The Exeter Times, 1890-12-18, Page 2Ta SIEGE OF SMIDA. GUNGE.
dark hair, dark eyes, rather full re a lips,
and skin of soft and flowerlike bloom The
name of the pale girl was Mary Salad;
A - Romance of the Sepoy Metiny Jtd that of the beautiful one was Leonora Dun -
1857. des. The latter was the colonels daughter;
Mary Selland was his ward, Before the mu-
tiny they had livedtwiether with an old Eug-
lish servant, airs. Jessop, ti the colonel's
•
On the 1st of July, 1857, the Inaba um- bungaJow, outside the fortified inclosure.
tiny was at its height. For ten days the lit- The, character of these two girls we will
tle British station at Sunda Gunge had leave to reveal themselves as we proceed
only recording therelations in which they
stood to St. George Vane, who had knowt.
thene both since they were °Miami.
Like all men of her acquaintance, Vane adi
mired. Lenore greatly awl sometimes half
believed himself in lorm with her aud
whether he was really or not, he had been
accustomed for years 0 cell himself her
worshipper On the other hand, though he
liked Miley Selland very warmly, end would,
bave acme anything la his power to gwe her
slims were not scarce, and op to the preetint pleasure, he never told himself that he was
moment the garrisoa had entertainea straaaiu love with her, nor even thought about it.
aopes of being able to hold out until rehet Both the giais on their side regarded Vane
with feelings far different frozu those of or-
divary interest. But it is characteristic of
each, that wbile Lenora never forgot, that
Vane was a rich man,Mary Sulland never
gave the fact a thougbt, nor would have eon,
aidered the subject of much interest if she
had.
The two girls were now alone on the ver -
Aloft, anxious, restless and uneasy. Its
true that at that reoment nothing alarming
was either to be seen or heard.
No noise of wax was in the air ;
scarcely a sound disturbed the evening
silence. In the earlier days of the
siege there had been continued, assaulte
upon the walls, but these had um ken
given up as hopelees, and except for the
distant. humming of the lumen swarms
amoug the huts awl bazars of the Sepoys
around the walls, the place was still. But
over all there bangs a cloud of fear;" a
sense of impending danger, as of the sword
imaging by a mngle thread ; the cruel uni
certainty as to what was going to happen,
whieh inakes the roam' horror of a passive
lege. in Buell a situation the ear is always
listening, the nerves aro ready to start at
every sauna, aud the newt % kept fame:heti
constantly upou the rack.
Vane, on catering the room, baa no know-
ledge that the two girls were at that moment
on the veraude, so near to his own window.
He bad just been round the station, and had
got two:tiler with some ilifficulty half a dom
enemy and a loadeil cannon. Bat how ? en men who could be spared from aotive duty
Over a fringe of mango trate aml the roof at tlic wateloposts on the walls, and these.
of 8°Ille low bce,t•p..i.low„ s zht tiAt, 0, f the as he had given orilers, were now collected
square a wait of dusky eirtiree eoutti vede about the door of the room, awaiting his ar-
eerlea at a certain Point en the hill side. rival. Foar were Euglish, two were Oiklis,
The dark Whit luarrraat the sot where the ' every inan of theme as Vella hewer well, to be
,ext_Pon Was Pristeile Even as the oletalataio trusted, to the death.
oed towant haw cannon beeinee—tuere These inen he now pewee an one sale ot
cameo Puff of smoke and a akeiit of fire— the table, while he himself towl an the
and at the same inn:neat the grimed about other. Then, in a few wortis, he explained
the mirth of the treli was torn up la' a tiere:e to them the nature of the service for which
hail of ehot. The minium were tram; tltear
range ; and what is mere, it WAS o1dy too
evident that they had found it.
The spectatore looked biguificantly at one
another. Four of the group were English
eoldiers ; the ret were waives. Of the lat-
ter two NVSVO water carriers, cuh of whom
carriol about his waist a large, hollow belt
of shin, capable of containing several gal-
lons of water. The duty of these men NVaS,
in ordinary times, one el no particular dan-
ger. But now the ease was altered. There
theystood tremb'
ling their dusky faces
turning to a sickly yellaer, as they stared at
the space of icatterea ground which the
storm of shot 'had torn up aU around the
mouth of the well. The other natives were
ell Sikhs; and these, with the impassive
courage of their race, leolied on calmly aud
betrayed no emotion.
Of the Englishmen, two were private sol-
diers i the other two were officers—Colonel
Dundas, the other in charge of the garrison,
and a young lieutenant, St. George Vane.
The colonel was a tall, gray man, grave,
stern, and niartiol. The lieutenant was a
young man of not more than five or six and
twenty, with blue eyes, fair moustache, and
careless, hanasome features, much bronzed
cor exposure to the sun.
The colonel was the first to speak.
"This is awkward business, Vane," he
said. "We might drive these cowards to the
well, but they will certainly be blown to
pieces, iind we shall get no water. And at
night, with this moon, it is as light as day.
One could see a mouse stirring.' .
"True," said Vane, reflecting, "yet --
stay 1 one of us might go out alone, and try
to bring in water. If they bit hiai, as they
most likely will, three or four others can be
ready 10 rush out, and may bring him in and
the water as well, before they have time to
load again," and he looked inquiringly at
the colonel's face, eager to learn what he
thought of the proposal
"The cannon % not the only danger," said
the colonel. "They have rifiem there as
well."
"True," said Vane, "but a rebel at that
range, would most likely miss—a shower of
grape is different."
The colonel hesitated. No commander
likes to send brave men on desperate ven-
tures. But he could see NO other scheme
which would not involve much greater risk
of life, with still less prospect of success.
And they niust reach the well in soma way—
the necessity was vital. If once the:supply
of water were cut off their cbance was gone.
They could not last twelve hours.
Vane had kept his eyes fixed upon the
colonel's face.
"Let me try," he said, eagerly. "Give
me a. few men—a score will volunteer—and
we will laugh at these bleak scoundrels
yet."
The colonel. laesitatecl—but only for a
moment. There was no man in the garrison
whom he valued and trusted more than St.
George Vane. He knew well the dauger of
the proposed adventure; and he knew well,
also, that Vane, if he were allowed to un-
dertake it, would never rest until his task
succeeded, or he himself were killed in the
attempt. But in warfare private feelings
must give way to the general good. After
a moment the colonel laid his hand on the
womy man's shoulder and said, briefly
'boa besieged by the insurgent Sepoys.
The station was divided into two portions,
tbe lower :misting of the Indian village and
the upper, part of witieb, including the magi
nine aud the British residence., was strong-
ly fortified. Madan this portion the Eagi
lish residents had retired ou the arst signet
of approaching tlauger. The rebels fortum
pool). possessed only one small piece of can-
non, which had proved quite ineffectual
against the walls of the enclosure Provio
arrived.
Suddenly a new and unexpected danger
heel arisen.
The buildings enclosed within the fortifi-
cation formed an open square, in the mid-
dle of tae seuare was the well which suppla
ed the garrison with water. About 5 o'clock
itt the afternoon a grcup of several persons
were st mding withie the slielter of an arch-
way which opened into the square, and gez-
leg with looks of constereation and dismay
in the diree.tion of the well.
The mese of their alarm was singular.
The town was situated at, the feet of a
range in hies; and from Dee partmular pemt
upou the slopes outside the walla the well in
the middle of the square was visible. This
the Sepoys had at length dietiovered. Their
eiugle p.m+ of cannou was at °nee posted
at Ole paint, and brought to bear exactly on
the well within the town. The result of this
proceediug is self-evident. If oee of the
gerrisou should now veuture into the square
for the purpose of fetelang water, he n-ould.
run an unuuneut risk of heiug blown to
Moine by a volley of grape shot.
Tile group of spectators loolied in silence
at the well, The two thought oveupied the
mite% of all. There were women en the
gerrisen—delicate English ladies, girls, and
children—awl within the room set apart for
the purpese of a hospital wounded men were
moaning for water. Water, at all costs,
mot he had– von in the face a a vigilant
ey were requirea ; adamg that he only
wished for volueteers, and that any' man
who disliked the tluty might retire at ono.
Not te man etirreth however. The Sikhs
saluted eravely ; the British soldiers, true
to the immemorial custom, of their race
when called, upon to faee a special danger,
broke into a cheer,
Vane looked round him and h% eyes glis-
tertea, but he ealt1 sinmly
"The man that goes out first will run by
far the greatest risk. Who will undettake
that day ta
There were as alreetly stated, six men
present beindes Vane himself. Six 'right
hands immediately saluted—there were mx
competitors for the privilege of being the
first mark of the Sepoys' canon. 'Vane
smiled.
"We must draw lots, I see," he said.
Opening a shallow drawer in the table, he
took out of it a pack of ceras.
" Here are seven of us," he contiuued.
"r am going to deal these cards all round.
Whichever of us rezeives a certain card—
we will say the Knave of Spades—will be
the man selected."
He cut the pack. The deal bean.
A hush fell on the six spectators—the
hush of rising interest. Except for the
slight fluttering noise made be, the falling
cards, not &sound was to be heard. Strange,
that, there is sotnthing in suspense which
affects the mind more strongly than the ac-
tual danger. These men had volunteered,
without a space of hesitation, to face the
risk of death. Yet, not one of them could
now look on.without a tingling of the Mood,
as they waited for the card to fall which
carried a man's life.
Such was their absorption that they did
not see two faces which came suddenly
peeping in upon them through the window
of the room.
The two girls on the veranda had been
startled by hearing all at once the sound of
voices in the room close by them. From
their position they could not avoid overbear-
ing every word that passed. They beard
the short speech in which Vane announced
to the men the danger which threatened the
well and the duty which was expected of
them; they heard his appeal for volunteers
and then the cheer which followed. So far
they had remained motionless, eagerly drink-
ing in the details of the propoeed adventure,
but when Vane took out tbe pack of cards
in order to select a man by lot, to listen,
without seeing, was impossible—and in a
minute the two faces came peeping in at the
window in the iniumer just described.
From this position they could see clearly
every card as it was dealt The cards fell
slowly, one by one, before each nian in turn.
The deal went round—card by card, as it
appeared, the focus of nine pairs of eager
eyes. The second deal went round—no
knave of spades as yet appeared. Thefourth
began; would that complete the circuit of
the seven? The pack was growing thin and
expectation deepened now with every card.
Where was the knave of spades? It must
come soon. Again the cards went round.
No! Not quite. As the last carcifell fee°
upward on the table a thrill went through
the nerves of the spectators. The two girls
at the window shrank back suddenly as if
they had been shot. There was the fatal
card at last 1 The lot had fallen to Vane
himself 1
The young man laughed lightly as he
threw down the pack.
"That decides it," he said. "1 go first
You will meet me at the archway in hall an
hour from this time; it then will be dusk,
and we will give ourselves whet chance we
can. I shall go out alone; the rest of you
will wait ander cover of the archway, and
will rush out the inoment they fire at ine. If
I fal1 two of you must bring me in—Sander-
son and King can do it. The other four
must try to get a bucketful of water each—
there will be time for that, I think, though
it will be sharp work. Remember at the
arehway, with all ready in half an hour.
An hour or two later Vane entered his
Own room.
It was a large apartment, situated at tbe
back of the walled euclosure, which, on aa
count of its size, hall come to be used by
the officers as a common room. Its windows
opened on a wide veranda, which extended
the whole length of the building, havingthe
windows also opening upon it. The largest
of these rooms has been set apart for the use
of the ladies of the garrison, and, as the
veranda was cool, shady, and retired, they
were accustomed to sit there, in preference
to breathing the close heat of the room with.
in,
At the moment when Vane entered two
figures were sitting on the veranda, mot far
from his own window—two girls. One, of
these was a•taII, slight gid, pale and light.
haired—not handsome, nor even remarkable,
except for her eyes, which were large, gray,
serious, and, when at rest, deep rather -than
bright. Her companion, on the other hand,
was a girl of singular beauty; it girl wife
she wished when she came hurriedly forward
end stood beside him.
St. George,"the said, you must not go
__you shall not go. Tell me you will not,
promise me."
As she spoke, he though; for the first
time, of the veranda ; she knew what he was
going to do. He would, muoie rather that she
had not known; but, be auswered simply ;
"It is ray,duty, Lenora."
"Duty! " she repeated with impatience.
"Oh, res—but do not go! Sod some oue
else; surely there are plenty of men. Do
not go, at. George." She laid her band upon
the young man s arm and looked up iuto hie
eyes.
Great is the power of beauty—though it
be the beauty of Delilah. It ouldnot make
roan like Vane forgetful of his duty, or
ebake for more thane moment his natural
resolution. But as he looked down at the
lovely lips which tempted hint, hedidnot
turn at once away. And yet her words
jarred on him. He felt no surprise ; he knew
Lenora well ; but he would bo.ve choSeu that
the girl to whom he imme his love, though
she might part from him in agony of mind,
would not had him skirk his duty in face of
danger. Love might be dearer to him than
life, lint honor should be dearer than either,
He was on the point of speaking when
there appeared at the window of theroom
another rigure. They both looked up and
saw it. It was 3,1ary Sullen& Her face was
very pale, and as she came forward a close
observer might bave seen that she was trerai
Ming. But her eyes shone with a' strange
nght,and when she spoke lier voice, though
low, was thrilling ue its dietinetness. iler
first words showed that slie bad not aver.
heard, or and not understood, what had al-
ready pessed between. Lenora, end St.
George.
"We know where you are plug," she mill
with shining eyes. Lenora shall not be
alone in bidding you Goa -speed Vlore you
go. 1 have came to do so too" ;nrn1. RS be
spoke. she looked like v.Spartan maitionmay
have loolced, when she seut Ler lover forth
to death or glory.
At the first sound of her voice, Vane
started. Their eyes mot, and ono might
have thought that seine reflection of the
light in hers had flashed into hie nwu. With-
out a word he took her bud andigoessed it
to bis lips. Then with the same action of
farewell to Leuore he turned awaa„ reached
the door of the apartment, and was gone.
The witole scene was over abuost in a,
moment, Yet seems as brief have often
been the turning point of lives—end so it
was to be with the.
waved them in the moonlight. In, a element
—just as Yenta* recovering a little, started
out of the archway—the cannon thundered;
e.storra of shot whistled iu the air, plouglied
up the around, and rattled among the rumed
woodwork of the well.
Vane was still outside its rauge, and no
shot struck him. But the pleantom figure
—what of it ? He looked; and, thrilled.
What clerk thing was that, which now lay
motionlese beside the mouth of the well?
He had not seen the figure fall—but it was
down upon the ground
IV.
Lenora, with a halahysterical !eagle,
turned to the window and went out. Mary
Saud was left alone. Suddenly elle sank
upon a chair, and lettat into such a passion
of tears as shook her very frame.
It is not the nature of any women, bow -
ever Wily made, however jealous of the
honor of the man slie regards, not to feel
at soli it moment, it cruel agony of mind.
She was alone. The excitement whielt had
;sustaine(l her was alrody over; and now
the hard plain fact, without disguise, pressed
itself remorselessly upon ber soul. Her
hero had gore forth to alinceit certain death.
Her hereat—res-ahe was her hero, Sae
mede no secret of it now, in her own beart.
She loved him well. Gladly would She had
aeoiven her own life for hie. But alas 1 what
could she dot
AU at once it wild thought stook her.
lier cheek flamed ; the old light kindled in
111.
The men saluted itnrailled out. Vane was
left alone. Ile turned aud was about to seat
himself at the table when, to his earprise'he
saw a figure standing in the window of the
room. Re looked again—and saw that it was
Lenora. Weal., could inice brought her there
he knew not, the truth he did uob giless.
Wonderieg, be took a step or two in her desiring rather to attract attention than to
direction, and was about to ask her what shuninit raised both arms vaove its head and. leo ieweiret
VL
Vahert the night was past; when the next
day shone: when the dial -finger marked the
ROUSEROLD.
Reliday Cooking.
ENoLLSIX PLITEIFUDDING.—Two pounds of
flour, with a few bread crumbadded if lik-
ed ;two poimds of light brown sugar, mie of
suet, chopped fine '- one and a half pounds.
eacb of raisins and ornate, one quarter
each of candied, lemon and orange peel, one-
half ounce eech of cloves and cimeamon, three
nutmegs ;juice andgrated rind of two lemons
and grated rind of one orange, half it peeled
of alliterate blanched and chopped fine, eight
eggs, half it pine of brandy. Add euougle
boiled milk to make of the regular omelets
Goy. Boil eight hours in it floured crash
bag made with seam outside. Lay an old
hour a littleafter noon, thegarmson of Sunda plate or dish in the bottom of the vessel to
Gunge was Shaken suddenly by strange ex- keep the bag from stickine to it.
citement. First, there became audible A Arices p.xxu puromm_chop fine glag
noise of wild eonfutiou in the oneampfltent pound of beef suet front near the kidney;
of the Sepoys round the -walls. It grew—it add one pound of flour sifted, with one tea -
gathered volume; it swelled into a tumult* spoonful of salt; four pounds of raisins
elaus fired ; vole,es yelled ; asound was heard stood; oneihelfpound stonedand chopped;
me of the stampede of innumerable feet one pound of currants ; one geetea 'nutmeg;
Then, Arowning every other sound, arose the one-half pound eaeli of candied orange and
load harrahing of English voices; and this, lemon peel; oue wineglass of old pale sherry ;
taken up by those beside the garrison, be-
came in a few minutes a perfect tempest, of
wild elteeting, ringing far and near.
Suddenly—unexpectedly—reliefhadeome.
The robe% were flying be allicliteations ; their
camp was in the lianas of Englisla soldiers,
The siege of Sandy Gunge was over.
It is not our purpose to dwell upon Hie
scene that followed, From the tumult of
wild. joy, of eamost fierce OROiVelllent, NV
must turn awey, awl follow St. George
Vane.
As soon as lam fact of the relief was ceri
tale, he stepped out of the crowd and made
Itis way, alone and unperceived, along the
deserted passages, to it certaia room, which
lay in the rear of the walled buildbigs. It
was the very room from Which the eight be-
fore a elender grey -draped figure had, stolen
eoftly out
Just as be reaclied the dor, and weshol-
Wing at the thresliold, Mrs, Jewel), who
had been calledoutbg thenoise atm cheer-
ing, was seen returning in it atate of much
excitement. Vence aceosted tier eagerly,but
in low tones. "Is she better; (,an 1 see
ber?" he old.
"She is much better; she is dressed aud
sitting up. But, the noise alarmed her.
She does pot know the cause dia. Will you
°time in and tell her 1"
Vane followed her into the room. In it
large chair, *text the window, looking very
white and weak, with it liandege rowel her
temples, where the 8hot had gratedand stun -
mid her, sat Mere' Sullaud, As Vane entered
she looked round, He paused, arid fo seine
seconds the two regarded each other.
He bad not seen her since, the night be-
fore he bad earriea Ler, moiling, to her
room. He had heard, with infinite relief,
that the wound was not serious ; and intik.
ing hourly at her doorthroughout the night,
he had learnt that the swoon waspaesing ow,
and that with some home of rest there would
belittle tobe feared. Yet INOW ashe etoodbei
fare iter,even the greet event which had keit
happened WAS less present to the mind than
anxiety to satisfy libeseltwith his own eyes,
that she was seta The shack whieli be
felt at the moment when he had raised her
in his arum, Ana caught sight of hor white
face in the moonlight, was with hie) still.
He had bit at that instaut a certainty that
she was killed.
Audindeed she had heti e wonderful es-
cape.
'very sportsman who has triea his gun
at a theet of paper knows that it *will
sometinaes happen that, whilethe paper
will be spotted thick With pellets, there
will sometimes be e. space left free
of shot—large enough, perhaps, to home
let the game escape, however true to aim.
Ithad so happenea here. Amid the storm of
shot only one bad grazed her; the rest had
whistlea past her w theta harm. But where
her slender figure had so narrowly escaped,
a man, being of larger bulk, would inevit.
ably have been stock down. Mary STOMA.
heel, in feet, been slightly wounded, where
Vane woula have beeu
During the hours of the night, while he
had wandered up and down outside her door,
too restless to sleep, he had thought of all
these things. He had thought of the girl
who had melted her life for las ; Milled let
his memory go beck into the past and call
to mind all that he had owed to Mary Sul -
lama through the years that he had. known
her ; how all his noble aspirations, dreams,
ambitions, had come from her, or had been
restored and Aro gthened by her sympathy ;
and he had wondered how it was that he
himself had never realized till now what she
had been to him. And now, as he stood be-
side her, its he looked at her again, he won-
dered more and more.
The look of inquirer on her face recalled
him to himself.
"1 arn forgetting," be said. "1 am glad
to be the first to bring you the good. news.
I see you guess it. Yes, relief has come.
Tbe siege is over."
She looked et him with eagerness. One
thouglit filled her raind—it forced a passage
wt oheerr?lips.
"Then you will not have to go again for
at
As the words escaped her she flusbed red.
Her action of the night before had hardly
been her oivu—so overmastering had been
the impulse which had hurried her away.
And now, like e woman, site was troubled
by a doubt—what would he think of her?
Had she, in thrusting herself between him
and danger, forfeited forever his esteem ?
nwacrld she expect that he would under-
lie did understana, however—at least
partly. He saw that she was troubled and
he took the best course possible to set her
et her ease. He moat to regard what she
had done as it matter which, between them-
selves, required no explanation. As for the
others, they knew nothing. Except that
she had been slightly hurt, by a stray piece
of shot, no one, not even the colonel or Le-
nora knew the truth. The men who had
been at the archway had only the vaguest
idea ef what had passed. The secret was
their own.
"No," he said smiling, "1 shall not have
to go again. Nor, what is of much greater
consequence, will you, Mary."
She answered with a smile. They under-
stood each other. Be was bending over
her; she was looking up at him. airs.Jessop
was not near them, and it was almost as if
they were alone. From the distence come
a noise of voices cheering, as if they never
meant to stop'bub in the room itself there
was no sound. but their own murmured talk.
" As soon as yea are well again," he said.
"1 shall be very angry with you,
Mary. I
had a chance of getting the 'Victoria, cross,
but now they will let you have it, I sup -
p058."
She laughed softly, for his words were
music to her. But it was not words alone
that t twilled her Woad. Sae had won a rich-
er prize than the Victoria cross, and now
she know it For in It% eyes, as she looked
up at them, she saw a flaine. of love.
ber eyes. She started to her feet, piece
eager -eyes, trembliug—trembliug ROW` with
new excitement She seemed like one
posseesed by e spirit stronger then her own—
by am impulse overmastering andresistless.
For a moment or two she stood motionlese,
hex, eyes gleaming. Then turning, u81to the
window, but to the door, she hurried frout
the room.
aim went straight to her own chamber. In
a few moments ahem= out again. Site was
now draped in it long, close, gray rireesing
gown, which eoinpletely corona her own
dress. Her tall, slight figure, tiro gar-
menteil, looked like mailing so much as a.
gray ghost—and like a ghost in the falling
light of evenieg she glided out of her chuui
ben and passed along the passrge, and down
a flight, of steles.
Ail at ono she stopped. Some noise
alarmed her. And now she was afraid—
afraid, not of what she was about to do, but
of being seen and thwarted in the execution
of her plan. Presently all being still she
again stole forward, The men were, for the
raost part, busy at their posts about the
fortifications, and the part of the station
through which she luta to pass was almost
deserted. Forteuefavored her, besides; no
eye observed her as she stole upon her way.
At last, to her infinite relief, she reached
her destination. She steed in the archway
which led out into the square.
It wasstill empty. Vane's volunteers lad
gone in search of the articles required for
the adventure, and had not yet arrived.
The open court was before her, and there in
the middle of it was the well.
She knew the archway well—its image
had been clear to her mind's eye all along.
It was a kind of tunnel, or covered passage,
of brickwork, some half a dozen yards in
length. Near the outer end of the archway
there was e buttress, and beyond. it a recess
or deep niche in the masonry. The niche
was close beside the buttress, on the side
toward the square.
The gray figure reached the buttress—
glided into the recess—aid disappeared.
V.
Five minutes passed—ten minutes. Then
the sound of steps was heard, and men en-
tered the archway in a body. Vane was mot
among them ; but immediately afterward he
appeared, together with another officer—the
surgeon.
By this time the sun had. sunk, =abut for
the rising moon it woulct have been quite
dark. As it was, the interior of the archway
was in gloom; but the open square outside
was bathed in light --a lightuncertain, shad-
owy, spectral, yet permibting any object
moving in it to be distinctly seen. The wood-
work which bad supported the windlass of
the well had been shattered by the shot, and
DOW stood in rules. but Cid chain remained
intact, its end twisted round a broken stump,
and the bucket bun* inside the opening of
the well.
No time was lost. Vane spoke a word or
Iwo, by way of last directions to the men;
then taking a bucket in his band, so that, if
by any chance he escaped the shot, he inighb
do his share in bringing in the water, he
turned toward the square. That his chanoe
was very slight he knew. And as he turn-
ed to go forth into the range of the cannon,
his face, though resolute, was grave.
Ile had already taken a step or two in ad-
vance, when he suddenly stopped shore
What was that? A soft, gray, ghostly fig-
ure started out of the wall in front of him,
and flitted forth in the open air. Before he
could recover from his amazement, it had al-
ready reached the well. For the space of an
Matelot itstood there, motionless ;then, as if
pound of butter, and. beat into one pound of
white sugar. Have ready one pound of
flour sifted and warmed. Stir the egg yelka
bath the sugar and autter, then add the egg
white and flour alternately, and one level
tablespoonful of finely-poundedmsee. Have
two pounds of almonds lolauelied and pound-
ed in it mortar with rose-water, taro pounds
01 0115021 cut into oval pieces. Mix well
into the cake and bake slowly.
BOILED ICING FOR ALMOND OAICE,s—TO ORO
pound of white sugar add one gill and 21122111
of ewer, Boil it gently until it will fall itt
strings from the spoon, Beat the whites of
three eggsvery stiff. Wben done pour the
syrup into a large bowl and beat it lima
until it has a milky appea.rauee. Then, by
degrees, add the egg white. Continue to
beat it until very thick audlight, but not too
thick to spread smoothly. Flavor with
eiessiheenneesmaolorhl7leaec144seitv°ittihneaCaZrarit ooncvee.
n
for a few minutes to dry. Do not let it re-
main in the two long or the icing evill be
discolored.
CIVRISTMAS Oena.--Cream ou4impond of
butter and, add one pound of atfit white
sugar. Beat fourteen eggs Very light, the
me PA of geldea BYrela and°glib 914e yelks and whites separately. Sift aad warm
thorou lay beaten with a, saver four -tined ono pound et &etre and add it by the hand -
fork aiii added last. Beat the whole mass
with a wooden spoon for twenty minutes.
"There are six pewits in me family," says
Nan, "and out of compliment to the legend
we each take it hand at the mixing, lent I
do most of it myself." The pudding is mix-
ed, but the end is not yet. Wring a yard
square of stout unbleacbed muslin out a
boiling water, dredge with flour on the in-
side, pour in the pudding and tie very tight'
ly so that, no water can get in, but leave
room to swell. Boiling the pudding,. in a
mould, we are told, would spoil it. Plunge
it in a, large kettle of salted and furiously
boiling water, whieb keep replenished from
the kettle, never allowing the boiling to
cease for one minute. If wanted tor a, inia-
dey mei boil foul hours the day before,
bang up by the cloth and boil six hours the
next day, using the NOM water. To dish
thiti =march of puddings," it seems, is alio
an art possessed iu n. roam degree by this
Nuickerbocker lady. Lift from the kettle
by the cloth, place in a calendar, untie the
cloth and pull it gently away from the top
of the pudding. llace the dish on wilicia 11
is to be served, aud which has been warmed,
over the colander and ,gently and slowly ini
vert, lif ting bath the colaeder mid cloth from
the beautiful steaming sphere. Eat witb
braudy,or even temperaucesence, but "hard
seuce," we are told, ie an elmmiteetiou.
Ali Nam, our Wife LS a prohibitionist, but
almost thou perm:wriest her to try tine com-
bination of poetry and plums. Indeed elie
seya she shall do so, with slight alterations.
For your glees "of pale old sherry'. she wUl
use of one of rich, sweet cider, ana for the
gui of golden- sYrop she will take a Mixture
or syrups front her jars of spiced .pialiles.
For one of your pounds of stoned ramiesshe
will take a petted. of mixed fruits froni the
sweet pickle Jars, drained v,ua eut fine, and
for it ono will beat to a cream with au cg,
beater two bananas, the juice and grate
rind of one °renege, the grated rind of one
lemon, one cup of butter, two of powdered
sugar and one egg. Sample Iter seuee, Nan
and see if you dare to call it an " alionfin-
ado."
After the holiday% we will offer readers a
very different diet, but at this season one is
expoted to sacrifice his digestion on the
altar of holidey goodies.
Pendants of Florentine mosaics, set with
earls and diamonda are one of the late sty -
lame a:atm—One pound of brown sugar,
three-quarters of a pound of butter, four
pounds of raisins'seeded, ; three of eurrants,
three.quarters ofa pound of citron sliced
thin, one pound of flour, eight eggs, one pint
of molasses, one coffee cup of broady ; spice
to taste. Dredge the fruit with flour to
prevent sinking and bake in an oven not
too hot from two to three hours. This mike
wia keep a couple of yeers and improves
with age.
Hints to Mothers For the Smola.
As the pleasant Christmas tune approach-
es, mothers are puzzled about presents for
their children, and I think a few hints to
them rimy not come amiss. The hard times
will not ellow the spendieg of much money,
especially if the father is out of work, as
is the case with many this winter;
still mothers can, themselvesenake inexpen-
eible gifts that will often please children
longer than costly ones. A neighbor's child,
who has three dolls, likes her black "Stacey "
best, because 110 orte troubles ber while
pleamg with it. Site takes it by the head,
arm or leg, throws it at the cat, or on the
floor, sits down on it, or sits in her rocker
;singing to it, and seems to care more for
her rag baby because she is never told to be
careful of it, or watched as when playing
with her dolls. Children anticipate so much
pleasure at Christmas that they ought, nob
be disappointed; no parents should fail of
making some preparation for their enjoy-
ment.
The little stockings must be filled, and
one can make doughnuts and cookies in
various shapes—boys, girls, pigs, dogs, etc.,
etc. Cornballs, nut candy in squares, sticks
of homeonade sugar and molasses caudy
will help the filling. A pound of confection-
ary is enough toput in a half dozen stock -
hags, so the outlay will be small if an. orange
to each stocking be added.
For a little two-year-old ; wind a small
sleigh bell, or a little tin box with beans in
it, with yarn ravellings, and cover the out-
side with flannel of two colors cut in the
siume of quarters of orange peel. Make
pigs, rabbits, and dogs, of -white canton
flannel, elephants and mice of grey flannel,
using black beads for eyes.
A picture -book that cannot easily to torn,
though handled even so roughly, is made of
scarlet cambric leaves with pretty pictures
pasted on them.
A little girl of six or seven would be
greatly pleased with a large rag doll made
of black silesia. Dress her in blue cambria
with an orange colored apron, a scarlet cain.
brie sash and red slippers. Make a small
one for its baby, and dress it in red flannel
and. white bib.
DISSECTED MAPS AND Peertrene.—These
can be made cheaply and will please large
children. Get some bright colored maps
and pictures, paste them on boxboard and
when dry cut them up in all shapes,
using a very sheep knife.
ful to the sugar and butter alternately will
the egg yaks and -whites. Stir in one table.
spormitil of essence of lemon and one table-
spoonful of mixed spiees, beaten very fine
andsifted. Have ready tiro pouuds of ston-
ed and, chopped raisins ; two of currant;
picked, wetted and dried ; two of citron, cut
smell ; two pounds of almoude, biapebed ited,
pounded with roseavater, and 91113 gill of
sweet eider. Mix the fruit end eider
thomeghly lute the calm, end bake it vary
slowly and quaintly.
Boned Turkey,
The turitoy saauld be a. two-year-old gob
blos--fat, tender mei iarge, Drees 11 nicely,
but be careful not to break tile skin, wive
where it iecut inet below he ineeet for army-
ing, and where it bus to be trimmed. Lay it
on a hoard and with a very sharp penknife
split it down the back frout the neck to the
TAIVOQW8 3105e." 14.457 11 912 ita side, with
the breast towards you, and, beginning at
tbe back, serape the meat front the hone
downward, until you COMO to the'wingand
thigh. Loosen all the meat from the thigh
and wing, scraping the WRVS clean till you
come to the joints of the pinions, and the
" drum•shcks ' or le,. bones. Leave the...7e IR
bylseparating the longs. They will help keep
tho fowl in shape. Continue the scraping
until you have loosened all of thetneat down
to the extremity of the breast -bone. Then
turn tint turkey on the opposite side and
proem() as beiore, leaving on tbe " pax -amid
i" Page the knife around, the edge of
tho breasaleme, end the job ie !lambed,
tell you bow to make the Christmas
breakfast table look pretty. Make pies on
very small plates, sprinkle with sugar, and
write eachchild's name on a Christmas card,
and place beside or on the top of the pie.
Make two Christmas cakes if the family is
large. The cake need not be rich—the one
egg cake giveu in ei former male% le good
enough, and. better than rich cake foe
children. Bake the cake in a round, deep,
scalloped tin. When you have it ready for
the oven, butter a small bowl, and set in
the centre of the batter. After baking,
frost the cake, end fill the cavity with nuts,
candies and raisins. If evergreen is handy,
place some around the cake.—Ex.
Remove the bone and prepare a filling.
To ono pound of finelperumbed lif.;11t
bread add 122211 21 pound of fresh butter, half
teaspoonful of minced•up celery, a ralt•
spoonfulof ream() pepper'salt and black
pepper to taste, and oue gill of sweet cream
Mix with this three pints of fresh oysters,
from whick the liquorhas beeu drained, and
every atom of altellremoved. Mix well and
stuff the turkey sewing it up carefully.
Turn it on its back, place the legs and pin'
ions in a natural position, skewer theta down
and truss neatly, tying the legs in position
with a strand of white thread"...
Rub all aver witb soft buttfr, spriAle
with salt and pepper, dredge well with flour
and set 11 10 a bakingdnut. PO in the oven,
pour into the pan one teacupful each of
water and ayater.liqtor5 nd add one tea-
cupful of butter. Let it roast slowly until
thoroughly dona but not overdone. Baste
frequently with the gravy in the pan and
dredge. When done rem:v(3'10 a hot disk
and pour into the pa,n a tee.capteil of oyster
liquor,add. salt and pepper toaastc, aud if
not thick euough, tream about atenepoonfra
of flour with it little butter, stir it in and let
it boil a minute or two. 11 the turkey is
very fat, as it should be, the gravy must be
skimmed before serving._ Turkey coo'ked
thus is delicious whoa cold.
Two Choice Christmas Cakes.
ALIIOND CARIC.—Beat sixteen eggs very
light, whites and yelks separate. Oream one
How to Feed Faulty.
If there is a subject that has ever been
hashed and rehashed to deatleit ie the one on
feeding. Hundreds of methods and formulas
enough to fill a good-sized book have beea
going the rounds of the press. But, soma the
Now England Farmer, it% not our inten-
tion to speak about what ought to be fed,
but how we ehould feed. it. It %
hard 10 887 just about what weight, of
food should be given a bird. Our general
plan is firat to throw down a heedful for
each fowl, and when thatis consumed give a
little more'and so on until they cease to eat
greedily. They have enough, and will stop
past the moment they get enough. There
need be no fear of over -feeding fowls as long
as they. eat greedily. Too fat hens never were
made so by the hens eating until their
hunger was satisfied, of good, substantial
foods. But when fat -producing grains
are used and the fowls forced to
it, then is when the danger arises.
It is not so much the quantity of food the
hen consumes as the quality. There is a
general idea prevailing that in order to have
a full egg basket we must keep the hens
hungry. It is a mistake. .A. half starved
hen cannot lay as many eggs as °nein good
condition. Or as a poultry -breeder ono pet
it to us, "We must bave over -production to
get production." That's about it. It takes
a certain amount of food to keep the
machinery of the body in good working
condition, and then it costs a little more
feed. to furnish the materiels for the eggs.
A point not to be overlooked is that feeding
should be accompanied im exercise. We
throw a handful of grain here, aud one there
and so on, keeping the helm ruraibig from
one place to another all the while. Then we
bury some leaves, and the bele, e of thei
day they are busy scratching: \ Exercise,
good feed and enough of it, is what counts M
favor of health and eggs. Of course when.
we are fattening for . market we have a
different plan altogether, and will have in
some future issue something to say about it.
Remains of a Groat Mastodon.
The skeleton of it mastodon found at
Highgate, forty miles west of St. Thomas,
Ont., is on exhibition in that town. The
area of the grave where the monster's bones
were found is thirty-five by twenty-one feet.
The bones were scattered over it, one joint
fitting into the other, in a bed of gray marl
&boat, six feet below the eurfece, Over the
ince, i a thick layer of black, loamy toil.
The length of the anaemia gauged by the
measurements of the bones already found,
and allowing for those that have not yet
been discovered, is, from the point of the
nostrils to the root of the tail, about twenty-
two feet. This is greater than that of the
celebrated .1114sSodon giganteus discovered.
near Newburg, N.Y., in the summer of 1845,
and the skeleton, as a whole, is larger and
more complete than any that have been found
in rKegeotucky, Ohio, Missouri, California o
or