HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1892-08-17, Page 7Niiii005.1100Ord
,„•
,Xteteseile0 ift AdVen90.
4C,..1440,01.1Ty 'j9
AWM'S Il4t9$.
3
POW/TWO 'ME 4lign
TED p T1113 PATO 1,
sseaele-e-
lifet
Uslyt,with hie anakeyieart
Mal 01,0, st-nod the
rIY 03tory 4kv. Utleen.
„Me fetir,-foo„„ted compenion,
0, a lOtk4 orrice extolled the
ite of Watetulelons, eeeking
sv! alletOna.
rater, jos look at dem water.
a I ,Dey am liko de auger
'doy insides, an jee es full
a Os day kin be, offen de
eberepeak ergin. Jes try
an' ego fo' goodness,
be erstan'in' in die
itin' for eruuther
itis here."
Ourself, Uncle Saw -
worked up an'
self. Ain't' nary
my patch 'ceptin'
steal um, eah."
Much trouble that
, de thieves am es thiok
g;gera whar dem mily•
raise an' (fence de time de
gun ter swivel, alio me,
'owan an' tie coon do,,,
,ain't -akersely bin out dee
Wall de same time ; an' fur all
4dati.'dey toted off 'bout er dozen er
Plosonfight night. Hit was dis
,ay,' the loquacious melon vender
on, "Sallie an' me tend de
irraeetin' one night, an' lef'
ter mine de patch, and dey
pd or new elder 'vited ter preach,
';',.'Pet.PPY, Jake done axed ter er wed'in'
,night, au' arter the meetin'
pno „broke up, Brer Mose he cum
mo an' Sallie an' sez, s'z ho,
7,!tVBrer Sawuey, I doan see what fur
„:4er•can't took de new elder ter
.,7.'hOnao bid yer, caze ain't no place
iiervide for him ter sleep, an' he
sho ter be horngry, toe !'
"An' .Sallie, she speak up pe trt
moultry, au' sez, sez she, 'Us
take, (jo elder, er eoae. Whar ez
Woutins' tongues alus goes
:de wrongly way. So us bed the
ew elder tor home wid us, an'
ilia wring er chicken 'lake in no
, an' make up er altillit er
an' er pot er coffy, an' us hed
per fur him; au' den he sot
'id his corncob pipe au' talk
like er book till Stills 'mos'
she did. An' den he riz up
raft like, 'Hit's my way
out cights an'eprtey out-
s
ser Sawney, 'fo i goes ter yes,'
/hopes yer wont% take no 'cep-
A. TIGER'S .11:EROY,i
STORY OF A MAN WHP SPNT THa
NIGHT WITH A SAVAOg BEA$T.
r gun 1)7 Avoldent Into an 'Elophaat
r# Where a Royal Itisogal Tiger Was
• Trapped and the Story of flow the
Hours Paseed Slowly By.
• When we of the menagerie expedition
reached Myanee, on the edge of th great
forest of Chittageng, .1novinoe of .Bengal, we
were told that we had at last remelted •the
tiger'S paraditie. The people of the village,
numbering about 600 souls, had heard that
we were headed that way and that we
would pad £10 for a full grown captive
set two or three traps. Three days before
our arrival they caught a tiger in one of
the traps, but had bad luck with him.
A native tiger trap is a large cage con-
structed of bamboo, and about four feet
wide byi ten feet long. At one end is a
sit Vaced on the opposite end, and
• n, I sez for him, eeein' Spot
ne creep in, 'Elder, I be bleeged
•er yer ter take notus bouton niy
watermilyon patch while() yer out.
jie Vother side er my hen-
.,,h,onae.' An' he ax me often dere be
`some fine milyons dere, an' I tole
dey was boss thilyous, an' de
seeds mimed from ole Virginy au'
was gint me, an' I spec ter make
smart often um, effen us could jis
keep de thieves away. So he says,
' perlite, he gwine take notus, an' he
wint out,
'Den sot back in my bide bot
;.."`,tom rockin'-ebeer, an' smoke my
pipe, an' wint ter sleep, an' Sallie
,were knockin"bout de cabin, bet-
/ tin ev thing eqaar. An' arter
while, bit musses bin nigh day-
break, ,Sallte call me an"lowed
eumpin' rens' be er gone wrong wid
'''de elder, 'cue he ain't done come
back yit. She save she 'spec' he
filch er Chrisehin de Lord mout er
sent fur him ter heavin like 'Lijah,
while he prayin'N, Den I got up ter
see, an' wint out the cabin. De
moon hit were mos' ter de full, an'
ehinin' like day, an' I could'eu fine
de elder no whar. Den I made ter
ny milyon patch, 'case he done
ptomus ter notus hit, an' he want
dere., . •„,„
"He want hie
1) hacks wus dere, in"bout er dozen
et tny fine milyons wus gone, an' de
vines amost torned up, like dey wus
•pulled in er hurry. Den I track de
raskil, an' seen whar he done stole
'iny corn sacki(er tote um, an' then
I see whar,h6 done sot down an' eat
two. A Y I wint back ter de cabin,
an' Sal e sez, dat anxiouslike,
'Was sent for, Sawney 1' An' I
ez ya , the devul sent for him, an,
one korried right smart water
ons, fur a soak fur him and de
man.' An' Sallie wus dat nigh
Muss, her like ter fell out on
an' she 'lowed dat elder,
his tongue full er ile, mus' be
old hells, done riz 'dout wal tin' fur
risttrection. '
'Us put de matter out in de nex'
Church rneetin' pertickler, an' he
ain'tliever bin 'roan' us parts sence.
ffen he do fetch his black hide in
my sight 'gin, I gwine ter make hit
white fur him, sho. Dat am er fine
milion right day, salt ; white an'
green atripe.. De rine er dat %Ryon
ntti thin, an' de inside er sweat
meat. Yr sho ter like bit boss, hit
F. eummed from old Virginy.- Two
'bite Th'ankee, sah. Git up dat,
Jinnie,1 Gee I Haw ! Us lookin'
tiger, an the men had dug several pits and
000r_w ic.11 slides up and down in grooves.
•
The b
when seizet a. trigger is pulled and the
door fall& The tiger was caught some
time during the night. Next morning,
when they went out to carry the cage to
the village, the beast °became furious at
sight of them and finally broke out of the
cage and killed one man and badly wound-
ed. another before making off. They had
inspected the tiger at short range and all
had observed that a piece had been bitten
out of his left oar. The wound had long
ago healed up, but it was a good mrtrk to
identify him in .case he was ever seen
again.
Our first care was to oonstruot several
small, stout cages in which to transport
our captives, in case we had the good luck
to make any, and the next to lay out the
ground. There were no man eaters haunt-
ing the neighborhood, and no tiger had been
seen about the Tillage. Hunting parties
had routed them out in the ravine and
thickets to the west, and now and then a
bullock had been killed by them on the
edge of the cleared land. After a survey of
the country we dug several pits and placed
several traps, and then had nothing to do
but wait. Each pit and trap was visited
twice a day by men detailed for the pm
pose. They went in the morning to see i;
we had caught anything, and again at mid.
afternoon to rebait and reset in case a
hyena or jackal had been made captive.
It was ten clays before we made a strike.
but the captive was well worth waiting for.
Ile had just attained his prime and was a
real royal beauty. Some men when ill luck
befalls them rave and rage. So do•some
tigers. Other men and other tigers take
matters more philosophically. This fellow
was .setting down when we first canto.
sight •*of him, and it was 'only when we
were within thirty feet of his cage that he
rose and saluted us with a kingly growl.
Then he lay down again, seeming to realize
that Inc case was helpless and yet deter-
mined to preserve his dignity, and we had
no trouble .whatever in removing him to
one of the transportation cages. He was so
quiet and docile that sonic of the natives
declared he must have been. a captive be-
fore. That was not possible, however. He
had just eaten a hearty breakfast, felt
good-natured toward all the world and was
intelligent enough to realize that ho was
helpless.
On the afternoon of the 'third day after
trapping our tiger, who is to -day an inmate
of the Royal Zoo of London, word was
brought in by a native hunter that a large
herd of elephants was in the forest about
six miles away, and that one big tusker was
lame and could easily be captured by the
white mete Williams took ten natives and
circled to the northwest, while I took the
same number and circled to the southwest,
calculating to get to the west of the herd
before we effected a junction and then
drive it toward a village. It took us three
hours to reach our osition, and it was a
ItElaVel eleande. 'te• FM, 00, +WU boast.%. • thellgtt that night . of
were proWlingt about •in every direction would never .end, hkit,
'Williams had borrowed nag Matchbox. Pe Ott grt* 4.t;TAO Shona thretto
.couldhave Made toVeln. I lied a been Weol'OPHi it the 11rindoeVeg•ftetters, anir
eingle barreled rid, 104 no exti* aninitlitt. devoutly thanked Qod PIO over and the
Oen and therefore dared net •4re el, signal. bad lived tcr eceslaylight again,
1 wita'•pielthiginy way oloWly,, feeling '4 Ao scrim tee' Could see •eleerly; got n
beaten path under my feet; when of a end. and cautiously moved my bales, ehudderin
deo felt myself fitillng, One .caturpt re- in antielpation ef finding the, hand 1 htt,,
member his thqughts such, ' eutergencies. out off last lhit what was m
I may have cried out bit I do PoV recollect astonishment to thul neither handnor ear
It. remember that as breagirt up on mir die, nor even etain wow op the floor
head and ahouldera, heard a-lieree grow • *waling, actually nothing, tq tell of lab,
ing almoat in my ear. I -was 'stunned for a night's horror. HO it then really boo
nunnent.. When I pulled Myself up to a only a dreadful dream?
sitting poSition I was at one 011 of an ele. Ali, the knife' I eaverly matched- it to,
pliant pit, which was five feet wide, twelve Yes, there was fle red witness plain enough
long and twelve deep. The other end was still wet, and crimsoning the blade froi
oceupied by a tiger. I knew it because I point to handle. 'Yet on turning again t
could smell him, and because he had lila the door there was no stain there, and o
eyes on me, and I knew the eyes belonged dose inspection it looked solid plank fron
to a tiger. Elephant pita are generally so end to end.
firmly covered that no beast weighing lees "Well 1" thought I, "of ell the pee
that 500pounds can break through. This places I ever heard of, this one taken tji
one, as I afterwards aecertained, had been lead. But for this knife I ehouldbe tomptec
covered so long that the poles had rotted to believe the' events of last night only
and weakened. The tiger was ahead of me vivid dream. This, however, is indieputabi
in falling in. evidence of what happened, and of on:
No one can tell how a wild beast will act thing I am :very certam-the sooner I go
under certain circumstances. There is away from here, the bettor for my health.
even a wide difference between two of the I wiped the knife on the skirt of my coat
seine species. This tiger did not rush upon and placed it iii my bosom, taking ver;
me au I fell into the pit, but that might good care to have the handle convenient fo
have been the action of another. As I be- laying hold of. I then opened the demi
come certain of the situation I found little not without many inward miagivings, an
in it to console me, and I admit that I was called to the landlord to bring out in;
badly. rattled. The tiger kept his two wagon.
greenish eves fastened on me, but I glanced He soon appeared, sullen an dogged. a
at him onfy at long intervals. The fact ever, but I saw no change in him since las
that he had not attacked me might be night. He off3red me breakfast, which I a
taken as proof that he would not if I ditl once refused ; not for worlds would I hav:
not provoke him. It was a very hot night eaten or drunk in that house. I was in ;
above, but quite cool at the bottom of the fever of impatience to bo off, and after pay
pit, and not a single mosquito found its ing his bill in tip smallest change I had
way down there. After the lapse of half land without any unnecessary display o
an hour I began to get my nerve back, and wealth, I stood by and watched him replae:
it may astonish you to learn that I took a my packages in the wagon, and harness the
number of short naps during the long horse. 1 did not offer to assist him ; I wa
hours of that night. I was aroused from too:much: afraid of being taken at a dispel
one of these by the low, fierce growls of the ventage. / kept my hand on my trusty
tiger, and a moment later I looked up to weapon, aril never took my eyes off th.
see the head of some wild beast on the surly villain. His amiable helpmate di(
path above. It growled in return, and I not make her appearance, and
set it down for a hyena. I think the tiger thought I could give a shrew(.
also slept at intervals. If not, then he had guess. at the reason. I made no inquiriet
his head turned so that I could no longer after her health, but jumped in my wept
see his eyes. and drove off.
I was sleeping quite soundly when day. To this day I cannot account • for my es
light came, and a whining, snuffing noise cape. The fellow must have seen that 1
made by the tiger aroused me. My eyes suspected him, and must have guessed al
were hardly open when he came over to me the witneseto his attempted crime which 1
and smelled of my knees anti feet and hands. carried with me, yet Ito made no effort tr
rie actually rested his head on my knees .3top me. t earl only suppose lie was an ar
mil looked into my eyes. I think he was rant coward with all his brutality, au,
it first inclined to attack me, as he growled dared not attack me, knowing- inc to b•
in a menacing way and lashed his tail, but srmed and on my guard ; especially afte.
ts I shut my eyes and kept quiet he finally his accomplice was disabled.
changed his mind and withdrew to his cor- It was nearly two years afterward that I
was travelling the same road again, and
bright Mgr°, olenottExtoltioa tovorititip,
mit Warninf •Wliet would the fair brit*
Saint -Andre dreaded tho heatiog. Of the
plot say NI, ten ehe heard a two t rapty
sad news to the famil, but there was lits
set off, egtrrying Ntith hirs, the dead youtir'e
satohel.
When he readied the etately mansion,
the front door flew open, and two footmen
in livery came to meet him, One relieved
him of his sateliel, the other took hie hat
and (41004c, and a voice, was heard exclaim -
one oleo to perforra t ert'alA, ancl. SO he
ner. As time passed he grew uneasy aim
kept up a continual whine. Every wild. passed by the scene of my memorable ad -
beast seeks his covert between daybreak venture. 1 Nut assure yon, no intention
and sunrise, and this instinct made the• of calling, but I found the appearance of
tiger restless. 'rho sue was .jest when the place. so changed that I made slue it Ile
heard the reports of rifles, and live minutea longer belonged:to my former friends, and
later the voice of Williams came plainly to • curiosity tempted me to stop and ask what
my ears. The tiger also heard the sounds,. had become of them.
and I thought he acted as if belly fright- Everything about now wore a thrifty and
ened. I was watching him, through half.. cheerful look, - and so (lid the comely dame
open eyes when the face of Williams ap- who answered iny knock. • Upon inquiring
peered over the edge of the pit and he call- after L110 former occupants, I heard, with•
ed out in horror-stricken tones :
"Great heavens ! but he's at the bottom
of this pit with a tiger ! Blank, are you
alive'!"
"Yes," I answered in a voice just above
•
LUV' 001,31WIL DECA$1ON
YIXAL.
X1r, Doorioet, the greet couotittk-
tiooet eethoiity, Wee not et the
Wiudeor hotel by a IT7/tness ispor.
ter. When asked what he thought
of the decision of the P1 ivy ()eofl.
oil on the Mauitoba eliool case
replied :
"What is there to say We,
in yeyfolly ; have not got the text of the dtcie.
"Monsieur, here is your eon -in -18,w at ion; It may be only a few wolds,.
last !"
"Dear fellow !" oriel a little, fat, white- or a long judgment. But if it ie eft
haired man, rushing into the hall, "let mo cabled, which, is probably correct.
embrace you t" and he clasped the new- the question of legality 18 settled
comer rapturously to his heart, A decision by the highest Court iw
As soon as he could get hie breath Saint- - •
the .nnipire, h oh isitlates alit no
read hurriel :
out surprise or regret, that they had at last
received the punishment they so richly de-
served. The disappearance of a traveller,
who was known. and expected in the neigh-
boring town, led to suspicion, and suspicion
a whisper ; "go and get one of the cages to search.
and our ropes. The tiger is cowed, and I "And would you believe, sir," continued
think we can secure him." the good women, "they found a trap-door
He did not stop to argue the point, but in that shed -room there with a false floor,
returned within an hour with the outfit.' and under it was a deep hole with the tra-
During his absence the tiger dug at the veller's body in it, and the skeletons of an -
hank with his claws and kept up a whining, other man and a dog, poor thing They
and only once did he come near me. Then killed him, I suppose, for trying to defend
he hacked up and made a leap fur the edge his master. t e sem re wretchesvain, Sylvia looked up in blank amazement,
of the pit. As he fell back he growled in! put.in jail and hung, and. we bought the and everyone entreated him to retnain.
anger and disappointment and lay down, Place du•t cheap because it had such a bad
do not understand," began the old
facing me. The only way to get him out name. Some folks says jt's haunted, but
aai, following his visitor to the front dour.
Was to noose him and draw him up through laws I ain't • never seed nothing, and I Thernyoung man interrupted him, saying
the bottom of the cage placed over the pit.
Without another word to me they began
operations. At the first throw of the•noose
"Pardon nee, sir, it-,-" • rights have !been interfered with,.
"1 pardon yon for being lato," inter- leaver! no room for any other appeal,.
'look and breakfaet is growing cold. law and fact, it ie declared t'hat
Come in and see my daughter. Tho little
there is nothing to remedy." •
?use has been watchinee the elock for hour,
ind is all impatience to met you." "Do you think this view will be
He pulled the young- man into the accepted as finalY'
breakfast room as he spoke e tend without
"That's another matter altogether,
pausing an instant added, "My wife, Uncle
Dorival, Aunt Dolarice, here. la the son -in- and I am not a prophet. No tit at -
:am at last; Sylvia, my child, bid him ter what view maty be taken by
welcome—"
some people, we eannot allow the
"I bee pardon, sir," cried'. Saint -Andre,
principle to be overridden or set
but again his boat interrupted' film.
"Don't tell roe you wish to draw back at aside, that Canadian institutions are
the last moment, my dear fellow! Every- founded on British institutions, and
thing has been arranged by my esteemed
that on the preseavation of them
friend, your father, but if you have any
ibjeetion to urge I will hear ie,later; bad depends our existence as a people.
sews can always keep. Now, let us sit It must also be borne in mind that
town to breakfast at once and: he merry. the strength of the Federal system is
lit by me, eon -in-law, and give mo your
its legality. The Supreme Court of
minion of this pigeon -bisque."
the United States has been that
The visitor was young and very. hungry,
(laving fasted since midnight. The shock nation's ark of safety.. The Privy
A his companion's sudden death had un- Council is the same to us. There
nerved him:somewhat, and so, far the time must be a final authority and its
heing, he yielded to the force of eireum-
decieion must be respected, unless
stances.
men are prepared to appeal to nuns
"Come what will," he said to himself, "1
cannot bear to put a dampener upon the joy and take the conseqttences. Yo u
A these good people ; et least, not until they remember the Dred Scott case.
aave had their breakfast." What a tremendous encitement it
He joined therefore in the general menzi-
nent, smiled sweetly upon blushing Sylvia raised. Perhaps a no more scandal
;he bride-cleet, and replied unhesitatingq; oils decision was ever rendered by a
-so his supposed future father-in-lawee Court than was given by the Su -
inquiries. ee preme Court of the United States
"How is your Aunt Armando, my son ,
isked the old man suddenly. "I remember 10 1114t case. Yet it was accepted
ter aa a charming young wornare•.when 1 • as binding. I do not pretend that
vas twenty, I came near falling in loge with the Manitoba School case is 0 paral-
der ! We must keep in her good:graces, for
lel instance. Far from it. I men -
she will leave a snug little fortune. to her
tion it only to show that milder the
nephew." •
"Dear Aunt l" exclaimed the youth w federal syste In the decisian of the
tone of deep affection, "I hope she. will ere- higheet legal authority is absolute.
joy life for many, many years longer," and For if we eo behind it mid allow
his pious wish was rewarded with 11 tender
rte the other. "Look, it is twelve or for remedial legislation, since in
the politicians to got nentrol, all
glance from Sylvia's dark eyes, Aunt
Dolarice also listened to him with deliglit.. the plosions ,will be let loose and
"He has the instinct as well as the bear- there is no telling how it may
ing of a Bern gentleman," she whispered to end..
her brother. "Who would think that his
"How about the proposed refer -
ancestors had always sold cinnamon • and
nutmegs once to the Supreme Court of clause
Uncle Dot•ival, who read eyelopeclies and; 22, for a decision as to, whether,
was thought very learned, retorted quickly:
under present circumstances, the
"And why should he not have as fine•
sentiments as a nobleman? Dp00%rayeirrsioton reGvoievlevrnment has the
the Manitoba
your absurd notions, sister ! AA11"Callyen7airteh'
equal I" School legislation 1"
The clock struck two, and Saiirt-Andre
"'DIM, of course, is fon the Gov -
suddenly felt a pang of remorse for( the part
he was -playing, as he recollected that he • eanmext to decide. The question
had to arrange for his friend's burial and an extremely delicate one for
would be expected at the !wt.(' He there -
ministers, and time will he a great
fore rose from the table, and announcing
that he had important business to attenil•to,. help, not.only to them but also as a
prepared to leave. His host protested in• reconciler. The point that Sir
John Thompson is debarred from
making such a reference because he
decided against such a proceeding in
a previous case may have its weight
aa a political argument. llut this is
a lanai question, and you:know that
al -though cases may be :strikingly
similar, each ono must be' consider-
ed on its own merits 1"
"Then the question may be re-
garded as settled till all its legal
aspects have been fully. ascertain-
ed I"
"Precisely. if you will read an
article of mine which will appear,
I understand, in the next number
of the Contemporary Ryrriew, on the
English character of Canadian insti-
tutiess, you will find that I have
dealt with several important points
in this connection. Mere can be
no doubt whatever that sections of
the people, just the same as indi-
viduals, must submit to. the law, 130
matter how deeply they may feel
aggrieved. To admit, the possibil-
ity of any other doctrine for the
solution of the diffiirulties arising
under the Federal compact, would
be to invite disintegration and re-
duce our whole system to chaos."
rare sight we saw w we• crept down on the tiger showed fight, but only for a mo-
tile herd. They had just stopped feeding ment. The third throw caught him, and
and were collected in a glade of about an it didn't take more than a minute to land
acre in extent. There, were twenty-six of him in the cage. I was not yet out of the
them, including three babies not yet pit when the natives identified him by the
weaned. bitten ear as the same beast they trapped.
The tusker mentioned was a noble big before our coming. He didn't serve us the
fellow, but had got the worst of a fight in same trick, he did them, however. About
which he had been severely hurt in the noon he became ferocious and tried to break
right shoulder. He could hardly put that out, but we beat him with sticks until he
forefoot to the ground, and was standing by gave up, and from that time on until we
himself and sulking .when we caught sight shipped him for Calcutta he was almost as
of him. I crept around to the south to get docile as a dog.
a fair shot at him, while William was stalk-
ing an old fellow with one tusk broken off
about half way up, and we would have got
both of them but for an accident. One of
the natives, moving on hands and knees
through the brush, was struck. in the face
by a poisonous serpent and rose up and
cried out at the top of his voice At his
first scream the elephants went off at a furi-
ous pace, and we knew they would not stop
again under five miles.
The native had been struck by a jungle
viper. I reached him within five minutes,
and he was then rolling on the ground with
his face so swollen that he could no longer
see out of his eyes. In a quarter of an hour
he was dead. His death made very little
impression on his companions. I felt an-
noyed at their seeming indifference and said
so to my head man, and he replied :
"Why, sahib, Ise is dead, and that ends
It. My grandfather wae,eaten by a tiger,
my father killed by a buffalo and my only
brother died as he has just died, from a
snake bite. My turn may come any eley.
Why should I weep or lament
Four of the natives were ordered to make
a litter and convey the body to the,oillage
for burial, and we divided into two eparties
again and set out after the herd. Here and
there we found well beaten paths to make
travellink more easy, but at other times we
could scarcely force a passage through the
thickets. I was leading the way and sup-
posed my men were following. The after-
noon was wearing away, and whenever I
struck favorable ground I increased my
pace to a run. I finally heard the elephants
ahead of me, and was creeping up when I
suddenly realized that I was alone in the
forest. I waited for perhaps ten minutes,
and then followed slowly on after the ele-
phants, who were feeding as they moved
along. I expected to be overtaken at any
moment, and was not in the least alarmed.
I was gradually getting on to the heels of
the herd when something occurred to alarm
the beasts again, and away they went at a
tremendous gait, and I knew I should see
nothing more of thein that afternoon.
I was now within four miles of the vil-
lage and on a plain path, but the sun was
so low that it was twilight in the forest. I
was going forward at a good pace when a
huge hyena crossed my path with a growl.
Two minutes later there were yelps and
snarls from every direction, and I realized
that the night prowlers of the forest were
astir. I was going bravely ahead and would
have been out of the forest in half an hour
more when the sun went down and I had to
almost reel my way foot by foot. Tho situa-
tion was anything but pleasant. If I
climbed a tree rnight he bitten by a snake
lurking among the branches, and the mos-
rptitoes would ea', me alive in two hours if I
THE TRAP IN THE FLO
OR.
[The adventures of travellers in strange
inns have often beeu remarkable, and the
favorite story -teller is always furnished with
accounts of one or more of them. We are
willing to match the tale which follows, with
any of the.kind which have appeared before
it, for thrilling and absorbing interest.3
On the 29th of December, 1845, I wa.
travelling through the southwestern part
of Virginia, and, owing to the violence of
sudden snow -storm, was belated and forced
to pass the night at a little wayside tavern
remote from ordinary routes of travel.
1 don't mind confessing that I was then a
good-looking bachelor on the sunny side of
forty, nor that I was what I call a travel-
ling merchant, but most folks denominate a
peddler. Now, I am only a superannu
ated old man, fit for nothel„s
but to tell tales of what happened
to him in his younger days
TheteeteMiAegte'esseneseeees of yltilrnads
covered the denfedry," held • we "CoMmercial
gents" who could afford it travelled in light,
covered wagons, carrying our goods with
us. I had been making a longish stay in
Norfolk, laying in my stook, and, when my
business there was finished, I started west,
intending to visit some of the inland vie
lieges ant plantations. As [ said before, I
had got belated and bewildered by the
storm, and stumbling on this little'lonely
house of entertainment, determined to put
up there for the night.
I can't say I was much pleased with the
looks of things, for a more lonesome mu
desolate place I never beheld ; nor were
the countenances of mine host and his wife
Mere prepossessing. I had some valuable
besides some money, so I was worth role
bing and perhaps murdering. It was Hob,
sons choice, however, so 1 decided to make
the best of it ; and, after a supper of frieee
bacon and eggs and corn bread, I asked to
be shown to my room.
It was a truly wretched affair, that MOM,
being nothing more than a shed attached to
the rough, boarded cabin dignified by the
title of tavern, with a single unglazed win-
dow closed by a heavy shutter. It was as
cold ars the dickens, and after having all my
packs placed in the room and seeing the
door and window securely fastened, I tum-
bled into bed, not examining the condition
of the sheets too closely, but praying there
might be cover enough to keep me from
frosaing.
I seen fell aeleep, for I was dead beat catastrophe, and when he found that
with eriving fxbr in the cold, and over the he could do nothing more for his
vilest roads feet ever mortal travelled. I friend, hp stood gazing sadly at
must have slept eor some time, for when I the lifeless clay which lay on the narrow
awoke all the liglits in the house were out, bed in the bare hotel -room. Poor fellow
end everything; was profoundly quiet. What So yourig, so gay, looking forwerd to a
ain't scared of ghosts nohow."
I did not disturb her comfortable skepti-
cism by relating my experiences in that
house but I believed then, as I believe now,
solemnly
"I will explain. At eleven o'clock thir
morninseI died, after a short and sudden
that a supernatural warning saved my life attack of colic, and I gave the. hotel pro-
prietor my word of honor thest my body
on that night of terror. should be removed +his afternoon. Yon:
see, therefore, that if I were to. absent my-
self any longer, it would he very awkward."
With these words, he disappeared, leaving:
the old father overwhelmed with amaze -
merit
When the rest of the family heard what
had been said, they declared that the youtle
was joking.
"Ho has humor," said Miele Dorieaf..
"I shall congratulate hint the next time I
see him, He will be here- in time for
suppers"'
But supper -time came and passed, and
there was no sign of the son-in-law. Thc.
family became anxious and o alarmed; and
toward eight o'clock they sent a messenger
-
to the hotel to inquire for a passenger who.
had arrived their, by coach, that morns
ing. The proprietor sent back word that
she gentleman named had died 'at eleven
)'clock of colic, and that the body had.
been taken away for buriaLin the afternoon.
fills news was received with unbounded
istonishment, and little Sylvia burst into
tears as she declared that. she would, wear
mourning as if she were e widow.
"It was his ghost that came here," said
the girl's mother en a tone of awe, bat Uncle
Dorival shrugged his shoulders.
"Do ghosts eat and dnink as he did he
tsked, "That fellow was merely some
young scapegrace, whowantecl to play a
trick on us,, and get a good meal at the
same time." Nevertheless, the ghost story
went the rounds of the servants hall, and
the footman boasted of having seen a spirit
11 breed daylight. Ishe tale spread, until
it became a subject of wonder in boudoirs
and drawing -rooms, and the fair young
widow who had never been married wore a
black gown and veil, and shed passionate
tears for the affianced hnsband whom she
had seen but once.
Two weeks later, she 'WM& in the gar-
den one evening, listening sadly to the
songs of the nightingales. The stars were
shining brilliantly, but the sight of their
beauty only served to increase her sorrow.
"Alas !" she sighed, "if he were but
here to stroll with me along these path-
ways !"
As she spoke,. a cracking of boughs near
her made her start with terror, and in an-
other instant a man broke through the
flowering shrubs and knelt at her feet.
The stars were shining to some purpose
then, for by their light she recognized the
face for whi'eh she had been longing, and, in
a voice which betokened mingled joy and
dread, she cried :
"Then you are not dead 1"
"No indeed, sweetheart," he answered
softly, "I an alive, and I hope to live and
love you for many a long day yet."
When the two young people entered the
drawing•room, the family were playing
backgammen. A look of amazement greet-
ed the appearance of Saint -Andre, and
everyone being dumfounded, the young baron
bad no difficulty in telling his story, which
he concluded by asking for Sylvia's hand.
The marringe took place as soon as the
proper period of mourning had elapsed, and
Aunt Dolerice was triumphant.
"Del I not tell you he had the bearing of
a nobleman r" she cried.
"All's well that ends well, and a baron is
as good as a grocer," said Uncle Dorival.
MARRIAGE OF A GHOST.
[Nothing can exceed the literary ingenuity
of the French. This is the reason, combined
with their wonderful knack at expression,
and their delicious sense of humor, that they
lead the world in the matter of short stories.
One of the most brilliant and amusing con-
ceptions characteristic of this gifted race, is
embodied in the following tale by Mary
Summer.]
The stage -conch which ran between Paris
and Marseilles had just reached Grenoble.
when the young Baron de Saint-Andse
climbed up to the front seat.
Here he found a good-looking fellow o
his own age, and straightway the two be
came great friends. At the end of an hour
they began exchanging confidences, bite
the manner of youth.
The scion of noble stock was on his wa;
to Paris, to buy an officer's brevet, so as t.
serve his country, as his ancestors had dun
before him s the other, who Wa5 the son
a rich tradesman, was also bound for Paris
for the purpose, however, of marrying al
heiress, the daughter of an old friend of hi
father.
• "It is am even thing !" cried the yount
baron, laughingly. "A mere money -mat
ter for each of us. The little god Cupb
has no more coneetu in your business Ulm
in mine !"
'Micro you mistake," returned the other.
"I have never seen Sylvia, but I fell in lo1.
with her, once and forever, the first time
ltdd eyes upon her portrait. Judge fot
yourself."
He openela tortoise-sh-ell case and Saint
Andre exclaimed admiringly :
"What an angel ! Indeed, my dear fel
low, you are very fortunate to have that
charming, dainty creature picked out 101
you."
dkl not complain," said the bride
groom -elect, "and now I going to sleet
if this miserable, jolting concern will allow
me. I am expected to breakfast at int
future father-in-law's as soon as I reach
Paris, and as I shall then be presented to
my betrothed I want to look Us: well as
possible."
At the end of three days and two nights
the heavy stage coach lumbered into tin
metropolis, and the two travellers went t(
the nearest hotel and engagel two rooms
intending to take a little rest Saint
Andre had just thrown himself upon the
bed, when he heard deep groans in the next
room, and on rushing ins found his late
companion rolling on the floor in agonies of
pain The servants were summoned, a
physician was brought in, and the latter de-
clared that the patient was suffering from
acute colic, which had probably been con-
tracted before he left home and had ben
aggravated by the fatigne of the journey.
He pronounced the malady a very serious
one, and so it proved, for, in spite of every
care, the youth expired at the end of an
hour.
Saint -Andre WaR. overwhelmed. by the
fur
money flow."
to guess at the right compass poi rit, and I
escaped the eert:ent. To go forward was
• ' He disappeared round the cav-
iler in search of-pastiires no*.
•
•
4
THE FOUR CARDINAL POINTS,
The four cardinal points of health are
the stomach. liver, bowels and blood.
Wrong action in any of these producee.
diseaae. Burdock Blood Bitters acn0.
upon the fourleardinal points of health at
one and the same time, to regulate,
strengthen and ri'urify, thus preserving
health and removing disease.
—Mr. James Anderton, the well-
known proprietor of the Fairview
Brewery, Barrie, was burnt to death
at his farm early one morning last
Wreek . Mr. Anderton went to.the
farm to oversee some work that, was
being done, and it is supposed that
during the heavy rain the tent in
which he was, sleeping became too
wet, and he went to the baro for
shelter. The barn was struck, by
lightning and burned to the ground,
and it is thought Mr. Anderton re-
reived a shock and was unable to
escape from the burning building..
THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND,
GENTIANIEN.-Letit summer our child-
ren were very bad with summer com-
plaint, and the only remedy that did
them any geed was Dr. Blowier's Extract
of Wild Stzawberry. We used twelve
bottles during the warm wen' her and
would not be without it at five timed
the cost.
JAM: HEALEY, New Edinburgh, Ont.
—Premier Abbott, of Canisda,
was attacked by a fainting spell at
a privy council meeting Wednes-
day, but no serious results are fear-
ed.
•
• Si