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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1892-7-29, Page 311 JULY 9, 1892 THE PLAQ OP PLOVER PIERRE, -- BY Pitmqvis PM,unit. On the northeastern there of Lake Chem. plain is n )ong muscly beach. Inland from this el:retches the army expanse of a tamarack swamp, Ono afternoon earlyin October the only living things in plain sight along this beach were several email sand- pipers that daintily tiptoed over the sancl, and a toll blue heron wading in the shallow water. But when one looked closely (ass dicl Plover Pierre) one noticed a burin of bushes stuok into the sand so as to f orm what hunters term a "blind." The blue heron, keeping a wary eye on the misplaced blushes, may have thought it thus called because only sightless creatures would think a place so suspicious looking devoid of harm. As Plover Pierre mend the beach he discovered a man lying behind the bushes of the blind. This man was a stalwart bronzed fellow, perhaps thirty years old ; hint on the blue uniform of the United States army, and wore long leather boots, and as he lay stretched on his side a ihot. gun rested in the hollow of his arm. Just now the lieutenant was yawning. The sone was a stupidly peaceful one ; all things werequiet and sleepy—too muth so to please the young officer. Re longed for a flock of plover to flutter by, and relieve the monotony. "If something doesn't turn up pretty soon," he thought, "I'll stalk rn) friend the blue heron; tliongh I believe the old fellow keeps an eye on me, for all his marching along in smoh an unconscious and dignified manner. He's the only bird bigger than my thumb that I've seen for an hour. Why, so far as apart goes, I might better be at the barracks drilling recruits. But, hello there's a queer bird." He had seen Plover Pierre. Pierre emerg• ed from the shadow of the evergreens and stood epon the sand. The boy did not see many strangers, so he moved along the beach to investigate this one. As lie passed by, the little sand -pipers tip-uped as if making low courtesies to a friend, and the blue herou looked at him, with less haughti- ness than it usually assumed ; perhaps the bird believed that Pierre came to destroy the absurd structure called a blind. But for once the heron was mistaken. Pierre did not disturb the blind, but crawl- ed behind it to chat with the 'soldier. At first the boy was half afraid of this long fellow in blue clothes and brass buttons, though his faoe was kind and friendly. Pierre had once been in a law court at Que- bec, where the high official was addressed as monseigneur. The boy decided te use this title in the present instance. "Monseigneur, are you a Yankee?" The soldier nodded, and Pierre resumed: So am I. We have moved, and now we live one mile south et the line between Canada and Vermont, You see, I am a Yankee by a whole mile." "So you are," replied the other ,• "and in your case no oue can say a mile's not better than a miss. You wouldn't like to miss being a Yankee, would you?" "No, indeed, monseigueur. 10111 proud to be a Yankee. The French and the Yankees were always friends, aud 11 10 good to belong to the United States. Since we are both Yankees, we should be friends. Ts it not so?" " Of course it is." The soldier laughed, got up, aud made more room for Pierre, "Coos, what'll you have? Here's some ale, and here's a cigar." Plover Pierre shook his head. "Jules says liquor is enly good to put out a cigar. I want neither." "Why, 11) 15 Jules must be a perfeet stoic." 011 no ; Jules is my friend, and he lives quite near us. He, too, has moved to Ver. moot." "And I imagine you're great playfellows," suggested the lieutenant. " Well, not quite that, monseigneur. Ile teaches me, and knows many stories. You see, he is old. He was my father's clerk, and he has white heir standing up all over his head. My father , ' said Pierre, proudly, "was a notary, and know all things. Jules says my father was quite old when Ile mar. vied the mother. Thon he died, and she married Jean Bourdo. He is strong, and on work on the farm, but he likes -better to be idle." The boy was rattling on, when he remembered that Jules said people should not talk too much of their own affairs. A. dusky red crept into his swarthy face. " Bub it tires you to hear all this. Do you come from the barracks across the lake, where they teach now soldiers?" His new acquaintance smiled assent. "Jules says it is a shame for United States people to fight each other; but I like wars. I should go if it were not for that." As Pierre said "that," lie looked at some. thingwhich should have metalled the sturdy les curled up beneath him, but was only a piece of wood fastened to a very short stump of leg. Besides the wooden leg, Pierre carried two yellow crutches, Per- haps it was these slender substitutes for legs which &owe him the name of Plover Pierre. The soldiet's eyes searched the bosom oi the lake as though muoll interest- ed in watching a distant flock of plover. Pierre's face brightened as he oontinued : " Although I can't walk well, I ride bettor than most boys. I might be a horse soldier, and so fight just as hard for my county as oan other people, Will you drill me to be a soldier ?" The man in blue shifted his eyes from the imagineryflock of plover, and looked at Pie,rre. Why, you're too young. You can't bo more than ten years olcl." "Nob so ; I am twelve, and know well how to shoot." The officer seemed tobe ponderingPierre's soldierly advantages. He 111111108(011 110 him- self, ." I wish those fellows Fm'drilling had this boy's spirit." But now the quiet bay was stirred into new life. A stesailesench rounded one of the points and puffed toward the young officer's blind. The blue heron gave a cry of surprise, ancl thent recoveriag its dignity sWept away with majestic wings. The eol- dier got up, and theca the sand from his clothes.. "Here's the govermnent 1)01911 00100 to take me back to Plattsburg Berenice," A small skiff put out from the launch to bring him on board. He threw a few shore birds into the skiff, and stepped in himself, and wee rowed away. The government boat fiew two flags—a large one et the bow and it smaller est the germ When the lieutenent got on board, he pulled down the one from the stern and getting into the ekiff again was rowedkaelc to the shore. Pierre was again, standing on the send. The officer gravel, handed the adore to the boy. "011510 Sam presents then to a valued °Him, Never ingot that you are 8. Valikee, Pierre, being each a rietv citizen, did nob quite understand the reference to Unele SM. tut hie heart gave a throb of ptide, and he nevetently took the colored silk into his grimy hands, As he 'hopped back though the ewainp roacl leaclingx to the fields beyond he TEE BRUSSELS POST. at their. deska. The raiders ever. HORRIBLE 0 OliFESSION Or A BOY, Tho tell man would not give me Om flag if still he had any doubt About it," When he reached the leg . holm It was growing dusk. The fat twine, bit half- sisters, were rolliug ever the floor, and Madame Bourdo busied herself in getting supper. The stout Canadian women still showed some traces of her comely girlhood. Jean Bawds:hi heavy figure lounged by the stove, a grievous obstacle both to his wife and the tumbling twins, " jean Bourn," 08191 Pierre, "would you not like to be 0, soldier ?" A good question 1 And if I went to the war, who wonld earn bread for you to eat 1" "Jules seys that if my father's inotiey had been well managed, it would support all," Jean turned angrily. " Jules is orazy And as for your father, Pierre Beaudrie, he did so muoll bur- rowing into old books that he had no time to plongh the land or collect fees from the clients." The woman stopped him. " The notary made a good husband, though he Ives old. enough to be my father. In his time I lived like a lady." Pierre had hidden the flag ander lus jack. et, and now he climbed the ladder to the loft and put the silk beneath his pillow. Ho returned to the lower part of the room ; the familt had supper, and Jean lighting his pipe said "Pierre, go you to bed. I have company to -night, and todnorrow you must be up early to help the threshers." Plover Pierre kept nearly as early hours as the plovers themselves. To -night, marc• over, he was willing to be alone, for ho had plenty to think about, lie pulled himself up the ladder as nimbly as could most boys who had two legs. After admiring the bright flag, he carefully laid it away among his few belongings, and soon was in bed. Visions of war and soldiers filled his ex. cited brain. The friendly. officer ceased to be an aweeinspiring monseigneur ; now he was merely a good comrade, and they were fighting for the same beloved country. Plerre himself, bestride gallant white charger, and holding aloft the emblematic flag, led ranks of horseman to victory. The restless boy, tossed by such fancies must have lain awake for a long One, when he was recalled to himself by hearing a door open and some one enter the room below. Again and again visitors arrived until there must have been ten men assembled in the lend} cabin. So many visitors were unusual, anclPierre, at first without meaning to turn eavesdrop- per, heard enough of their talk to rouse suspicions. Getting quietly Oat of bed, he put his eye to a, crack in the floor and lis- tened. The men had arranged their business, and were about to leave. 'When they had all risen, one of them spoke to Joan Bou- cle: " Remember, Bourdo, how it is settled. We are to meet, here to -morrow afternoon at five—twenty men, armed and on good horses. You, in what disguise you please, are to ride with us, guide us to St Albans by the shortest road, and point out the vil- lage banks. We will do the rest. For do ing this, von are to receive one hundred dollars. "If there seems auy danger of your being implicated, you en uross the line into Canada, and we will make good all your losses." Bourdo was satisfied, and the men went out. Plover Pierre, listening overhoad, trembl- ed with excitment. He felt sure this was a plot against his new Yankee land—e, plot which might compel him to return to Unla- de. He comprehended that there was trouble ahead for St. Albans, and that the people must be warned. Indeed, he had heard the conspiring of those desperete and irresponsible inn, who in 1864, under DO authority from Richmond or any govern. merit, planned to sweep down from Cisnada, surprise the village of St. Albans, Vermont., and rob its banks. The boy crept noiselessly back to bed, but 11 997940 long before he slept. When he 1101, the flag, the officer, the conspirators, and the fatecl banks pushed their benign and hateful influences into his dreaths. All the next morning Pierre waS busy helping the threshers. Joan would have kept him at work during the afternoon as well, but at four o'clock the boy contrived to escape from the barn. Slipping away to the home, bo got his flag from the loft where Ile had left it. He tried to think of some way of warning St. Albans before the men who were to leave at five could reach there, Lame as Ile was, it was impossible to walk the fifteen miles in time. Bourclo, he knew, would take the young brown mare, their only horse. Sven now he was grooming her in the amble. Pierre was almost in despair, when he remeinbered that old Jules, their neigh- bor, had a horse. To be sure, it was cld and somewhat stiff, but it was better than nothing. He would at once go to Jules and ask for the horse. But moments Wars precious, and there WaS no time for explan- ations, He knew where the animal was pastured, and must take it withoue asking. Soon he had caught the olcl gray, slipped a bridle over its head, and scorning a saddle, was bestride his steed. Plover Pierre did not knew the nuntry well, bet he was sure of the general direc- tion in tvhich St. Albans lay, As he gallop- ed along, Pierre grow excited, and WU fill- ed with joyous enthusiasm. The email fig- ure on the gaunt.gnay horse was perhaps a travesty on his vision of the ca,vislry officer dashing at the head ot hie troops, but the boy was satisfied. His minion was a re. sponeible one, and lie was working for the cause in whiah he burned to distinguish himself. He had pushed the flag under his jacket. Now he took it out, and tied it about him like an officer's sash. The people at the few Term -houses along the road stared at this ap. parition. After he had travelled what seem- ed to him a long distance, he got Into a country where there were no farmhouses The land was hilly, rough, and used for pasturage alone. Pierre bad no wistoh, but he thought it meet, be:nearly six °hank. This oould not be the male toad to St Albans, Ite climb- ed high hilla and looked about, but he could see no village spires While watching from one of these hille, he saw, far to the westward a body of horsemen canteting along a smooth road. Pierre s hone Knit within him. These were the raiders, and he was too late. His oppontunity had come and he had failed I Dineuraged and limp in body, he rode sad. ly down to the highway where he had seen the horeemen, and followed 19 1)0019 toward hie home. As the raiders clashed through the out - shirts of St, Albans, the people stared in aelamithment at the cavalcade of w101-10 ing Men carrying carbines, and With pistols etttek in their belts Jean I3ourdo, &eased af; an Indian chief, all hie clull Wite sheep. nod by extitement, led them on• They rode into the midst of the town. The Villegeee, unconsciotie of clanger, did not molest thom. Bourdo pointed out. the different henks ; then heel- closed for the thottglit 9 " ow 1 am Melly a Yankee. I day 10 On pakho, but the bookkeepers W000 powered them, broke open the antes, am took what, 19301My they coeld hastily gather, ssuriterinve a Woman for Bee stoney. In halt an hour they seem galloping away, A 13501in deepatch mays 1—The murderer firing their 0911010 as they vvent, tine cite' „,„ &In, of the wife et the Postmanter Menzel was zen who appeared at his doorstep ateeetoiloe Saturday. Thu crime, which ex. and killed. Buthnnoet of the bullets were fired high into the air. They 000„ punch' cited peculiar horror, 0,tellrrOd on aley 391. The weft, a middle aged woman, who the that bourns, and rapidly 7novoci uorth. bore a good character, wee found Ly her ward over the same reed whieh Pierre had husband' on 11 10 return from work lying taken on his return home. mot., and dead in her outdour dress. The bOdy jules's old horse WU growing 1980 more lame. It WEIS =Shod, and this long hacked to piece& A workman named Neel: - who WAS arreated 071 Friduy on a journey had made its feet tender, Pierre did amlu, hod to charge of theft, volunteered in the course not like to urge it too much, and so be setiefied with a slow trot. The ni of the ev'ening to give Worm:AO:1 about would now have been quite dark had no a crescent I110011 shed an uncertain light on the brown fields, and lingered about Ole bright silk which hung from the shoulder of email boy, perched on a tall grey horse. Dark patches of woodland bordered the road, and when Pierre was passing one of those, which he thought not tar from home, he heard a clattering of hoofs behind him, He did not expect the raiders to return so soon, but he thought 0191001 he they. The boy feared to let Bourdu see him. A wood rostel led into the bushes, and Pierre, riding into this dark recess:, halted some twenty yards from the road to let the horsemen pm. His horse wall hidden by thadovve ; but the little moon slid down between the evergreens, and lit up tho gay colors of the flag, The raiders were riding recklessly, sing. ing and shouting. They Imo hilarious with success. Two young fellows brought, up the rear of the galloping column. A startled owl flapped over their heads, and one aimed his carbine at the slowly moving bird. "Jim, if we'd no orders not to fire, I'd bring down that fellow." "If I wanted to shoot," returned Jim,, "Pd take orders from no man. Hello ! look into this path. Don't that look like the thing they cell a flag up hero ?" Ho stopped his horse, raised a rifle and flred. The two resumed their gallop, and caught up with the main body. The captain look- ed back angrily, tut did net stop to re- monstrate. Already the sharp ear of Jean Bourdo had caught the sound of pursuing horses. They were only two miles from the the Menzel murder. He said that he was not the murderer, lint that he knew who was, and denounced a boy of it named Wagenschnetz. After the confession had been made, Nether= and fonr pollee offiaerd drove direct to Wagensehnetz's home and arrested him. When he was asked, if he knew Frau Menzel he turned pale and admitted that he did. After further search- ing questions had been put, he broke down entirely, and confessed everything. He selil that Menzel had been in the habit of visit- ing his parents, at whose house he had learned that Frau Ivlanzel bad money. He and Neukamm were in urgent need of funds, and Neukantm suggested that they should call on Menzel and secure the money at any soot. They went to Menzel's rowel, and Neukamm stayed downstairs while Wagenschuetz knocked. The door was opened by Frau Menzel, Wagenshuetz stepped inside and begged for a loan of two shillings. Frau Menzel opened her purse, with the intention of complying with his request, and aeciclentelly let it fall. There- upon Wa.genschnetz stabbed her with the knife whieli he had cencealed up hue sleeve. Fran Menzel fell back upon the bed in an insoneible condition. Wagenschuetz began to scent the room, and, when his victim showed signs of returning consciousness he took the fire shovel and beat her about the head until life was extinct. Waged. schnetz then retired and joined Neukamm, After he had washed the blood off his hands and clothes, thoy divided their booty. They then separated, and when drunk bragged of their deed but none of their associates divulged the horrible secret. Both were Canada line when a troop of horsemen ap- sons of respectable parents. Wagen• peered on the brow of a hill a short distance sohuetz's mother we.s apprised today that behind them, her son had made a full confession of his The robbers pub spur to their horses ; crime, and was so terribly affestect lty the the better animals responded, but some news that she attempted to oommit suicide could not, and their riders were overtaken, made prisoners, and part of the money re- covered. The betternounted men escaped into Canada they too were finally captur- ed, and most of the booty returned to the banks. Jean Bourdo left the raiders before they were overtaken, and 110 one suspected his oonneotion with the "St. Albans raid." The next morning Jules was surprised to find his gray horse, more lame than usual, waiting at the stable door. The old clerk went to the Boned° house to ask Pieree if he knew anything about it. The boy Was missing. Jules thought his absonee and the travel -worn condition 0(1 1(190 horse were in some way connected. He returned to his stable, 191911 1971119 patient care followed back the track of the shoeless hoofs. Slowly he traced the horse's path till he was led to the swamp beside 1(110 90011 Here he found flag, and boy, equally cold, and both pierced by a rifie•bullet. ID the evening a friend strolled into the lieutenant's quarters at the recruiting station, " Here's news," he announced. " Roughs from Canada have robbed the St. Albans' banks. One villager killed, and this morning a boy cripple, wrapped in a flag and shot through the heart, was found near the road by which the raiders return- ed to Canada." " A cripple boy Witll a. flag ?" cried the officer. He threw away his cigar; and the next clay he was moody, and took little in. tense in the drilling. The evergreen bushes stook into the sand of the bay near the tainarack swamp dried and wilted, the plover uttered mournfal cries as they circled over the deserted beach, ancl the blue heron, wading along with drooping wings, found the old-time relish for frogs was gone. Plover Pierre had left them. A Blithe Dandelion; My gay dandelion, my blithe dandelion 1 So cheerfully nodding at blossonis and boos, Toj edge from your seaming, you re happy and dreaming That life is all summer, and each gale a breeze. Bewarel while you're smiling and leaning, careening, Should Glover blooms jostle you, idle winds blow! What's that/ rm a croaker, a stupid old stoker; But feeding with worry, the furnace of WOO ? foar, my port N'assal, yOur silvery castle Will tient with the mists, whore the meadow streams ilow. Who knows if tho MOrrOW May bring Joy, or sorrow ; Still rocking entranced in tho whispering 'broom, You bow and you glance, while the apple blows dance Like saucy white butter.ffies, down from the trees ; wing hitt were you saying I that living, is lay. Pp stores as you go, that you bask in the light And though you're no beauty, you deem it your duty, To geow in the sunshine, be merry and bright? My bravo dandelion, my 130191 dandelion I Perchance, after all, you are more than half right. The Fioture Bold for More than the Real Estate. A few months ago Keith painted a scone on F. M. Wilson's Berkeley tract, A dainty, pastoral bit, full of sunlight, vibrant with life and fresh with dew, it attracted attn. tin, but for a time the artist's price was above the pocket -books of the pieture's ad- mirers. It was a picture Keith himself loved, a rung in his ladder of fame, and he wanted to keep it as long as he °Geld ; the prioe, therefore, be made high. A. week 00 50 ago Mr. Wilson called on him and noticed the painting. Like others Who hacl seen it ho admired it vary much and spoke of the faithfulness with which gg t; 11:10rhop9:sen tea tho none. more pictures you will have to see the now tho other, and fitting them exactly into Sold sold *et lot, and if you want to paint any mattress in half, laying ono part on top of " the way,' he mid at last. " I hove ing-room may be made by cutting ts narrow 5. cried Keith, " Well, 'wood !should laise them to m etacient height corner of the room, A small frene.work of A simple little oother divan for draw. this very morning I sold the picture. Queer, from the floor. Covey in any way desired, isn't it ? By the way, bow muoli did you either with a frill around the edge and a gatifOlintlelgeiOd 0O1;i0e—five hundbuftod red dollars," WI', or by baying ° rug csr°1°41Y i " Five hundred dollars 1" Orin the A pillow or two will 90091019 comfortable, artist oontemptuoutly, why, 1 got twelve and if a hanging lamp or a gas bracket is hundred dollars for my ploture,"—(Son placed overhead, and sore= is use(1, a te. Pennine Wave. tired and cosy place is always at hand, where one may rest or road. A Turkish Spooner, a Chicago bicyclist, established rug suspended from the all at the baek 0510097 World's record by riding 8711101105 in gives a rioli effect, which may bo further 24 hoer& enhanced by running a shelf for books A Philadelphian hes nonvorted the reef 41)"° of hie }muse into 19 g,rdenw , herein he oulti- For it oerase stail clothes, wa 011 ibout think:able 10 their praise of Limburger voles his 01915 vegetables. in aleohol while it is fresh, choose as 001100 for dyspepsia. How to Make a Divan. The Turkish divan has come to be so highly appreciated in this part of the world that there is scarcely a house where some attempt has not been made to secure a longing. lace which shall be similar, at • .. Although the vine its fruit deny The Babbath 1 oaILDB,4ws FINNY SAYINGS. 'rhe huddipg ng tree droop ana die, " oh, no—there ain't any favorites: In , Yet win I train, me 111 my Clod, Yea, bend rejoicing to his rod, And by hio grace be beard. Thongli lield, In verdure once array'd By whirlwinds desolate 190 1,011, Or parched by northing beam; Still in in Lord shall be my trust, My ley I for, though his frown Willa, meroy "s 'moraine. Though from the foldo the flock decay, Though herds lie farnish'd o'er the lea, And round the empty stall; _My BOW above the wreck shall rise, Ite better Joys are in the skies; There fled is all in all. In God my strength, howe'er (Mired, yot will hope and calmly rest, Nov, triumph in his love; My lingering soul, rny tardy foot, Free RH the hind he makes, and fleet, Pe speed rny course above, Artistic House Furnishings. We call special attention to this artic'e on " Artistic House Furnishing." It takes some people a long while to learn that a home can he furnished artistically and charmingly and at the same time inexj ea. sively, But it can be done. Read how in this article. Of course the more money you have the more beautiful you on make your homes if you possess that rare gife caned " good taste." The title says Artistic House Furnishings and we contend that they can be bad for a very moderate outlay. The art of successful house furnishing does not consist in having a well.filled purse with which to, purchase elegant fent- ture, silken hangings, rich eastern portieres and briceathrac, without other eonsidera- tion than their beauty, but in having even the simplest furnishings so harmoniously related to eath other, both in quantity and depth of tone, as to produce a restful beau tif ul whole. The carpet—no matter of what make, for ingrains are now manufactured in as beauti- ful designs and soft colorings as moquette or velvet—should be of rich, subdued colon softly blendei together with a quiet her. momous effect, and in a conventional design suggestive of vines, leaves and flowers, or in a geometrical one. No room can give one a sense of repose and rest when the car- pet shows a riot of gaudy coloring in au aggressive, bold design which tends to dwarf every other fonture of the room. Unless the well decerations and entire furnishings of a room are in delicatelight tints, dark carpets are far more elf) 'live than light, Indeed, the happiest renine are always secured when the schema of colors shade upward from the floor to the ceiling. The carpet, wall decorations and draper- ies of a room cox easily be had in beautiful and harmonious combinations of colors and tints, if one have the cultivated taste 10 80. least to t lose seen in Oriental countries. # loot them. For the manufacturers of fabross There isee several ways to make one, but the easiest, by far, is to give a carpenter the requisite dimensions, and let lum make a strong frame of pine boards. In males) get these dimensions, buy a woven•tvire mattress which will fit a single bed, and plan the frame so that the mat- tress will rest down in it on cleats arranged for the purpose. Cover a hair mattress with some suitable material and lay it over the wire one, and finish by tacking a pleated valance of the same on the frame. It should be mentioned that the height of the pine frame must depend somewhat upon the thickness of the mattress esed as, when entirely completed the divan should not be more than eighteen inches high, and it could be a trifle lower if desired. The entire cost of the foundation, carpen- ter's work, wire mattress, and hair mat- tress, will not exceed $15, but the material for covering may be as hendsome as the other furnishings of the room denten& lf a good 5inali1.y of brocade is used and theval- twee is edged with a rich fringe, the expense might enmity teach $75, Bob there is a simpler and far less expert, /sive way than this, which gives a comfort- able resting place, and at the sante time adds a very decorative feature to the room. Get a, cot bed (the widest size) with woven -wire spring, and lower it four incles. Strengthen by adding an extra pair of sop - ports in the centre or by bracing firmly at the ends, A hair mattress may be placed on this, but one filled with excelsior will answer if something soft is laid over the top for padding. Tack sonte dark material around the frame, so that every part is cov- ered, ond lay a handsome Bagded rug over the whole. The extra lensth of the rug should be gathered up in the form of rosettes at the front corners, and sewed securely with stout thread. Bagdad rugs are cheaper than formerly, end 163 or $10 will get a wood one which will wear indefinitely, If this would make the expense tou great, two Italian blankets et $1.50 each might be joined together and used in the sante way. They are made of refuse silk, and ofton come in dark and neutral colorings which would be very suit- able. The divan is now read3 for its pillows, which may be piled up in any way to suit the fancy, and if their coverings harmonize, the effect cannot fail to be pleasing. If a largo number of pillow's be used, it is well to have a support for them, and in many houses this is obtained by fasteting a sholf the length of the divan, melon a level initiation. Remember, too, that the with it, to the wall. This ina,y be eight or beauty of the most elegantly furnished nine inches wide, and should be covered room is enhanced by the sunlight, and do with something dark, Make a round bol- not darken your windows, but drape star the same lengthen:3 twenty•seven hushes them with some of the numerous filmy east. in oirouinferenee, and fill it with excelsior. ern fabrics, and let the rays of the sun per - Cover and hay it along the shelf. When the meate throegh their delioate, soft tints, divan is mulled up to this, a, firm back. adding the le,st touch of beauby and grstre ground is secured f or the pillows, and the to your work.—KATItharlell B. JOHNSON. seat will gain in width, which is also an ad- vantage. For use in summer, the Madagascar grass Anti -Foreign Agitation in China. cloth which comes in curtain stripe would The torrespondent, of the Exthange Tele:- make a cool and pleasant covering, and the graph Cornpany at Hong Kong, May 26, pillows might be of the same. This goods says :—The obnoxious literature which has is both plain and striped, but the Mtn 01 been °insulated throughout China, is doing less expensive and equally handsome. If the work calculated upon ky its authors. there ie an old or discarded sofa, in the Numeeons demenstrations have taken place house, it may easily be converted into et agenst missionaries and foreigners, partied. or luxious piece of furniture by removing larly in isolated ports of the country, and the batik and head -board, pushing it up while I would not like to create any panics against the wall, and draping in the way or to write anything likely to nese Inmost- (' nem to those having friends in China, I must say that the fcieling shown by the lower Classes it anything but reassuring. At &Getman the people have assumed a Very threatening altitride, and at, Shen Shing the houses occupied by tho missionaries were partially destroyed. Later cm, the inission- arias wore expelled from the town by a few military student& Ono correspondent slays the Viceroy Lin is himself certainly inspir- ing the whole movement, the looal officials and gentry willingly amending him. If missionaries orate longer permitted to reside out of the Treaty ports, then the iniiiaionary societies will nen to restein their operations considerably. This shows how things are going on in tho interior, as as the eon - duet of those tospeneiblo for tho administra- tion of law and order. --- Solna residents of Stockton, CIrst, are en - combine just as handsome, soft colors and graceful designs in inexpensive materials as in plush, bra satelle and silk. We ban Bo long been accustomed to look upon pictures as a luxury, and really fine ones as only within reach of the wealthy that we have been content to hang upon our walls a motley collection of family photographs in ugly black•walnut flames; wreathes of autumn leaves, hair or feathers whose frames are an abgrtive attempt at art in shells, cones or putty work : highly - colored chromes and lithographs and bits of "fancy work" interspersed among them. The latter often oonsisted of the labored daubs of amateurs on plaques and silk ban- ners. We have not appreciated the fact that.pietares are an important part of the furmshings of a room, and may exert e, re- fining and edueating influence, second only to that of good periodicals and books. Copies of the best works of our greatest artists are now within the means of people in limited circumstances, and we have learned that a frame, like a woman's dress, either adds to or detracts from theirbeauty and shoald be made subsidiary to the pic- ture itself. The walls of a room decorated in plain ingrain paper of a tint that blends harmoni- ously with the other furnishings of the room, or an ell -over design in soft colors, teethed ttp with gilt, is farmorerefining than a lavish display of gandy•colored, inartistic pictures, and inconnruous fancy work, Bettor a thousand tunes a bare wall than such orna- men ts. A mantel, no matter how homely in itself, can easily be made one of the handsomest feetures of,o room ; but not by orowding a thousand and one articles of bric-a-brac upon it, and then filling, every inch of the remaining space with photographs and fancy cards. It is better tohave one really beau- tiful minks than the entire former array. For mantel drapery nothing is handsomer than figured China silk, with tassel fringe and many -looped bows of ribbon at the point where, it is caught graaefully 09, If you are a vietim of the modern mama for gilding and enameling furniture, do, I beg at you keep it under subjection. In an elegant- ly finished and furnished reception -room, where light tints predominate where per- haps the finish of the room itself is enamel• ed in old ivory picked out in gold, meow work end gilding are appropriate and beau- ; hut in ordinary rooms it is incongru- ous and disturbing. In sheet, all efforts at artistic furnishing aim at harmony and aveid profuse orna- this family," soliloquized Johnny. " Oh, no 1 I guess uot 1 If 11,110 my linger naile I catch 1( 010 the knuckles. But the baby 0101 eat her whole foot and they think just punning." Little 011ie hoard her sister speaking of a diary ; end having it explumed to her that a, personal diary was a brief record of OLIO'S life, she eselainsed ; " Woll, then, I don't see what they want to °all it a diary for. Seems to me they ough ter oall 1-11 o livery." A lady was recently teething a. boy to spell. The boy spelled" sno-141," but could not pronounce In vain his teacher slaked him to think alul try. At last she asked hiln—" What do you get when you go out upon the pavement on u, rainy day and wet your feet 9"—" I gets a lickiug.” " He pressed her to his breast and sigh- ed," read the elocutionist ; and the boy in the rear gallery brought down the house by yelling, " Which side 9" " lIncle," said a seven.year.old bey,are he stood lookingat a speckled trout for the first 01:00,''This fish nets got the measles, Imola it 9" Nut of the stuff that makes martyrs 15 composed a certain small hey who roaernbly listened with deep inteiest to the story of the C,hristian child 5(1,,, had hie throat " yoarven by Jewess." When the story was over he drew a long breath, and afters rno, merit's meditetien announced decidedly, " Well, I know one ling. I won't say any fin about Jesus when vere's Jews around.' " But, my child, said his mother, rather taken abaJlt by this eceeption of her story, " Little Hugh of Lincoln sang about Jesus because he loved Him" " Well, 1 luve Him, too, retorted the small boy. But," firmly, "I don't 7120041 to have my froat out." 'The little boy pieked himself out of the puddle where his rude playmates had thrown him. He wiped the mud froth hie velvet trousers, his eilk stockings andnlese collar and straightened out his long golden curls as well as thair demoralized andbe- draggled condition would permit. "This," he said, bitterly, " is what comes of being mamma's little pet." Father.--" Everything I say to yon goes in one ear and out the other." Little fin (thoughtfully)—. Is that what little boys has two ears for, papa 9" Invalids' Slippers. ITere are full direetions for making a pair of soft and comfortable invalid's slippers. Cast on, with zephyr or Germantown yarn twelve stitches of blae. First row.—Plain. Seeond row.—Knit plain till thelast stitch is reenned, then pick up a, stitch, knit it, 401,1 theu knit the last stitch. Picking up a snitch widens the work. Third row.—Like second. Fourth row.—Slip off two of the blue stitches upon the right hand needle—with- out knitting, them, then knit two stitches plain, with old gold, take off two blue stitches, knit two more with olcl gold, and repeat this all across Fifth row.—Slip . off two blue stitches, seam two old gold, repeat all morose. Sixth -----row.Like fourth. Seventh row. —Like fifth. Eighth row, ninth row, tenth row, arid eleventh roware made like second row with blue. Twelfth, thirteenth, foorteenth and M. teenth rows are made like fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, in the same order. Repeat until there are sixty-six stitches left on the left hand needle. Then divide for the sides of the foot, knit across twenty- two stitches (preserving tho honeycomb pattern as above). Bind ofi twenty-two stitches for the in. step, then work on the remaining twenty. two stitches same as foot (withoue widening, till the back of the heel is reached, there bind off loosely. Go back to first twenty-twe stitches left on the needle and work in the same manner. Then SOW up tho heel at the back and turn the work on the wrong side, and SOW it to a lemb's•wooldiued sole of suitable' size, and turn the right side of the slipper' out. Finish by crocheting on an edge, or trims with tufted knitting. saiSee 'Elastic or ribbon nay be run in and out upon the edge, and a pretty bow of ribbon added upon the instep, For a small slipper work up to efty•four or sixty stitches instead of sis And pretty contreeting shades canfbe used instead of the colors given in theseldf- reel ions, Almost c, Native, " Are you e. native of this parish ?" asked a Scotch Sheriff of a witness who was sum- moned to testify in a case of illicit die till:e4 mean, were yon born in this parish ?" telistly, yet, honor," was the reply. Na, yer honor, I was na born in this parish ; but I'm maist a native, fax a' that." " You mune here when you were a child, I suppose 9700 (0080," said the Sheriff, "No sir; jist here about eax year n00‘," "Then how do you come to be nearly a native of the parish?" " Weel, 979 see, when I cam, hers, sax year sin', I jisb weighed eight stars, ancl seventeeu steno noo, see ye see that about nine store o' me belongs to this parish au' the ither eight comes frac Camlaclaie," Couldn't Stead It. Favored Waiter—" I'm goin' to 'leave here wien my week is up." Regular Guest—" Eh ? You get good pay, d II; yt esb you?" ut the saine's everywhere." "And tips besides?" "A good many." "Then what is the matter?' "P1957 don't allow no time for goin' otot to incTealeso. I lie,vcis tfea_t __ Golf 10 snaking such strides in London thitt a certain large eo•operative establish, ment has just opened a golf department. The conditions ere novel, not to say pecul. iar. In order that blunts selling the para., phornalist of the game may give their ens - Winces elementary lessons and in other re. spects force sides by the promise of instruc- tion on the spot, they hove been obliged to learn the game in a practical faehion. They wore oat on Clapham Common every morn - Ing at 6 °Week, where they received tuition under three professional players. That the 'result has justified the experiment seems to be proved in the sales, for3 hear that the average number of clubs sold sumo the department openrsd is twenty thousand 897000. Jaded men, thirsting for a novel °noise, are induced to buy the theoretioal lessons they receive. The Tooting Club, of which Irlt, :Balfour is a inembor, now emus& 500 members, and no more ertndi- dates will be elected,