays Old Dan Tucker" for two hours without stopping.In Buffalo he saw a patent pedal which would reach out and kick a dog, and in Cleveland he rode on a bike with cork tires, Tho coloured genius in this country would In tine' remodel the wheel and make it a real blessing to humanity. LIN oun inventive thoughts just now wore turned coward a bioyole which Could take to the woods and be made use- ful to hunting rabbits, coons, and pos- stuns, and he believed that success would ultimately be his. A BROTHER RULED OFF. The case of Brother Ginger White wits then called up for disposal. His record as a rider was a bad one. In throe months he had run over a num- ber or people and had been arrested seven times. Tsyp weeks ago a com- mittee was appointed to examine and investigate and report. Doctor Napo- leon Jones, chairman of the committee, and thehw ysicien of the club, no reported that they had first examined Brother White's lege. They were Lound to be so bowed that he could stand with one foot on each side of a pork barrel. One of his shoulders was lopped twelve inches below the other and he was stone deaf in the right: ear. The state of his eyes caused the most surprise, however. He was not only cross-eyed but blind in the left optic, while the squint of his Tight one could not tell the difference be- tween a handcart and a street oar. How he had ever managed to ride a distance of even ten feet without a calamity was a source of amazement to all the committee. As a man Brother White was honest and indus- trious and well liked, but as a bicyclist he must be regarded as a dangerous man. The committee did not recommend any particular action, but President Toots said it was evident that eome- thing must be done to preserve human lite and personal property in the Unit- ed States of America, Brother White was riding a rented machine and would not therefore be out of pocket, and he would take upon b enself the authority to declare his suspension as an active member. He might stand 'upon the curbstone and squint at the riders on public parade days, or he might take a wheel out into the country, and hire a twelve -acre lot, but the clli would be no longer res- ponsible for damages or stand behol- den for funeral expenses in case he broke his neck. NO LIMIT, Brother Warlock Smith arose to ask for information. His wife was a wo- man weighing 300 pounds, and wanted to learn to ride the bike. He had persistently discouraged her, on the grounds that she was too fat and would not present a graceful picture. He had a mother-in-law seventy years old. She also wanted to ride, but he had objected to her age and leanness. Was there any limit to age, fatness, or leanness? if there was he want- ed to club tb support him in his ob- jections ; if not, he was prepared to give in. The president replied that the bike had come for all and would be made use of by all. No matter how fat— no matter horn lean—no matter wheth- er the person was twenty years old or ninety. A dumpy woman weighing 200 pounds might not look as ohio on a wheel as one weighing 120, but she would look as chin as she could, and the public must put up with it. An old lady, with false hair, spectacles, and a cracked voice, had rights, the same as a daisy of a girl, and no one should seek to abridge them. In his family circle the fat and the lean, the aged and the youthful, and even his father-in-law, who had stiff knees, a bald head, a humped back, and had lost his voice for the last ten years, rode a wheel and headed the proces- sion. A CAT WHICH WEARS SPECTACLES A correspondent sends to the Phila- delphia Times an account of a handsome cat which wears spectacles—not a very surprising thing in this day, when dogs wear rubber boats and carry umbrel- las. The cat, whose name is Max, be- longs to a lady, as may be supposed. She had had him for many years, and lately began to notice that his sight was failing. She took him at once to an oculist. That worthy practitioner declined at first to have anything to do with such a patient. For one Hing, as he said, he olid not know how to go to work. On this point the lady came to the doctor's relief, An image of a mouse was concocted, and by holding this before the cat's eyes at varying distances, the doctor finally secured a pretty good diagnosis, As a result the eat was by and by fitted with a pair of gold -bowed spectacles, and now not only looks as wisp as an owl, but can see almost or quite as well as over. A FEW DON'1:'S. , Don't find fault, Don't believe all the evil you hear. Don't jeer at everybody's religioust beliefs. Don't be rude to your inferiors 111 somal position. Don't repeat gossip, even if it doea interest a crowd. Don't underrate anything because you don't possess . it. Don't go untidy on the plea that ev- erybody knows ,you. oDn't contradict people, even if you are sure you are right. Don't conclude that you have never had any opportunities in life. Don't believe that every one else in, the world is happier than you. Don't be inquisitive about the affairs of even your most intimate friends. Don't gat into the habit of vulgar- izing life by making light of the sen- timent of it. Don't express a positive opinion un- less you porgectly understand what you are talking about, CUTTING OFF T1ir SUPPLY. I see, Watters, that there isn't eat- 110ient water power of late to run your mill, What's the matter? Three farmers alcove me bave gone into the Milk business, 111.0131; HELP ON THE FARM, Most fortunate is the farmer who has the strength to labor and has in his own family of sons and daughters enough help to run the farm and house without hiring, Such a farmer knows little of the worry and waste that tomo to the farmer and household whore neither the farmer nor Liis, wife are able-bodied and the children are too small to assist or are grown up and bave left she parental roof. In subs? case the!s a mptao leave tbo farm and seetek "an tion endetr a7ay" of makingre a living, The man or woman who is not strong enough to do the work belonging to his or her position has of necessity to learn how to utilize hired help. In this respect they are likely to learn the lesson which loo many able-bodied men and women tail to learn, We all know men who have, in their earlier man- hood, with a healthy wife and active children, become the possessor of a farm and improved 11 and got around them the comforts and conveniences of a farm home, and all this with lit- tle !tired help, except that of mech- anics and some extra help during her - Suchthreshing, Such a farmer usually abandons the farm as soon as his family grows up and he and his wife feel the aches and pains of age, They abandon the farm just at a period when they need most its quiet and comfort and when they can least readily adjust themselves to the new conditions of City or village life. Had they in early life learned to utilize hired help, they could have ad- justed themselves to the change, gra- dually, and by the time the children had all grown up and left them, the labor of tbe farm could go on and the business which they had given the best of their lives to establish, need not be abandoned. There is a vast loss to the commun- ity when such a man and woman leave their farm and horse and turn it over to strangers. Tho new occupants aro in no way indentified with the im- provements made on the farm or with the community. The public and the owner 01 the farm are usually losers by such a change, As a means of lessening the number of rented farms—which means declin- ing farms—we advise farmers to give more thought to the question of util- izing hired help. Tho theory that one cannot afford to hire help an silo farm alt present prices cif products and wages has much to support it. Unless one has had some experience in managing farms and labor it will not take him long to prove that the proceeds of the farm would not pay his labor bills and leave him enough to pay his taxes, repairs and living expenses, On the other hand, ono who has had experience is farm- ing with hired labor soon learns that he must increase his output in propor- tion to the increased cost of labor, just as the manufacturer does, and his profits are increased in proportion. In every line of production, whether it is making nails, shoes, rails or mauls, planters or drills, wagons or buggies, the maker who hires no help increases his own labor, and limits his output. If he has the business talent to increase his sales, to keep pace with his passible output, he soon L'mds that he can em- ploy more men and increase his busi- ness and at the same time relieve him- self of the drudgery that a cheaper maim can do more of, while he can em- ploy his brains and skill in further im- provement of his plant and develop- ment of his business. Learning to sell our products or to confine our production to the demand of the market is one of the first things to do, before one can utilize profitably hired help. So long, as farmers follow the plan of putting in as many acres of corn, wheat and oats as the owner and his boys can work, and keeping as many cows as the wife and daughters Can milk and raise the calves and make butter from, so long will the standard of products be low for want of time and labor to keep up the farm and increase the output. There can be no improvement in qual- ity of products above the average un- til the managing mind has time for thought and study of the business. Until the quality of the products is improved, the price must be that of the average or below it. More labor is needed to bring up the land to its highest paysng capacity, more labor is needed to give the need- ed cultivation at the nick of time. More labor Ls needed to prune and trim and spray, to make orchards and vines give the finest fruits. More labor is needed to give better care to the colts, calves, lambs and pigs, to bring them into early maturity to sell for best prices. If tem has the talent and. time to study the possibilities of his Lamm and markets ho can readily increase his income by the extra labor employed. So long as the pulley of extendingac- reago without increase of hate obtains, so long will the average yield and quality of crops and numbers and qual- ity of the increase of flocks and herds be only average or below, and our in- comes kept down and our ideals of ex- cellonoo degraded. The policy ofihiring no help may sat- isfy him who s willtug to live wholly a druhadge of his vile�ansi being tonutlet children in ignorance. It may appear a necessity, while it is only the re- sult of neglected opportunity. As one advances in ago thereshould comenot only increase of. weenie but breadth of view and intelligence to utilize it arid. our mind, so as to lesson drudgery, The beginning of the year is a good time to consider how Lo lessen our bur- den and increase our happiness. BUTTER WORKED T00 MUCH. One of the errors in dairying that Is constantly coming to the front re- lates to working butter. Time and again it has bean demonstrated that the less butter is worked the better the butter will be—other things being equal. Working butter can under pro- per coedi:tens and practice be entirely dispensed with—though it is doubt- less quite as well to work it enough to get oust surplus water. Yet if the granular system of churning is prate tieod—and no other system should be FEB, 19, 3897 —and ample time taken to allow the water to drain out no working will bo needed—ex at any rate only en- ough to brimg the butter into solid ooalclittan, While the above has been taught and relaught for nearly the past quarter. of a century it is by no means an un - cowman, event to pick up an agnioula tura! paper a,nd have your eye light en an artielo in its dairy department in which some mention shows that the welter of tile article did not know that all the buttermilk should be washed out of buttes' while the latter is flu the granular state and if this le done there will be none left to be ivorkedl out. If all the buttermilk has not been, washed out you can set it down fob certain that the attempt to work 15 out will result in breaking the grain of the butter. There is not much satisfaction in always pounding away on one string, but this matter of working butter= or working it too much --is one that axils for line upon line and precept up- on procopt and even hen will be found plenty levhodettbbtormk upbytjasingthbutter be- fore wasbmg out the buttermilk and then attempting to work out the lat- ter spoil the former. Not only that, but person who set themselves up ass teachers will rehearse such practice Ea their writings for the agricultural. prase, If butter nmakiaigadoes not know .how to Practice the granular system of Churn- ing let such person look into the mat- ter at once and become familiar with; the practice—and then praotie it. STERILIZED MILS FOR. MARKET. The subject of sterilized milk and cream is receiving considerable atten- tion, especially in the large consum- ing centers. While many prefer the product thus treated, and the busi- ness of selling sterilized milk is in some cities quite profitable, the deman4 is by no means universal or even general. If conveniently situated, where one ca, rwfevote careful and personal at- tention to it, a lucrative business may be built up, yet this cannot be done do a day. 1n reply to an inquiry covering the situation the sterilization of milk con- sists in a general way of raising the product to a temperature of 100 deg. as quickly as possible, holding it at that point for a few moments, say ten minutes, and then cooling it down to 09 near the freezing point as passible. It should be kept at this low temper- ature if intended for shipment. It is claimed that this process kills the baa feria, microbes, etc., there may be in the milk, and that the milk will keep without souring for a considerably longer time than that not treated in this manner. Of course the length of time it will keep depends upon the weather and conditions. There are nn- merous appliances for this purpose, but most of tum are intended for large creameries. A good way for a private dairy is to put the pans of milk into vats of water, raise the temperature of the to k constantly) all hthe time it is being subjected to this tem- perature, Then cool the milk by put- ting the cans into ice water, stirring all the time you are lowringtbe tem - way La th CID ametiana's' ems1 to glue It is excellent satisfaction, t edee milk eatal all Ibe m,anunlesssthe water in the vat is kept above 1110 degrees the cream or milk in the cans will. not be above that temperature. This cee be by running the milin k or c ea n other simple over way car- rugated heater, and then using the sante apparatus for cooling. The only difference tieing that in one case hot water is run through the eterltise/. and in the otber case cold water. This' last way is much more rapid than tho other, but needs en arrapgement for Constantly running water from the time you begin to sterilize until the milk is cooled. Apparatus suitable for tiltimewinls orkour is coladverumntiss.ed from time to THE YOUNG CZARINA, I do not see why the Empress—a, thoroughly wall educated woman —should not wield an influence for good in all directions, writes a Paris cor- respondent, The Russians are accus- tomed to exercises of power by Czarina. Alexandra is said to wish with all her heart for peace to be preserved and for amity with her great relatives to bo preserved. Her mother was a great sufferer from Prince Bismarck's war policy. At the close of the war of 1800 she called a slaughter, then born, Irene, or Peace. She had a wretched- ly anxious time when the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt was serving as a General in to invasion of Franco, and worn out her strength In ambulance nursing, The Czarina dates from 1871, 1 should not have known her from her photos. She must have ster- ling qualities which they do not even hint. The nose is like her mother's, and eyes and mouth like the Prince Consort's, The eyes betray standing anxieties and the watchfulness of one who ftxars to blunder, 'They are fine eyes, of a blue that accords with a Complexion fresh to the degree of rud- diness, and a matchless head of au- burn (not red) hair. Sho was under all circumstances affable and lively. 1 Could imagine her taking the helm when waves rail high and steering safe- ly. She rather, 1 was told, feared- i3'reneh criticism. it has been entirely in her favor, The Empress looked her best, either simply stressed or shins sax beaux atours, with crown jewels and rials brocades., with her bust rising above an embankment of flowers. Edo was thus at the Opera House and Fran - eats. All girlish characteristics have disappeared, and she is now a find wo- man, with features denoting Character, and yet delicately chiseled. , EASILY ACf1OUNT.`ED FOB, Mus. Ferry. Well, the idea 1 Here is a story in the paper of a man who traded his wife for a pipe. Mr, Ferry. I'll bet she was a woman who would not allow hint, to smokain the house, AN EaaPLANATION. Miss Prude (while out walking with her younger sister thinks she is rude- ly treated) -Were you staring acs due, sir ? Strange Gentleman—Pees you,, no, Madam. I was admiring yaur lattisv graalc1daughter.