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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1895-6-7, Page 2TSE U VSSTLS POST, ;rum 7, 1.3901 LAtYAYLMER CHAPTEE VII. THE nlaTF.Ese OF Iuof.ROYD. Three days had gone and still Esther Elsie fairly gasped. "You are asking me to marry you, David 1" she erlid, "Of course I am, he anowered. There was a dead eilpnoa for a few mo• Brand had not arrived IA Lender!, 1%aoh menta, David, Gore and hurt, desperately day Dorothy:get mere:and snore impatient t, lool r a baa ewould ie arfollytand repro nt for her preeeuee, beeauee, although sho had noahtnv short .of a sin, stood walGing for never once Beau David Stnvenaon sines that her deoleion, while Elsie turned away to morningwhen she had almost walked into the window and looked out over the flelade, th a d btbter thoughts ohsamg e his arms in the Kensington High atrea% otfier through her brain, it wae all over she w•aa so afraid that he might be lurking with Dgrothy, and Dorothy had evidently about the neigbbothood that ebe had neve chosen another, Elsie was sure of that, sen foot outside her own door. If she bad though David had not said Bo. And David only known that he wae safely down at had turned to her in tun trouble—there d dividinghis life between ridingwas oomforb in that. But Dorothy had Holroyd, hia love stili, ehe was certain of that. a ou bard from one point of the property to could see it in his haggard face, his Der - another, and Bitting moodily staring into veils manner; hear it in his defiant -voice. the empty fire•greee, hie thoughts all busily Many and many kin time ehe had pictured occupied ih cursing at fate 1 However, him an t hooey in her. l She had ler p g her bands fall idly her lap, and her that phase of feeling did not last long with sewing Ile neglected, while in she him; for one floe September morning he had seen him turning in at the gate or went over to the Hall and Wandered doming in at the door, his mouth half smil- ing (as she had seen it for Dorothy's sake), round the quiet old garden -a good deal of hie cold eyes lighted up with a tenderness to especial charm of quaint beauty ,"im, tie dear as it was rare ; but in all her proved" away now—where she had spent dreams Elsie had never pictured him com- ber Eng like tht , ggand and drown for the her happy childhood. "I'll have that bed done away with," he said to old Isaac, pointing out a smalls neat bed out in the velvet turf, just in front of the dining.room window; "it spoils the look of the lawn; digit up, and we'll have it turfed over." Old Isaac looked at him hesitatingly— the old man had felt bitterly his degrad- ation from:gardener to odd man, yet ten shillings a week ie not to be sneezed at when its almost certain alternative is the the workhouse. He hardly dared to say what was in hia mind; still the old feuda tnstiaot, the habit of forty years was strong in him, and he ventured a timid protest. "That were Mies Dorothy's own bed, sir," he began ; " she dug it herself, and then she'd take a tarn round and have an- other spell o' digging after. And then, in the Spring time, when the wiolets Dame she was very proud o' the fust bunch ehe took to the mistress," " H'm," muttered David, and moved away. " Took it better nor I thought he would," mused old Isaac, rather elated at his own boldness, But Isaac bad counted hie chiokene too early, or later in the day the head gar- dener came round to him. ""By -the -1)y, y, Isaac," be said, after mentioning one or two little matters, " the governor wants that little bad under the dining -room window levelled and turfed over—wants it done at once." " 1 hear," said Isaac. The old man was trembling as he turned away, and when the other was gone, he stood by tba little flower bed as if it were a grave looking down upon it with tear- filled eyes. ' Brute 1" he ground out be- tween his teeth ; " brute 1' " What be I to do wi' the wiolets, Bell ?" he asked, the next time he came across hie superior. " Gov'nor eaid you was to chuck 'em out on the rubbish heap," Bell answered, " Nay, I'll take 'em down to mine," said Isaac, in a quavering voice. " As you like about that," said Bell, all unknowing of the tumult in the old man's breast. And the day following that David Stevenson ordered his horse and rode away from Holroyd, through Graveleigh and past the old Hall to a large and prosperous looking farm, about a mile beyond the house where Dorothy's old friend, Lady Jane Sturt, lived. He turned in at the gates, and gave his horse into the care of a man who came running out. ." Is Mise Elsie at home ?" he asked. " I believe she is, air," the man replied ; "but if you'll knock at the door, they'll tell you for oertain." A nice -looking country girl in a neat apron and cap came to the door. Yee Mise Eleiewas at home, the mistress had gone into Dovercourt. Would Mr. Stevenson Dome this way ? He followed her into a pretty enough sit- ting -room, though it had but few of the little touches which had made Mies Dims - dale's drawing -room so pretty and so restful. There were shades over wax Powers and a plaster of paris vase contain- ing some artificial orange blossoms which had once adorned the wedding cake of the married daughter of the homes, and there were white crochet -work rags over some of the chairs, and othere with fearful and wonderful desigas in erewele tied up with bite of gay colored ribbons. Yes, it was pretty enough, but not bearable to him after the quaint and diguifed air which bad pervaded everything at the Hall where she hail lived. In two minutes Elsie Carrington name in, a tall, wholesome -looking girl, with fair hair that was too yellow and cheeks that were too red, and as David's eyes fell upon her I am bound to say that his very soul seemed to turn sink within him. Not that he flinched—oh, no ; David Stevenson was not of the kind that flinches. "I've come on a queer enough errand, Elsie," he began. "Yee ?" ahe said, fu a questioning tone. "Yes. But it's no use beating about the bush ; it's best to be honest and true, is'nt it "Of course it is." She was very much sok for an early wedding Elide; the tponer it le over and We bet settled down .the better," "Yoe," she eaid, faintly, There Wee none too Web eolpr In her ebeeks now, poor child, and her Mile eyes were dark with pain. David looked at her uneasily, "I must get awayy, for an hour or two and think it all over, ho said half nervously, "I must have a clear story ready for your father," "Then—per/Ay." ""David,' oho said, in en almost inaudible voice, "you have not told me that yen are glad er anythingg, Have you net one kind word for me? floe Dorothy got everything still 1" He started as if he bad behn ehob, but he turned beak at once and took her in his arms and kissed herpassionately half a dozen times. "Oh 1 my poor girl, itis rough on you," he said,rogretfully. " I'm a brute tolet you do it." '" No, no 1" cried he, winding her arma about his neck ; " no, no 1 I would rather be your slave than any other man's queen. Kies me again, David." And David shuddered. Why ? With the perversity of love 1 The heart that beat against him was beating for him alone. The blue eyes looking so yearningly into hie were pretty and true. The clinging arms were tend and loving, butthey, were nob Dorothy's arms ; it was not Dorothy's heart ; and he ohuddered. And the next moment he was on hie horde again and lose of Dorothy, nervous, brusque, imps• fascia homeward, while Elsie layin a tient, brutally truthful and just, to ask her 1 frenzy of grief on the floor, just whee he to make a bargain, in which love should be had left'her left out of the reckoning 1 To offer her hie after bfm. standing looking mournmournfullybody, while ehe knew his heart was all Poor child : poor child 1 dimly and Dorothy's 1 Oh I it was a dreary wooing,a vaguely she realized what she had done. hard, hard bargain for her to make or She realized that if ehe had held out firmly mar. against him and had said : " I have loved "Well,"said he, after a minute or two you all my life, and se soon as you will "what do you say ?" come and tell me you really want " to Dorothy going to be married?" elle me for yourself I will gladly come to asked, suddenly.. Holroyd ; but I will not marry any man He winced at the question, but he an. whose heart le filled full of another woman ewered it readily enough. " Dorothy is —I would rather live and die alone than married,' he said, steadily. that"—that then she, would have had a fair "Oh 1" and then she gave a great sigh chance of winning hie heart asentirley as and looked at him with pitoone, yearning even ehe oould wish. She realized this with - eyes, out actually putting her throughts rots lang- "Well ?" he said ; "I am waiting." uage, and she dimly grasped, too, that by "I don't know what to say," ehe burst fearing to let him go she: had made herself out, David Stevenson's slave forever. "No ! And yet I fauoied that you liked -- me better than the other fellows round — about." CHAPTER VIIL His tone was half.bitter,half•reproachful, as if hia Met hope was leaving him. The THE THIN EDGE OE THE WEDGE. girl was touched by it instantly, and Well, it happened the very day after turned quickly to him with both her hands this, that Lord Aylmer made up his mind outstretched. "Oh, David 1" she dried, in that be would we t no longer in effecting a voice of pain, "you know that I have al- an entrance into the little flat in Palade ways—always—likedyou—but—but"— Mansions. "But what ?" he asked coldly, and with- To do him justice, he never for one mo - out taking toe outatretohed hands. ment euopseted that his nephew and Mrs. Elsie let them fall to her side again. Harris were married- He imagined that "You have not said one word about car- the little. establishment was kept up in a ing for me," she said, in a trembling, timid way whiohis not an uncommon• one in voice. London, ani that now Dick was safely David began to feel that Mile wooing, packed off to India, he could go and make which he had fancied would be so easy, friends with the loveliest girl he had seen was going to prove more difficult than he for many aday, without any more difficulty had had any idea of. He had believed al- than that of starting an acquaintance. ways that he had only to hold up the pros- To tell the truth plainly, Lord Aylmer pact of being misbrees of Holroyd for Elsie had seen Dorothy with Dick, several to simply jump at the chance, and beret to months before he carried out the plan which hie intones aurpriee, wae Elsie demurring had got his nephew safely out of the road, to take him because he had said nothing of and had left him, as he believed, poor, Love. conceited, deluded, old man, a fair field ; "If I were a liar," he said roughly, " I end, to tell the truth further and more should have come and made love to you. I plainly still, Lord Aylmer had fallen des - should have pretended that I had been mis- perataly in love with her ! So desperately taken in thinking 1 had eared for Dorothy, that he had put himself under great oblige. I should have sworn 1 have never loved tions to his old friend Barry Boynton, had anyone but you. And by-and-by you would set my lady's suspicions working, and had have found me out, and then we should made Diok'detest him more than ever, in both be wretched. As it is, I came and order that he might possibly he able by told you honestly all that was in my heart, hook or by orook to god favor in Dorothy's I—I—asked you to help me over this bad eyes. Poor, deluded old man I If he had time, because I thought you loved me and only known all I Is he could only have would bear with me because of your lova. listened to the young husband and wife As it ie, never mind, there are plenty of. discussing " the old savage," and have women who will marry me willingly known all that had its home in Dorothy's enough, to be the mistress of Holroyd." faithful and tender heart I ooreamed ab the 1004 of her toy ; the florae reared and plunged, Barker adminlatered a out of his whip, and the next mofnpat they were dashing dawn the road, and an elderly woman wee .lying "helpleaaly in a dead faint just where the carriage had. pastiet. " My God 1 we are over some one 1" shouted Lord Aylmer, He Was the kind of man, who, on emergency,. a(waysappeal" to the Deity, whom in all his ways of life he utterly and systematically ignores. " Let me get out 1" he pried; Barker, who was pulling in the horses With might and main, bad already ohooked their mad speed, audit moment or eo later turned the horees, with a fees like ahalk anda dreadful fear knocking at hie heart that the motienieee figure lying in the road would never move again. He pulled up just where the crowd was gathering, and Lord Aylmer wail out of the carriage before Charles could oolleot his scattered senses ouflioiently to get off the box. (To BE GONTINDED.) " David 1" she cried, as he turned toward havet at hon, you see, he didnot,not, and than I the door,g y y He looked back, his hand still upon the should have had if all had gone smoothly handle. " Well?" he asked. " la it not and well with our young couple, and they so ?" had started their married lite at the tail In that one moment a dozen thoughts of a marching regiment, on an increased eeemed to go crowding through the girl's a•lewance kindly given thembya liberal distracted brain—a vision of Holroyd, and indulgent unole. with its rioh red gables, its stately avenue The old lord had not found it ,An easy of horse-oheetunts,ita pretty lodge,its velvet matter to effect an acquaintance with the lawns, and wide -sweeping view across the young lady in Palace Mansions; and,really, great sheet of water running up from the when you think of it, it isnot always an sea ; then a vision of Holroyd with a strange easy thing to accomplish, especially when woman as mistress, a vision of that strange there ie no help on the other side! However, woman's children breaking the serene this morniog,after having spent many hours stillness of the place—ah I no, ahe could reconnoitring the block of buildings palled not lose him for the sake of the one thing Palaoe Mansions, after having driven wanting which would make her oup of slowly up and down the High street, after happiness full—in time that might come— making many more or less useless purchases and even if it not, she would at least be in the High street shops, and after fretting spared the agony of seeing another woman his impatient old soul into a fever, he made reigning at Holroyd. No, whatever hap. up his mind that he would go boldly to the pened in the future, whatever might come house, ask for "Mrs. Harris, claim a to pass, she veld not run the risk of losing friendship with the departed Dick, and the roan she loved. In that brief space of gradually work iuto a position of friendli- time, the true instinct of feminine dignity Hess with the objeot of hie present admire. which always lives in a woman's heart, tion. called for notice, butin vain—it was stifled This admirable plan was, however, dee- m the pangs of love which consumed her. tined never to'be carried out—not because " David, don't go I" she Dried, in an appeal. Lord Aylmer changed his mind, not a bit ing voice, as he turned the handle of the of it I He carried out his part of it so far doer. " I only heeitatedbeoause—because as to order his carriage for a certain hour, I have always loved you so, and—and I and when that hour came. to get into it and thought that I should break my heart"— to give an order to Charles. She stopped short there, ashamed to and "Whereto, m'lord?" her sentence. "Palace Mansions." David Stevenson shut the door and Dame "An' 1 believe," murmured Charles to across the room to her side. "You thought Barker, as they drove off, "that the old what would break your heart?" he asked. codger's done it at last. Palmeri Nlansione. But Elsie shook her head. " Never is the order—that'e where Mrs. 'Arris lives mind," she eaid bravely. We won't talk you know." about that. I will come to Holroyd, and— "Aye ?" muttered the coachman, in end help you to forget the pest if I oan." reply. "And Mre. 'Arrie'll oatoh a Tartar "Then that's abargain," said be, drawing in 'an, no mistake about that." "They generally take care of themselves, eaid Charles, with a cynicism worth of lila estimable master. Coming events, they say, oast their ebadows before, and Barker, who had been giving asmall share of attention to Charles and gossip, suddenly pulled in his . horses with a jerk. " 'Oases is enclined to be playful today," he remarked. "1 desaey they know It is tho wrong time of year to be in town," returned Charles, suporallituely. "Likely enough, 'Oases la as sensible as Chrisbiaua, and senaibler than some," Bar- ker rejolned. As they got over the ground the "playful- ness'' of the horses did not subside ; indeed on the ooutrary, it increased, and to such an extant that by the time they turned into the Kensington High street they were rate fug along at exprees speed, with the evident intention of bolting as soon as they had a ohanoe. Barker, however, knew his Work and did not give them a chance at all, and by the timethey reached the corner of the road for which they were bound, they wore going steadily again. Hafer un0telyattnetpoint, however, that terrible maker of mischief, the tinforosen,liappened—a little child' with a balloon se large es a man's head midden. lot go the string with which ahe had held it aaptive ; the al non Beare d away and whoa 1 come? And I, shall clothed into the near horse's fade; the child FRANCIS JOSEPH'S FOOT.WASHING The Curious Ceremony or 11oly Wash at Vienna, On Holy Tnuraday, at Vienna, the Emperor, Francis Joseph performed the annual ceremony of watching the feet of twelve old beggars. The ceremony took place in the Hall of. Ceremonies in the imperial palace. On a platform raised slightly above the floor was a long table with twelve °overs, a plate, knits, wooden spoon, folded napkin for each, with apiece of bread, a pewter mug, and a little blue a long breath. flushed and puzzled, too, but as yet she had He did not say a word beside, did not no idea of his meaning. attempt to touch nor, or oat in any way "You must know as well as I do," he different to hie usual manner to her, except - went on, not attempting to go a step near- ing, perhaps, that he wae less polite than er to her or to take her hand, " that I've ordinary ouatom considers necessary be - oared for Dorothy Strode all my life." tween persona who are not bound together "Yea,' said the girl, faintly. "'Well," standing up very straight and stiff, and with a fade litre marble, "that's all over now, and I want to get my life settled into shape, Holroyd wants a mis- treaa,and I've kept the place open so long," by ties of blood, "Bythe bye," he said, soddenly, "I have bought something to seal our contract. No, you need not look like that, I only bought it yesterday. I went over to Ips• wion on purpose.•• with a piteous attempt at making fun, He had taken a little case out of his "that I hardly like to offer it to any one pocket, and now held his hand out to her else. Well," finding one did not speak with a ring lying upon the palm. It was a "what do you say, Elsie ? " beautiful ring—diamond and sapphires—a She wan staring at him in utter coaster• ring fit for a princess nation, her. light blue eyes filled with 'Won't you have it ?" he asked, in sur wonder, her white brow wrinkled, some of , prise, an she made no effort to take it." the color blanched from her cheeks, and "Yes; if you will give it to Inc,' one her lips parted. I don't quite under. answered. stand, David," she said, at last. He tools the ring in his other hand and Ile drew a long breath of impatience.. held it toned her. Elsie took it with an "Look here, Elsie," he said, "I am young, inward groats, a wild ory tieing up in her rich, decent -looking, and nota bad sort us heart. Oh 1 my; God 1 will it be like this feflowo go. But's its no use imy coming for always?" and then she put it on her and offering you the devotion of a lifetime; loft hand, Whence it teamed to strike cold you wouldn't believe me if I did—you'd to her very heart. lie and I don't want g"I mustgo now," Da id said after look- 'sayitwosa , begin> Y by lying to . you. But I can offer you all ing et her hand fora moment. "`1'11 dome the rest of my lido, and 1 swear 1'11 do my back this evening. I must go now. Will level best .10 he a good husband,to you; I you toll your people, and then I it spook swear that.", to your father pitcher filled with water. At 10 o'clock twelve old men, the youngest 89 and the oldest 96, entered the. hall and were sup. ported, eaoh by two relatives, to the platform, whioh they mounted with diffi- culty, and were placed in their emits, their relatives,' most of them women, standing behind them. Then entered twenty Knights of the Teutonio Order, beaded by their master, Archduke Eugene, dressed in white with a long blank cross on the breast of their doublets and another on the back of their long white cloaks: They marched around the hall, and then, form- ing a line on either side, made way for the ministers, with Count Kalnoky at the head, and the Emperor's staff. They were followed by the Primate of Austria, Card- inal Grusoha, with priests and acolytes bearing candles and burning incense. THEN CAME THE =PERM dressed in the white uniform of an Austrian General and wearing the order of the Gold- en Fleece. lie advanced to the table and. addressed a few words to the old men. At a signal from the master of ceremonies twelve guardsmen stepped forward, eaoh bearing on a tray the first course of a sumptuous repeat; the Emperor now took off his helmet, gave it to an officer, and, passing down the line, arranged the dishes before each gueat. Twelve Archdukes then approached andremoved the Barmeoide banquet from the guests' eyes, handing the ;dishes to the guards. This was repeated for three ooureee, and with the last the plates, knives, and other objects on the table were also taken off. They were all packed later, with the food in wooden boxes, and sent to the homes of the old men. The table was then taken away, and the " washing of feet" began. A priest tip praohed with a towel and a golden basin full of water; their slippers were taken from the old men's feet, and the Emperor, on hie knees, beginning with the oldest, moisten- ed hie feet with water and dried them with the towel. Without riling still on his knees, he passed on to the next one, and so on to the end of the row. When he had finished he rose and placed around each man's neck a chain, attaohed to which was a small white bag containing thirty pieces of silver. That ended the ceremony ; the Emperor and his suite withdrew, and the old men were taken home by their friends. AORICULT URA , Device OP Removing Reolcs and n Wagon Belie, "Tho aoo0mpanying llluetrations ropreoen a oentrlvanee by whioh heavy raoke and wagon bods dao be taken off and on with. outmuoh difficulty. In 'Pig 1 the up. rights, a a, aro 4x 4x8 timbers. The oroespieoss, L1,,are one -inch boucle. The orank, c, is from an old St, Paul self•binder, The timboro ab the top are secured by a 12 -inch bolt Widish also boars a pulley. Ab the bottom the up. rights are 2fy feet apart. The rope c. may be of any eon - 0 venient size, and FIG, 1: the hook should have an opening of 2e. inches. Drive en old bolt into the lower end of each upright, so that the frame will stand aeoure. Now set four poste, f(iI"ig 2) 12 feet apart eaoh way,nail stripe of boards e, on eaoh side at the top, to keep the arosapieoes in place. When you want to unload or load the rack, drive or back In between the prate.' Block the hind wheels, set the pulley frame direotly behind the wagon,' fasten the hook to the hind arose. piece of the reek, and with the orank hoist it high enough so that the aroaspieoe, d, oan be put in plane. Do the same with the front end,and you will have your rank high and dry. In loading hoist only high enough to pull out the crosspiece, then let the rack down on the wagon only one end at a time. The posts must be of sufficient height to permitof the wagon with the rank on being driven underneath the crosspieces. The rack should be kept under shed or shelter, and will then be in service for several seasons' usefulness. Any one handy with tools oan easily construct such a devioe,the use of which will soon save enough time and bard work to pay for itself. Lord Salisbury's Romance. In a very interesting article, " The Wives of Eminent Statesmen," we read of a romance connected with the marriage of the present Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury. A Judge's daughter was not considered a sufficient match for the eon of a Marquis. The late Lord Salisbury tried to prevent the match, but se his eon, then Lord Robert Cecil, was persistent, he so far relented as to make terms. These were that Lord Robert should undertake not to see or communicate with Mies Alderson for an entire year. "The young lover stood the test and at the close of the year he obtained his father's consent ; but the Marquis, while continuing his allowance of 0600 a year, declined to increase M. So rune the story ; and it has been said that the necessity of doing some- thing for his own support may have assisted .to develop the noble Lord's talent." " Lord Rosebery," the article goes on, "has no wife now to receive his guests and to represent him in the drawing -rooms of Mayfair. Heentertains small parties of politicians at dinner during the Session, but male dinuere are, in general, not amus- ing." " A peep into Lord Rosebery'shome life was given in a letter by the late Lord Houghton while staying with him in 1880. ' Rosebery, he wrote, is devoted to hia baby, whore he carries about all day.' The death of hia wife—one of the kindest ladies who ever lived—drove him long from publio 'life. It waspartly in order to assuage his grief that bit. John Morley in- duced him to write the life of Pitt in the Twelfth English Statesman' aeries." Thinning Fruit. Mrs. S. D. Willard says that judiolous pruning and thorough thinning of fruit are each important factors in fruit growing andneither can be ignored except at an inoaloulable loss in 'the future of th orchard. Beginning with the second year rom planting, the young orchard should be looked over with care annually, and the previous year's growth out in, removing from one-quarter to one half of such growth thus forming a strong, compact head and the development of the fruit spurs near the body of the tree, where the tubure orop may be carried with safety against violent storms, and lessening the liability of the limbs being broken and split to pieties. Nor oan any lack of care at an early period of growth touching this question be met and overcome in atter years, when the saw must be substituted for the knife in an effort to make good loot opportunities. Orchards there are where this principle has been practised, with heads as symmetrical and round as the most beautifully formed horse oheetnut you ever saw. The work should be carefully followed any time after the tree becomes dormant, in the autumn and through the winter, when the wood to not filled with frost. Keep Ahead of the Weeds. There is only one economical way to fight weeds• -that is to keep ahead of them When they are just breaking through the ground they oati bo slaughtered with leas labor than at any other time. That is the time to take them in hand, A little later and the work will be doubled, Too many overlook tide fact. In many towns five per cent. oft is allowed on all taxes paid before a certain date, and mea hustle to ;lay their tax and save that live per cent. A muolr larger per cent, off is seocred by the man who takes the woods iteseason, One enn go over a garden. With an iron rake when tire weeds are just breaking 1310001, and in an 'hour's time aceotnplieh wonders. A wook later be will have to take his hoe and laboriously cut, out, mat. And even then doesn't destroy half as many of the, roots of weeds as ha would have done a week before with the rake. Neglecting the weeds Is something one simply cannot afford. Two paths lie always justaliead, await- ing all who onward tread ; this warning be their guide ; darkness and light to left or right ; oh, take the sunny aids'—Anon. Ono of my neigbboro,wibh a prop uptilin. nod and double in quantity what the trees ehouid have carried, had this queetio0 to meet a few years glade, Ile .allowed them to stand until finally they were picked off bhe ground, and while he reusivod denble pride it was son feorfulexpenue, A severe winter followed, the recuperative power had all been bepended on the crop, and the trees --many of them were dead the follow, Ing spring, while the others have never regained their former vigor. An object lesson worth remembering. He Bay* he will never again be 80 foolish, The fruit should be oarofnlly plotted in baskets seleotod.for that purpose, darted to the peeking house, and if the weather be bob, be allowed to stand until cool, so that when paoked for shipment no heat oan be found in it ; the fruit oaretully sorted, packing and marketing all that lel inferior asNo, 2. The beat results are often attained by growing a variety of truita,hence we should say, if praotioable, rn ponneation with plume, grow cherries and more or lees of small fruite, but in any event plant more than a single variety of whatever you may plant and eo alternate varieties that you may be sure of erose fertilization or perfesb pollination of the bloom. Our highest au- thorities to -day urge it as one of the most important measurea tb be considered. Thorough and careful cultivation is a sub- ject of such importsnoo alto deserve parlous consideration before otos ing thio already ton lengthy paper. Plume cannot be grown profitably in grass, nor do we believe weeds should be permitted to devour the elements of fertility that have been so wisely and liberally be. stowed upon our orohards,but please do not forget that thorough cultivation does not by any means imply the deep, bwo•horae ploughing which at times is given the apple and pear. Unlike those fruits, our plum is a surface -rooting tree and may be serious. ly injured by deep anneal ploughing. The soil, however, should be kept cultivated In as shallow a manner as possible during the proms of fruit making, so se to destroy weeds and aid in rendering available every particle of plant food for the growing crop, and where the plum tree thrives we believe that au observance of the principles we advocate will beat coneerve the interest of the plum grower. ENGLISH AT THE HEAD. Spoken by There People Than Any Other Language or Civilization. More people speak Engliohthan any other anguago now in use in the civilized world, and the inoreaeein the use of English ie so rapid' that it mayy ultimately outstrip all the European languages collectively. At the beginning 'of the present century French stood at the head of languages in general use. Then20 per Dent. of the people of Europe and America spoke French,. Then followed, in order named ; Russian, 19 per cent.; German, 18 per pent.; Spanish, 16 per-oent.; Bnglieh, 12 per cent.; and Italian, 9 per. cent. French was the langu- age of treatiee, of fashion, of international correspondence, and, to a considerable extent, of commerce. At the beginning of - the present century twice as many people in Europe spoke French as English and twice as many spoke German as English. More persona in Europe spoke Italian than English, and, in foot, Euglieh had a subordinate rank. Colonization in America and Australia, and particularly the enormous increase of population in the United Stated, favored. the extension of English. Colonization in South and Central America favored Spanish and in Brazil, Portuguese. One reesou of the rapid and general extension of the Eng- lish language has been that colonization from Great Britain has been very much larger than from other countries, and the English have made their influence felt more deoteively than have the people of other. nations in colonies. Thus, for instance, Holland has to -day extensive colonies in various parte of the world. The present population of Holland is 4,000,000, and of the Dutch colonies 24,000,000. The area of Holland in square miles is 20,000, and of the Dutch colonies 660,000. But the Dutch language hoe never been extended to any great extent by reason of these aolonies,the inhabitants of which have never learned Dutch. The French, Italian, and Russian languages have not been extended greatly through colonization.-- As a consequence of the changes through oolonizatiob and other- wise 110,000,000 people now speak English instead of 20,000,000 as at the beginniug of the century. German has held its own with out variance for nearly 100 years;and-iestil spoken by 18 per cent. of those speaking any European language. Russian has fallen off a - little, not in numbers but in percentage, and so have all the Latin lauguages. The number of persons speaking French at the beginning of the century was 31,000,000. and now it is 51,000,000. The number of persons speaking Spanish at the beginning of the century was 20,000,000; now it is 40,000,000. The number of those portions speaking Italian has increased from 15,000,- 000 to 30,000,000—just double. In Europe to -day German stende at the head. It ie the language of 68,000,000 peo- ple. Russian follows with 60,000,000, French with 45,000,000, English with 38,- 000,000, Italian with 31,000,000, and Span Mb with 17,000,000. In the United States the growth of English lrae been, and con- tinues to be, most rapid, and the two - countries whish are gaining inost by the increase of population, the United States and Australia, are both English-speaking countries, and bid fair to keep English at the head. A subject of no less importance, ofttimee involving the health end even vitality of the tree itself, is the proper thinning of the fruit. The average quality rarely sells at anything over average prices, while the large, well developed specimens only bring the high prides that afford the largest pros fits, and auoh fruit is not found in trees overloaded beyond their power to properly mature. Very much has been said and written on thte subject in the past, and yet how few the number of fruit growers who have the nerve or inclination to thin their fruit. This neglect may he in a measure ex- cusable on the apple, but not sowith the plum. In every department of nature the effort at production so taxes vital forces as to make it a weakening process, and in none of our fruits is this more manifest than In the plum, which is often so depleted from a single year's overproduction us to never recover from the injury inflicted. It isnot the production of the fruit itseit, but the draft upon the energies of the plant to per- fect the pit, that reduces the vital powers, and often loads to premature death. Hence: we say, after the dropping of the flute which usually follows the setting of a large crop, in the month of Juue, the wise plume grower will find it a greet advantage to have removed a portion of that rontainmg, and, as a result the marketable drop lo• creased, quality greatly improved and the trees, with`thetr vigor unimpaired, fitted at once to begin the storing up of necessary material for smother crop. .11. lack of a little common genas on the pert of nreny a man hue destroyed or rendered worthless more plain trees than the work of all in - seats and diseases combined. So closely connected with the question of thinning is the time of pinking that the two should be ooneideredtogother. There- fore, we say, at the enrlieet moment prac- ticable after fully grown and colored, while yet bar., pick and diapos° of, even though a weep later migh tshow a muberial advauoe- ment in price. At this stage of ripeness they meet the requirements of the .purchas- ere,Will stand up well for distant shipments, end relief is at once 'afforded to the overburdened tree. Prices are quite apt to advanee as the season progresses, and the temptation to allow the fruit of sorts nob hitlined to deoxy to stand ever for another weak Or MVO is hard to rooiet, but it is often a fatal mistake. A house of Rulers. From the accession of the Prince of Wales the British royal family, by British ouatoms, will be celled the Coburgs ; and bad it been thelot of the little Lady Alexandra Duff, . or any future brother of bora, to found a new line, that would have been called the Dulls, alike by histeriano and by the people a prospect whioh bemires no pleasure. The Coburgs ore better liked r they .are sup- posed, and so far rightly supposed, to ac- commodate themselves more easily than any • reigning family to eonetltutional.'monarchy; they are royal by desoout, and they have • had the strangest good fortune in their alliance. Within a few years the three grented throngs in the world, time of creat Britain, Germany and Russia will be occupied by descendants of the Prihoe con- sort, while seven minor thronot, those of Belgians, Portugal, Greece, Hesse, Saxe. Gotha, Rotimanina and Bulgaria --one of which two last may, bo established at Constantinople—will bo filled by mon of Coburg blood. Wo aro more jealous of frivolous seemn pliehnrenbe with brilliant moose than of bhe moat estimable qualities: without. Johnson envied Gerrit/lc, whoa be despised, and ridiouled Goldsmith, whore he loved. --,- Heel itt. oved,--oHeelibt.