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The Advocate, 1887-10-06, Page 2gatIfu Xteste 9 weary hands I that, all be day, Wore set to labor hard' an4 len& ljew sottlY fails the ahadoWafgalf.' The belts /Ire rung for even song, An hour ago the golden sun San4 slowly down into the west; Foor, weary hands, your toil is done: 'Tie time for rest; 'tis time for rest o weary feetthat many a mile Ilu,ve trudged along a stony way, At last ye reached the trysting stile; Irlo longer fear 0 go ;astray. The gentle bending, rustling trees 'noel; the young birds within the nest, And softly singe the tiyet breeze: "'Tis tinie for rest! -Us tiniefor rest!" 0 weary'eyes 1 fromlwhich the tears Fell many a time like thunder rain -- 0 weary heartl that through theyears Beat with such bitter restless pain, To -night forget the stormy strife, And know what heaven sball sandhi best ; Lay down the tangled web of life; Tis time for rest). "tie time lor rest IR HUGH'S LOEB, "It was lie who implanted in me a thirst for knowledge ; all the leisure moments he could snatch from his own studios were devoted to mine.. During his college terms he corresponded with me, and planned out my worlt 'during his abseoce, sparing him- self neither time nor pains; and from the night he carried me in, poor weary claild, to the light and radiance of hie peaceful home—he seenied to have adepted me peculiarly, meant oame to be understood at the Grange that Crystal was Raby'e darling and belonged especially to him. "1 think that if Margaret had not been endowed with that singular unselfishness that belonged to her nature she must have missed. something out of her We; once she bad been everything to her brother, but now it was Crystal 1 Crystal who must bring him his books, and hunt out the words in the dictionary. Crystal who muat tidy his papers, and lay the little spray of flowere beside his plate at breakfast. Ceystal who must go with laim mine rounds among the sick 'and aged—for true to the priestly office to whit:ilia/le proposed to dedicate himself, the young undergraduate already devoted a potion of his time to deeds of charity, Little by little in my childish selfishness I stole from her her sweetest privileges; the many little offices with which a loving woman delights to minister to the objects of her' affection, be they father, brother or husband. . " I took the stool at his feet, theldw chair at his side, but she never complained; for the brother and sister understood each other most truly. In their quiet looks,- I have read a mutual assurance that spoke of perfect trust and undiminished, affection ; Margaret could never be jealous of Baby, or Baby of Margaret. "Baby had very peculiar notions; on the subject of female education. "Mine, for example, was carried on in rather a desultory fashion. I was not fretted by restraint', or made stupid by long tasks; just sufficient knowledge was Ira - parted to excite my reasoniog powers and arouse the desire for more. Let her learn,' he would say, but let her learn as the bird learns to sing.' And when Margaret, in her gentle way, sighed over my lamentable ignorance of all feminine acquirements and household method: " Let her be,' he would reply, with reascraine peremptoriness, we must nos force rutture. When the time comes for her womanly instincts to develop, not an English eastren or even our own clever Margaret will excel Crystal then.' And still, more strange to Bay, he rather stimu- lated than repressed my vanity ; and so I grew up quite consoiout deny own personal attractions; but without the knowledge having undue weight with me., - "From the first he -would • have nie dressed in the quaint rich style in: which I came to them first. „ " It suiti3 her peculiar style of beauty,' I heard him once say, when Margaret re- monstrated with him on the extravagance of the idea. I was curled up onthe window seat, reading, and they did net think I was listening. " Ratty is right,' observed 'Uncle Rolf; she will never make a quiet -looking Eng., lisle girl like our Maggie here•—were you to dress her as a Puritan or a Quaker; ah, she will break hearts enough 1'11 warraht With thoeci dark witch eyes of berg; we nausb be careful of the child 1 If Blanes's- beauty were like her daughter's One cannot warder much at poor Edmund's choice.' Something in my uncle'e speech aroesed My childish petulance. I closed my book and came forward. "'1 don't Want tO break any hearte 1' I tried; angrily; only want Raby'e—I am going to belong to Baby all My life, I will never leave him, neVer a and I stamped my foot in a little fery. " They:all laughed, Uncle Rolf long and merrily, bob Baby colored up as he Braila.. That's right, darling,' he said, in a low 'Tow go back to your book.' Aad I went at Mice obediently. When I bade him good-higait that evening, and stood lingering by hie chair on seine pretext or other, he suddenly took hold of me, and drew bee towards him, Little Crystal,' he said; you think you ken Relay indeed; I aft tete you do, and Heaven knave hew street your childish affeothira it to me; but de yell /MOW — will yotc ever ktioW he* Rebylovee you?' and putting hiahailds on my head he bade God bless my innocent face, and let- me gm Oh, those dellaieles days of my Child- hood. But they ate gone—they are gene Long ratables tm the see -shore with Mergatet, end in the corrafieldewith Baby; bow Mitting in the copte or gathering bruit toed"' in the lanes eettieg oat austeave, betty feast wader the great elin-tree ori the Wen, Or picking lip fie -coned in the Bed. Mead avenile: Sprieg flowers, and autumn stinseta-bright baleyon days of ity youth Made gloriale With• lat. '4 Rif' as yet tie shade* of the futute hall fallen Open irlefne tib , of that ihherited 'passion had revealed itself; perhape Math.; hag had oeciared to raise the dotfriatit tweeter lulled by the influence of thief liapey home, Bet the time came, soon. eeeega, Shall I eVet forget that day? "It Wail daring the:Eastern tratetie1 .naust hale bald netiely 13 then. itaby had been untrell ; thrtie IOW feveriSh attack heal seized him, and helehe just ill r e otgh to lie on the sofa all (ley and be petted and waited upoli rWab perfectly happy freati morein te Witt ; 1 dee ted mye1f t atitueernent ; reeding to hita, talking tsti 'at ler eWanati4t4ig ettentlY heside.ltint While he elePt. 0 ' Our Qt•yetal ig getting qoite a veconao," he said once when I turned hie hot pillow and pot the eocaing deli* beside laime; ape at that brief worded praise inY feu+ Miele& with planners, end I lett amply rewaedea '' She wee a tell, steiking.looking giaL motile hndsonier than her sister Emily, and the must have been two or three yeers older than Relay. She always seemed th like his society, so; while the others talkea to 'Uncle Bog and Margaret, he sat on my low chafe beside ItOy's couch, and talked to hlre, without seeming to notice aoy ono else. " Miss YVie was Very handeente and a flirt, and Raby was oily a yogog an "at would hardly have been natural if he lied not seemed gratified by her interest io him, though I did not know until after- warcls that he valued it at its true cost. "Still she WeS pleasant and her tittle airs amosed him, and he entered into a long conversation with thme enjoyment, and for once I was forgotten. I tried to join io once or twice, bot MiseVyvie treatea me as a child, and scarcely deigned to notice me ; 'but Baby did not seem to re- sent the indifference or want 9f courtessy. He only cares for nee when others are not by,' X thought, and my heart began to swell with jealous emotion. But just before she left something eccurred that fanoed the envious spark into a flame. 4. Her white hand was resting on the little table that stood beside the couch, There was a diamond ring on her finger that flashed as she moved ; presently she stretched it out to Baby with a bewitching smile- " • Oh, what lovely lilies of the valley,' she exclaimed, pointing to the floWers ; 'they are the first I have seen this year, I adore lilies, they are perfectly eaquisite. Do let me have them, Mr. .'errere. I klietf they grew in the narden, Mud I hall keep them as a memento of Sandycliffe and the deat Grange. Conae, you must not let me break the tet la commandment and covet any longer,' and the fair girlithhand xested near the flowers as she aimless. "Raby looked embarrassed and hesitated. " X had gathered those lilies for him before the dew was off them. They grew in a little nook of the Redmond grounds; they were the favorite flowers, and I had walked ah thope railes to hunt for them. " 'Come,' she said, 'surely you will not refuse me, Mr, Ferrero,' and her smile was very winning; and Raby, though reluctant, laid the little spray, of lilies in her hand. He could hardly have done otherwise, but I Was too young to know that. " 'There, she has gooaat last, the pretty chatterbox,' he exclaimed, with a yawn of Jeal or pretended weariness as the door cecsed upon our visitors. 'Crystal, my neild, come here - I have not heard your voice for the lashour. l Tell me what you think of Miss Tyvie ; is she not a lively young lady ? ' " I made him no answer. I was past it. "Oh, if I had only gone silently out of the room to recover myself. If he had not spoken to me just then. He started wben he saw mylace. "'Crystal, my dear child, what is the matter? and then—then it burstforth. Oh, my God, I menet have been beside myself: Surely some demon must have entered into my childish heart, before I could have. poured forth that torrent of passionate invective and reproach. "They had never witnessed such a scene. Margaret, sweet soul, cried and trembled as she heard me, and Uncle Ptolf grewquite pale. " ' That child,' he cried, 4 Edmund's childr and his voice was full of horror; but Baby rose slowly from his couoh, and without a word he led me from the "I do not know whether I yielded to that firm -touch, or whether his utrength compelled me; but still sileht he took me up to my room and left Me there. "Oh, the awfulness of that mute reproach, the sternness of that pale face; ib recalled me to myself sooner than any word Would have done. Almost before the door closed my passion had spent itself, and then the agony ef shame and despair ,that followed 1 I lied forfeited his good opinion for ever.. He would neVer hive me again 1 If Icould die—oh, impious prayer that 1 prayed -if Icould only diet But I *add never tee his face „again. I would go where they could neverfind me, wheee I wohld never grieve them more, " Fetn, it was a strange" feature that Marked those laatsionate fits of miner but I never yielded to them afterwards evitheut the same desire Seizing me to go away and see them no more -, and but for the watch - u1 mire that surrainded me at these thithe / should often have escaped, "It came upon me now; this horror of restraint, and overmastered me. TO'nay fancy, I seemed to feel the walls eallieg in upon me in judgment for my sin. 1 was suffocated, and yet restlees. Ok tote away, theught, to he away from thoeerepreach- frd facts; and /rushed down steles; thtesligh the house, and delve • the yew -tree walk; but the garden door into the lane was locked, and at that slight obstacle I shivered and lay down en the grass and erushed my face spinet the ground, and felt like some youthful Cain, btanded with utextinguish- able shame. 'rhea lost Baby's love. 1 had forfeited his tespect. Theth ley the unbearable sting. Never shadd 1 forget that pale stetn face, eta the,utapolten tetirnaoh M those dark ogee. /Omelet bear f 'cried; 1can- not, eb,nnot,bear it.' "My child,' said Baby's &aye voice close to me, ' if you are betty, and yOur gtief tells mo you are, you Med askpaeddia of olit Father in heaVeri. " Thien—may a inetciful God forgive inc fer my blespheraya—I cried, not His, bait yours, Raby.. I canriot live ',without your /eve ; ' and then I allithst choked Y '' Crystal,' he abaci, with a testy sigh, can this be my ohild., 'Whom I have taught and guided, my della for whan 1 illeVe prayed every eight;' mad teethed by the gentleness of laivatehe I erept a little ilearet and clasped his feet. 1411 can haviit be f &given," 1 SObbed. What had heaVen to de With- atlas a genet "Ah, libt1 ne," ho ahalvatecl ‘dialre .; hot I threiVert 'thee, and I Wee etristehed tin no &Dui fee thy sake;' and then, kneeling dolvia by My aide, he relate11 eay Wet kW frolii the grass, and leid it gently ai his I arta and 14960, its and then 1 inen! 1 Wee forgiven. rat, neVer shell 1 tg00 bo W he 4 11",i t to inea.-eltlid yet he Wal4 ill---eEi a pricet tool How he 14114 the tarter of the On and the - lel ,ay e =twice ; how, Without •eel. a iota cf its gesilt cre one aread s conee(ueneeet he led me te al; ' Qs j time ' Thy sine, eve e thine, C 4 „a, regieea thee,' and then he took ',e ea e house, °est aown indeed and llama 1, 'out no long despairing, and led me to Thiele BolL a +Father 4 he said still holdingmyhaod perhaps beceuse he felt haa I trembled, ' father, Crystal has collie te askyour pardon and Margetetai also for the pam she has caused you bale and to say that, with God's help, she will iever effeod so again.' "Never' 1 oh Baby, •Ilever 1 when the iobero. enemy was stroog as death and cruel as the grave, Ob, my good ensel, Raby, what have the years weitters against me ---against me—your unhappy ohild?" CHAPTER XXIV. A GRAvn DhcisioN, From the day I brought te England my poor searching face (An orphan eyen, of lay father's grave); He liiiailired me, watched ine, watched his soul Which in ler'se grew, and heightened into love. X tizohetli 13arrott Browning, •e The years rolled by,but, OW they borught no added happiness with them. The taint in niy nature that had mailed itself so unexpectedly only aeyelopea xnore strongly as time went on; at rare intervals —very rare I am thaukful to say—fierce gusts of passion overeoastered my reason, so that for a brief time I seemed like one posseesed with an evil spirit. "They tried everythinee—everything that human wisdom and kindness could devise to save me !rem myself, but in vain. All causes for offence were removed, and every meens taken to ward off the threatened excitement; but when theparoxYares earner they wasted no weeds, no ',severity upon me, they simply left me to myself. "But the punishment that follaved was a terrible one. For days aid days after one of these outbreaks, •sometimes ,for a week together, Raby would xefuse to speak to me or to hold any communication at all, "Our walks and rides, our pleasant studies, were all broken off, every little office and attention refused, my remarks met by a °Wiling manner that drove me to silence. "Left completely to my Own society, I wandered aimlessly about the house or sat moping over my books or work in a corner. I never sought to rebel against the rigor of my sentence; it was a just one I knew, and I bore it patiently as I could. And then all at once, sometimes •when I least expected it, when I was most hopeless and forlorn, a hand would be placed on ray head in the old caressiing manner, and a low 'forgiven darling,' would bring me back to sunshine and happiness; but, oh, how he suffered. I never knew until afterwards that his punishment was even geeater than mine. / "1 one speaking now of myyoungerdays, but presently there came a time when they treated it less as a fault than a malady; when Raley dreaded the repentance more than theparoxysm, for so poignanv was my anguish of remorse thatit threatened to prey on ray health. " Then, when they; saw how I wept and strove against it,and bow the torment of my own undisciplined nature was more than I mild bear, then they grew to look upon me as one upon Whom some deadly sesourge was laid—some moral siekness that they could not understand, indeed, but Which, out of their great love, they could afford to pity. "Years rolled on. Baby had passed through his 'University life with honors; had gained a fellowshipa and had taken orders, and accepted a curacy soraedistance from Sandycliffe. It was only a temporary position, until the church at Senaychffe had been restored and was ready for use; the living had been already promised to him, and small as it was, he washed to hold it, at least for the present. Baby, was a man singularly devoid of ambition, and though he must have been conscious that his were no common gifts, he always told us that he did not wish'. a wider spheeceuhtil he had tested his powers, and hadworked a little in the home Nip& yara. " At this time he was much ascupied with his stuchaseand some doctrinal treatilte on which he was engaged; 'and an only Sunday duty was requileld of him, he Wad able to be with us trete Monday to filature day, a great bobn to us as 'Uncle Rolf's health was failing, and his son's tionstant, presence was a great comfott to hien. He died when I was about fifteen, and then Baby became master of the Grange. 'The next two years that followed were, in spite of my dear unCle's loss, very happy met. "'rhe fits of passion becanie more rare and decreased in violence, and for a time ceased altogethet. It teemedto be ,coming true what littbyhad awe prophesied, that should outgrow them when I beetteasa *Malan. , Thitt was tier chief joy.; btit later On, after a year Or CO, Thigh :Redlesaid came more frequentlytes the Grange; and by and; by Margetet and he Were engaged= . Baby gave his Colleent tether thlecteettly, he alsbetys told ree he did mit centider hien worthy Of; a Webeeri like Itatitgetete, he thought hien trealetaild inepelsiVe atid With. mit ballast ; but llergetet had abet het heart to her bench:erne Wing levet, and could the no 18.1.11t in hina and: for a tinie all Went Statiothly: but / ton anticipating a "The event that etealds peinninetitly sn my repellection Wee a ball that was to be given in: henor Of young Egerton Traletr. hey, the eldeet to of a Wealthy- tinateltaiat living at Phattenbilit. Milightiat Was going; and of etAit.fie He& Rearrenid; 'Weald be there, but they Wale net- rengaged then. Margaret had induced Rehr to let Me atooMpanYlliet, fer I Was neatly eeeentetiii then, end,VotyWorcenly far toy ego, He Ocineented rether"teltiettlestly, 1 thaight,. and the atilajOet dtOpped: Another' there I. thetilaliath tried be extort a more graci�hs tieithialera, for my ;heart •WaS tet on the, a11 bit het let Oahe tithe 1 had noticed elight-ohlingein Baby's: neenhet to rate an itiaperatiptible'fietetee that Made hie little leesfet nly eaee With hita ; it *dB hot that he:failed in kitidneris, for he hall nearer betel so adal ta'eate,,.blit theta' tela. dart= y betWeeft bit. Hiti 'teased td I treut roe a olaild, tiMe wee aPenlething deterenthd in his tendereeee ; hia form; 41414 keen 'airatellfill loesk 41; they rel3te4 en Pie that Perplexed Me, I wee beginning not to underetand Baby at all; either be was not quite happy. or I had disappointed him in some way; and yet, thoegla I longed to questioo him, an unuseal •ehynees held me back. "It wes the evening before the ball, and Roby was in the libratY sp abeiethed in his Hebrew manuscript that for once he had nothnissed me from my accustomed Place. The new 1241 fines Arargaret had gleamed for mein Looden ha a just arrived, and she had coaxed me to put drawn my book aod try it on in awe any alterations should be eeqnired, bad never seen any gown I likea oetter ; the rich ereanay tint Inst set off neer olive Oompleiciori and coi/sof black hair to perfection. I wag quite startled when I saw myself in ehe long pier glass; nay neck and arms were gleaming through the dainty cohwelaby lace, a, ruby pendaot spateiled like a nrimson star at my throat. Margaret was enchanted. " Oh, Crystal,' she exclaimed, how beautiful you look, just like an Esther or Vashti with their grand oriental faces. Come down with me and /et os startle Baby from his dusty old folios; he will thbak he sees a Viei0e.' "1 followed her smiling; I was pleased that Baby should see me in this queenly garb. 1 stele gently behind his:chair. Oh, king, live ,for ever,' I said, laughing, and then he torned around; and as I dropped him a mocking curtesy, he tried tosuppress the exclamation that rose to his lips. '1 Shall I do?' I continued, mischiev- ously. ; shall I do, Baby?' and I made a sweeping obeieance to him such as Esther might have made to Ahasuerus, bat no like sscptre of favor was extended to me. "'Yes, you will do very nicely,' he said, •curtly, and then he went back to his folios. But I had seen the expression in his eyes, the long wistful look he had cast at me, and I triumphed. "But my triumph was of brief duration. The next morning Baby treated me with almost chilling reserve. In vain I laughed and talked, and strove to win him to merri- ment ; his manner repelled all such attempts, and I was obliged to chat with Margaret, "'Where are you going?' I asked pres- ently, when he had closed his books and was preparing to leave the room. "i am going up to West Point to see poor Lettie White,' he returned; 'her mother has been down this morning and tells me she is worse. You had better not accora- pally me, Crystal,' for I had started up from my chair. "'And why not?' I exclaimed in a hurt voice; it is such a delicious morning, and there is no such place as the West Point for a breeze; it will freshen me up fcir the evening.' '" Well, do as you like,' he returned, coldly, and closed the door. The indiffer- ence of his tone wolinded me. What could I have done to offend him; but I was never proud where Baby was concerned, so I put on my hat and accompanied him. "For the first mile or two we were very silent. Baby walked on with his shoulders slightly bent, and his eyes fixed on the ground, a habit of his when he was think. ing very deeply. "'Baby,' I said at last, rather timidly, Iwish you would walk a little slower, I want to talk to you;' and then he lanced at inc with sorne surprise. " '1 Yeas only thinking of my next Sun, day's Bermona he replied as if in apology for his want of attention. told, you you had better not corns with me, Crystal.' " I know you aid tioi want me,' I answered, lightly; your mahner made that feet very apparent; but you see I wanted to come, andece I had my; own way. Of oourse I know what teat you Willa choose, Raby. 'What a pity it is too far for me to come and hear that sermon. To thinkthat neither Margaret or I have ever heard you preach, and to .lose ,that- sermon of all others. L " What do you mean? ' be answered, rather irritably, for my gay mood Wit8 clashing with his sombre One. "1 Obithe text will be, at Vanity of vani. tiest saith the preacher. All is vanity"; that will be your tubjOot, Raby, will it not a' "He turned round at that, and a smile dispelled his gravity; and then he took hay hand and put it on his arra, and held it gently there. "1 think you have guessed mythoaghts, Crystal,' he said, quietly, (but not all of them. Do you know I have been thinking as we came along thatyou and I, dear child, have reached the ethos' roads of life at last, where each must choose, his or her path, and gle on their way alone.' "'Oh, Baby,' I exclaimed in some dis- tress as I pressed closer to him: what can you mean by saying anything so dreadful I hope your path and in will allvays the same.' r ea41 " 'My dear,' he thtorned gently—Very gently; but there was pain and sane iltianige selemn meaning inhisface—' I disappointed youdast night: You thought that r tiolg not praise your finery or stoop to flitter your innocent Variity, that, I held Motif from your girlish pleasure. Ah,' .with a; sudden change of tone, 'you Iitthi khow what brilliant Vision hauntedme last night and .droie sleep from niy eercs; how it lured and tempted me from my settee qf right; but God had mercy' Oa Vies Poor priest, and strengthened his•haada ha the day of battle.'• r "The white abstracted look of hit fad,e, the lav veherhence of his tone, thrilled nacy airs:met painfully; never had Baby looked or spoken like that. aatifts,, he Went on sortaw- haret wrong this child 1 have guided and protected all these years, or take advantage of your youth and inexpeti- enee, by using my ihflueriets end condemri- ing you to elite for 'Which yon ate riot fittoa. GO forth :into the werld thee, Iny Eetheea- did not Margaret compete yeu to Esther—, :hake eitperience Of ite Plealuteca it'd trials, itt tiodnations, ibs hits() Wooinge, and its clatzling henore ; if they tell you your beauty might win a Corencit they *Mild he tight." " let Ma Afifth go into the pleatie yon—if it Meet .oltiit you away --Eon bt tne Ciintoti Oben' hal feet ts, World that oleithe hilt if it fait. to bum and btakeh awaited, theri cane feinale 'ptintet this Week—Misses tirInts, 'benk' to me, ray daiiing, cortie 'back ata Prat k Cron, the filthier bf when' geee to Baby; he will he praying for Skin to 0'.1eIt to fetid° eta the hltter to Isathhill. hero,' They ate to be rhattied, haying cloleri the 'Shall I CrWtaliget hid tone; my ;Stick and takiiig Op the Deka. Plata) two fell fast as I listeoed to him. s What do you meao? ' 1 sobbed.; ')4PW have ; (*ended you? WhY de You prOpeee to sand Pie away item you?' (To be centime* /loath of the Maharanee Bhuleep London World: regret to say that the Maharanee Dhuleep eliog,h, who has been in failing health, died somewhat anddenlY on Friday. The Maharanee elways conciliated,. showed much good feeling, and wee afayoe- it° wi.th the QuetiO. She wee aT;seaant.tee woman with a strain see Abyssinian blood in her veins. She refused to associate he. self with the gabarajah's ceotinental yaga- ries, Her elms acted with similar good senee, and Pelee° Victor, now a eadat t. Sandhurst, bids fair to become a popolar British officer and country geotleman, Pre- liably the Maliaranee's death will not pro- duce muoll effect Opal the wholoin Saffolk magnate and member of the Carlton Club. Dhuleep Singh has shown himself more% eager to sever every connection with his old life the more desperate his fortunes have become. They have reached a love ebb since his protector, Katkoff, died, mod the official Russiao Gevernment is under- stood to be by no meatis enamored of his, offers, noe will tin last effort of the Moscow Gazette this week to lift him into promi- nence have much effect beyond accentuat- ing his political insignificance. Too Old for Miss Limy. The following story is told of a Virginia gentlenaan, ratber advanced in life, who. was about to be united in marriage to alady very much lais junior. Going to make her a visit just before their wedding, her old colored mammy came courteayinffl into the, parlor, eager to make the acquaintance of the future lord and master of her young lady. W011, Aunt Chloe," said the gcirt- tleman in question, after the preliminary greeting bad been gotten through with,, what do you think of Miss Luoy's choice,. now you've seep him ? " "1 likes you mighty well, Mars' John, fur as I've seen you," replied Aunt moo, after a moment's deliberation; "but you's too old for Miss Luoy." Too old, Aunt Chloe exclaimed the, gentleman, somewhat discomfited by Aunt, Chloe's unexpeeted candor. You don't know what you're talking about" (straight- ening himself up). "Why, I'm just in ray primee2; " Y, sir, I sees you is," replied the still unconvinced Aunt Chloe • " but when Miss Lucy gibe in her prime, e:har you gwine be, den?" An Alleged Abseonsion. The latest absconsion of prominence in the Western district is reported by the London Free Press from Strathroy, in the person of Mr. L. R. Ritharason, the well. known cheese dealer, whose absence from. his neual business haunts since Thursday week hes occasioned considerable talk in. commercial and other circles. Mr. Bich- ardson was a proraineni operator on the Lonaon, Ingersoll and Woodstock cheese, markets, and in his adopted town was recognized aa an energetic, pushing roan. Ple was an unsuccessful opponent, in the Conservative interest, of Me, John Wetter - worth for the representation of West Mid- dlesex in the Ontario Legislature several years since, and took an active interest in party politics. The Debt Had Been Standing a Tear. A long-suffering tradesman sent his little - reminder as follows : "Dear Sir : "Your little account has been standing now over a year. Please send a. cheque and oblige." Hardened debtor replies: "tsar Sir: "1! that little account is tited of standing, let it sit down. Yours." The Long and. Short of It. "Do yen know," said a dignified -looking: man, 44 that 1 never tasted whiekey 2" "No ," was the reply. "1 know lots of fellers thaagulp it down quick that way,. but somehow I could al wore get mote enjoy- ment out of it by lettin' it go slow, unless, it's clear pizen."—Washington Critic. 0. W. Mathewson, of DeKalb, Ilia has a tame Maltese rabbit which will eghb nioet= anything from a mane np to an elephant.. It recently had a bone to pick with abound. Waiting until the hound was wrapped in, slumber, it quietly approached, jumped on the hound'o back, and made the ft* 1y in a Ammer which would be a caution to ma Sandusky, 0., proposes to abolish her street -lamps arid lightthe city by elecitriciity.. -Thicken yolk' piano singing; broaden without breaking your declamation. Prac- tice various ways of singing same passage.. Avoid, monotony; la your emotional. nature color your voice ; practice 'the pas - 'stone vocally. Learn to utile, your voice. Sit at anYliody'S feet. Delight ' ythirself in. findihg out your failiegs. Try, try again. I know the temptetion to rush at the result without waiting on the means for i hill it, myself, and that'll the reason 1 went you, to hasten slowly.—Iaemteay, , the Scottish., Votalist, 15 His Children. It is ;interesting to note just; at this time that a new translation of " Slialispeare'S playe " lute been made inDutch. gersdyk, the famous poet or Holland, had made the translation; which ie said to be a work of art, His " Metheth " was recently gieen before a brillient audience at an Ariesterdain theatre and teceived great applause. The populatity, of Shalcspeare m laonata ata Germany' ie threerliable. • Miss Aliee Henry, of Aelpen, Cal., diecoye ered alarge beak neer her father's 'cabin recently. She was Mena,: hut tholight She could kill the boat.' Taking a rifle, she waited iintil bruin Was busy deveurieg 0, pig; end then lodged &bullet in hie brain. Ho Weighed 600 pounds, Aeeorclitig to tho LdILCbb adisetover y ,haa just beeri Made of great irreportaliecitethete le the neighborhood �f caisintaptive liati0nte, Sane Dias Which hall beefs seen to enter apitteone eenteinitig the singer' of phthisleal aittiente Were -delight and exareified, when it Waif, foetid thae they Weise fell of tubotaidlieeilli, Thar iedicatele thet the disease be widely speetcd by 0