The Brussels Post, 1891-3-27, Page 22
THE RIK AICD THE BIRD,
BY O. CI..FUR LEY,
"The parrot 1 It knew nothing," said
the Colonel, and 1: could see he was testy.
" I knew the name of Ram Asoka, wl,i°h
CHAPTER II.
The effect of the parrot a query was steal -
Colonel Ferrer started up in such haste was strange to ns all. I rather think we
that hie chair fell clattering to tine ground, have to thank Polly for the narration of
that interesting incident of fronti01 adminis
oration,"
The Colonel grunted.
" We're all rather fond of the bird," I
went on, ostentatiously caressing the parrot,
who was stanching at the open door of his
and with such a pallor overepreadmg lure
ruddy countenance that alter ns with one me -
Ord stood up too, and cried out, " What's
the matter?"
" What did that brute meant" gasped
the Colonel, " What does it know. about
Ram Asuka ? I didn't want to kill the old sage ; " but you don't seem to appreciate
fool, if only 11e had been sensible and not his familiarity with your adventures."
made such a confotutded fuss about his "Oh ! I don't hold. It—it's rather
heathen temple. 1,1 wasa judicial ex,r, ution ;amusing to have a parrot echoing all you
it was neoeeeary to the peeve of the district. sa ,
I didn't want to do it, if Rum Asoka hadn't, yl'olly hail echoed nothing, he had taken
brought it on himself," the imitative in mentioning our guest's
"Perhaps, Colonel," said 1, " t would be doings ; but that was how the Colon6lchose
to put ft,
To show his liking for the parrot's smart-
ness, he came up to tho cage and stretehed
out his hand to pates it, as I had been
doing, But Polly did not take the oourt01y
a good thing if Polly wore to give us his vet,
don of the affair,"
From white tie Colonel's aspect changed
to yellow. "Sh 1 IVhat? `g hat do you
mean?" he exclaimed, " Are you jestlug?
It's no joko, I tell you. 1he native papers, me it was meant ; he turned his head and
confound them, said --and they pay too nuloh funds m V1010110 dab at the Colonel's hand—
attention to native opinion nowadays. And at the finger on which he wore Cho ring. He
—Will no one stop that ah^Inillable hl managed to bite it pretty smartly too ; and
For the parrot was so delighted with his the Colonel darted back, ttttellng molly int -
coup that he had burst into a shriek of wild pronation, to which the parrot replied with
laughter, t.i which I g:emed to doted a tone
of mookinc triumph,
"Agatl..,, do take the bird away," said
• Mrs, U rctton ; and Polly was taken down-
stairs and immured in his cage, still laugh-
ing in that grim and fiendish fashion.
"But now, Colonel," said Mrs. tlreLton
when the hubbub had ceased, "do tell us
all about Ram Asoka"
I could see that the subject did not please
the Colonel ; but as a platter of foot he had
not the courage to refuse to speak on it,
His story was so incoherent, so full of ex-
planations and excuses, that—taken in con-
junction with subsequent events—it roused
in me a curiosity to read the accounts of the
affair whielt were given in those native
papers tie Colonel so disliked. Froin their
statements it appeared that Colonel Ferrer
had been sent to investigate a quarrel
between the Buddhist and Mohammedan
residents in an out•of-the-way village. The
Mohammedans wanted to draw water from
a well which the Buddhists regarded as
•
equal volubility.
Mrs, 11 rotten and Louisa entered upon this
scene, and on learning what had happened,
bustled about for bandages and water for
the wounded hand. The precious ring, which
was fretting the out Polly had made, was
taken off and laid on the mantle -piece ; the
finger was tenderly bound up ; and Mrs.
Gretton herself shut up the Parrot in his
cage with the assurance that he was "a
naughty, wicked Polly."
" Who Trilled Ram Asoka?" he shrieked
defiantly in reply and oven now the Colonel
started at the words, " I think a field is
in that bird," he cried.
" I think Ram Asoka is," I answered.
Then I asked for Agatha.
" She has a bad headache. She won't be
down to breakfast,"
" Why didn't she tell me that her stead
ached?"
' Olt ! don't bother, lir. Laurence ; a
headache isn't a deadly malady—Tea or
cotleo, Colonel?
sacred to their god ; and religious feeling I was shat up; but I was cross and be
had been somewhat strained. The Colonel's wtldere 1. Agatha might have teld me of
instructions were to declare the well public
property, and he was provided with soldiers
who were ordered to see that the Mussels
mans were not interfered with when they
her he ulache ; even a very bad headache
doesn't make a girl rash out of the mom
with tears in her ayes and without saying a
word to her love', I hurried through with
approached the spring, The matter might my breakfast. Before I had anis led, I
easily have been sett cd on the basis of a
compromise suggested by Ram Asoka, the
Buddhist priest, who only asked the
Mohammedans to avoid the well till the
heard the front door close quietly; and look -
Mg out, imagined I sow Agetha's figure
passing the whitlow. Mrs, Gretton and
Louisa exchanged ,t glance of intelligence.
water necessary for the use of the temple „Is that Agatha gone out 0" I asked.
had been drawn each day. This arrangement "Very likely. The air would do her
had been all butt completed when the bead good."
' mel arrived ; but instead of giving his I hurried front the room, neglecting the
ta,.('nt to it, be chose to take up the Montan- arrot's plaintive cry, " Let out Ram
nodau cause with quite unnecessary %cal, P
noted chiefly, it was 1 aid, by a desire to
act. the Buddhist temple, which contained,
tmong other more modest treasures, a large
Ind valuable ruby, traditionally supposed to
nave fallen from heaven at the feet of the
chief idol in the place. The Colonel
and itis nee entered the temple, de-
stroy ed the idols, and killed Ram Asoka on
the steps of his desecrated alter ; after
which the Colonel stooped and took from
the priest's dead hand the priceless ruby ho
had vainly tried to save. It is more than
possible that the native papers exaggerated
Colonel Ferrer's guilt ; but it is certain
that the odhunbe Incurred on this expedi-
tion made his resignation advisable ; and It
did look rather bad that es ter his alofives
for appropriating it had been an sharply greatest confusion.
Olt ! Mr Laurence" —Mrs. Craton
"impugned, ho should have retained and set I began, rushingrout upon me in the hall.
he lead token from Ram f g
I n a rug,Qlc stone " N' here's Agatha?" I interrupted.
Asoka•. Agatha 1 She's out. But I wanted"--
I n°od hardily say that the scary as told ' A g
THE BRUSSELS POST.
i left the party still in the dieing -room,
tllacussiug the miseieg ring, and retired to a
s nail room at the book of the hall where I
was free to snake stud sulk. Before long I
heard a latchkey in the door, and guessed
it was Agatha corning in, I was goug out
to meet her, but LOt115tt was before (11e. She
met her cousin in the hall ; " 01, Agatha,"
she oxctainted, " the ring is gone. What's
to be dune ?"
'Then Agatha unwired in a voice 1 lied
116001' hoard from her lips before, a dull des-
pairing wail ; " I couldn't ltolp 1 , Lou.
Will needed the money today. I shall get
nay salary in a day or two, and I thought I
eomld get the ring busk then, and neither
Frank nor anybody would know."
Louisa started back with a shocked ex-
clamation.
Agatha hurried towards ib; slaiecase ;
but as she revelled it I caught her hi my
arms. " Illy darling, what is the neater 1"
I exclaimed.
She wrenched herself free. "I'll tell you
to -morrow, Frank; let ale alone for to.aigllt.'
She hurried up -stairs ; and while I stood
lesitotillg about following her, 1 heard a
confusion of esclnmittlons in the dining -room
and Louisa's voice—did I wrong her in
thinking it contained a tone of spiteful sat-
isfaction ?—saying, " She admits it herself,
It was for Will's sake Agatha stole the ring."
TO 11E CONTINUED.)
THE LONDON CABBY.
A Unique 13peelmen a1' nn Interesting Class
or Iiroad•)Yi asters.
By no means the least inteeesting feature
of London lite is the " cabby'," as Ise is pall-
ed, the driver of the hansom cab. These
cobs are so numerous that the city seems
actually to swarm with them, aid it is easy
to believe the statement of the guide -books
that there are 10,000 of these vehicles in the
town, Of course, there is a great variety in
the drivers, and it has more than once hap•
ened that the sons of families of considerable
positiou have passed the better portion of
their lives on the box of a hausonl.
An American who was in London during
the past summer encountered rather an odd
sppealinen of cabby, a man who had in 601110
Wkly evidently conte down M the world, on-
es mounting a box be regarded as a rine.
The stranger took a cab for a drive one
afternoon and, having no very definite idea
what he wished to do, told the driver to
take him to some place that was worth see-
ing.
The cabby looked him over, apparently
making ,up his mind what manner of nnrn
he had as passenger, and their started oil' in
a direction which was not in the Hue of the
gentleman's previous explorations, although
he had been in England a number of times
and knew Loudest tolerably well. The pas-
senger poked up the little trap-door to the
roof of the cab and asked where they were
gong'
Along it piece," the driver returned.
" Do you see, sir, that crowd on the corner?"
he added, pulping up;
The traveller looked in the direction
indicated and sawa crowd of people gathered
about a woman who was turningi, the crank
Asoka" incl tried to follow her. Bat before I of a barrel organ. She was rather a pretty
I could overtake her—she was lost in the leonine, and appeared strangely out of keep•
bustle of Southhampton Row, and I had to ing with her occupation.
betake myself to my office unsatisfied. That is Lady Linton," lie said, and by
I don't think I did nm011 work that day. subsequent inquiry the tea, eller found that
I know that I was abominably cross, that I this was nota mere " traveler's talo," ole -
bullied my clerk, blotted my letters, and eigned to beguile lrini, but that the organ•
cursed my pate, and 0000 came near to grinder, was really a member of the nobility
quarrelling with one of my rare clients, who cast oft by her Smelly.
wanted to have an 11111npar1mtt change The hansom was started up again, and
mail; in shouse I had designed for him. I Pretty soon the delver announced that they
wasted my time so well that when at last I were in Chelsea
controlled ml irritation and attended to " That house," he said, pointing it out,
some matter's that could not be delayed, 1 " is where that old arab•apple Carlyle
had to remain at the office till much beyond lived. Further up the street," he continued
my usual hour. 1 got home just about din. waxing communicative, there is a funny
aur -time, and foumd the household it the fellow named Whistler. rHe is a painter,
and the papers pitch into his things like
blazes, and he gets as mad as a hatter and
answers them back. They say it's great
fun for totem that is in it."
Yon do not follow it up yourself, then,"
the traveller said.
" No, sir," the cabby said. " I like bet.
ter to give my time to flowers. I have a
place that, is pretty to look at, if I do say it,
and I've taken a very tidy lot of prizes, too,
sir, I go in for chrysanthemums just now.
That's 110 go, and I can Hake something
to help ale on With the greenhouses and get
the missis a new gown no w and then."
Tho cabby who oultivared flowers for
amusement and drove it casual passenger out
to see the house of Carlyle could hardly be
looked upon as a type, but ars a variation lip
was at least Interestines
YOU H0S
MARCH 27, 1891
NQ FOL littlesnow alit to her d Lorle
Ther thinhere
8iI mer I LATE CABLE NEwM.
' snow and he and l m to in her thin summer
dress shivered with colli, But the )lolly
fairies who were danoing about in the snow
seamed to delight in the lay wilds, nod
their merry laugh rang out swept and clear,
On one of the white marble steps, loading
to the fairy palace, sat Walter, wrapped in a
heavy fur coat, At the eight of his sister,
ho sprang up, crying: " Lorne, Lorle, tory
Riad I ant that ,you have cou15, 1 wanted to
go home ; but did not know the ways 11 is
so cold Vele, and all the fairies laugh at and
mock me, because I broke the moonbeam
steps"
1' Never ninth, little brother " said Loris,
" I have come for you, and you shall go at
once to father, 10110 will bo greatly rejoined
to see you again,"
"But," interrupted the hairy, "bow are
yen to of awe from here? That rude boy
roke got
steps, and my bird does not
answer to everyone's call."
And new Lorlo was indeed distressed ; for
she knew how her father would miss both
his children, Day atter day passed, and
still the brother and sister found no way to
leave the fairy palace, which, with all its
beauty, was not so clear to them as that
little home in the shadow of the great
-- church,
One evening as Lorne and Walter wore
BY l' YSllt. walking in front of the palace, and talking
sadly of their home, a fairy crone to them,
and said: "1 tett sorry that you are so
the forest in search of roses and violets which unhappy here. If you will send mea bunch
were blooming in such profusion. The child- of Bowers every night by Condo, I shall tell
ren walked hand in hand among the Bowers you holy you may get house."
Baby's First Prayer,
I,lttlo fat lingers crossed meekly,
blhnleking patient mamma ;
Gracile looks to toherMather;
Charmingly lisping "'Pah, tat,"
This is the Whole of her worship ;
Yet Ife'who promised to bear
Woo little lambs on his boeono
Listens to baby's ilrst prayer.
Swe0t, little niotereof (leaven t
1i'otl did the Good boaster say,
"They must bo like llttlo clttidree
Who would my Father obey."
Baby knows nothing of doe htleg,
Dark unbelief and despair;
All these she loaves to grown people,
ibaby knows only Iter prayer.
So let 11 be, graotatie Father,
All through her life's blessed clay •
When elou(ts and darkness oppress her,
Teach her, groat Teaohor, to prlly.
Tenderlylead and protect her
Draw itor with Fatherly levo,
Make her both porfoet and holy,
Fit for the mansions above.
PHD MOON FAIRY
One beautiful afternoon in May the two
children of the old sexton wandered out into
old grasses, and not until the sun had stork
behind the hill did they think of returning
home, Lorne, who was two years older than
her brother, Walter, now urged that they
seek the path, and hasten to their 100e0,
who would be watching for them ; but the
darkness came so rapidly that the children
soon found themselves overtaken by night
and had no light to guide them to the path,
For several hours Lorne, holding fast to
her brothels hand, ran hither and thither in
the dark forest, always hoping to see the
lights in the village. But,although they
called continually, they received no answer,
except the hooting of the owls. Finally,
Walter declared that he was too tired to take
another step, and begged his sister to rest
for a few moments. The children sat down
under an old pita tree, and almost immedi-
ately were fast asloop. When Lorle awoke
the full moon was shining in her face, and,
springing up, she cried : " Coale, Walter,
the moon is so bright that we watt easily find
our way hone.
The sleepy boy slowly opened his eyes,
and then 00111: " 0, sister, look, there are
steps coining down from the moon."
Thinking that her brother was not fully
awake, Lorle paid little steed to his words;
but the boy continued : "Leak, Lorne,
quiok, there carnes a fairy, I am sure."
Lode looked in the direction her brother
pointed, and there, leading up to the moon,
was a stairway made of moonbeams, aid
down the stens came the figure of a beauti-
ful fairy, dressed in a silvery white dress,
and wearing tipolher head a tiny crown
set with jewels. The fairy glided down the
airy stairway, walked several steps into the
forest, gathered a few flowers, and then re-
turned a5 she had 001110.
"Let us follow her," whispered Walter, but also penetrating, and 11e looks us near shelter, and the remaining tenth were
and already he had his foot on the first ors straight in the face with a scrutiny that charging esorhitent fares for short diatom:es.
step ; but at that moment the sextons voice seems to read their thoughts. What destroys The result was that hundreds of ladies and
was heard calling, " Lorle ! Walter 1" and Gila pleaeaut 1]a•st impression made by these g'entleman were obliged to walk home long
in tt short tiros Qts children were safe at eyes is Ilia couatant look• of uneasiness in tlistanaes through a foot of snov in a blind -
Mg storm, while others were compelled t1
stay in lintels and friends, houses for the
night.
this blizzard was general in southern
England and northern Fraee. Somerset,
Devon, and Cornwall were visited with par-
ticular severity. From man)' plaeas in the
two latter counties there has been no com-
munication of any kind since last Monday,
and how the people fare there is only a
matter of conjecture. The record so far
shows that 115 lives have been lost and
thousands of cattle and sheep. Railway
lines arc still 1/1001I0d, and the English pen -
pie have undergone the almost novel ex -
parlance of being buried in snow drift for
tweet -four hours. The railway officials,
working with almost superhuman energy to
clear traoke, have taken the desperate ex•
pcdient of throwing some of their finest
rolling stook, which had become derailed,
over the embankments in order to gat a
passage through for their trains,
so -
Breeding PPoultig,
by the Colonel differed in many points from
this which l have set doe n ; but his frequent-
ly-repeated
requent-
1 -re eated statement that Rani Asoka
brought his death upon himself, his loud
declarations that he hada right to keep the
ring, were calculated to rouse in any mind
not deeply biassed in his favour --in mine,
for example—a first conviction that the
annexation of the ruby and the execution
of its protector could not be justified
cm any strict reading of the principles
of either law or honour. True it, was
that Mts. Gretton said " Of comae," and
"Yes, indeed, dear CiolonelFerror, "utevery the thick crust of my egoism and annoyance.
pause in her guest's narrative ; and that „full ale how it happened," 1 asked,
Louisa gave it as her opinion that 1 was bet-
ter the stone should he 011 the Colonel's " Not half an hour ago ; but it nest have
hand than hidden in an Indian village whore been ;ono for hours."
no one could 000 it. But Agatha and I were " When did you notice it last?"
silent. 5" "Just after luncheon, I1 110(1 been lying
"Whitt do you think of the new -coiner. on the mantel -piece, where I put it when I
I asked my sweetheart in the few precious
took it elf the 110100el's hand, all the morn -
minutes that hors Gretton 111100'0a us each lug I should have looked it away in some
evening to say gaodaligh"ea1•'e place, I know ; but in tate confusion I
"He's a murderous old wretch " h re I
plied with great promptitude. " He )tilled
that poor old priest Austin order to steal
the rally; 1111 sure of it. But—but—
Frank, how is it that Polly knows so much
about the affair?
"I don't know. That's the queerest
thing about the matter. The Colonel hadn't
mentioned Ram Asoka when Polly bawled
oat his very pertinent inquiry. 1 1-11 one
die. believe in the transmigration of souls
and the repetition of the Balsam miracle 1
But modern Boddhism is sheer humbug.
Still, it's funny."
No donbb 1 ought to have passed the
night awake, musing on the problem
of the parrot. Bat I didn't; 1 slept
uncommonly well. I think that, speaking
generally, cru does not got up 1110 proper
emotional condition for any event till the
event itself is post, Then 100 are fall of
retrospective tdmiration, awe, or fear ; int
at the moment did we feel at all? I think
not. I doubt if we could do our work in
"Has oho been out all clay?
" No. She camp tom>. for lunch, and
went out afterwards, just as usual. Shell
be in to dinner.—But, MrLaurence, the
Colonel's ring•—his beatifnl ruby ring—has
disappeared.
I almost ejaculated, "'What is that to
me?" but restrained myself, incl asked,
" What has become of it ?"
" Wo don't know. It is terrible 1 Tc
think of it man like Colonel Farrar, my poor
clear husband's friend, being robbed in my
house. 011, what shall Ido?" Mrs. Gret•
ion began to cry, and her distress pierced
s ° didn't think ; and I )mow Jene to be as hon-
est as the clay, though the Colonel declares
he'll have her box examined, and she au
orphan, and it'll be the ruin of her .charac-
ter."
" How do you know the ring was on the
mantel -pisco after luncheon?' I asked
judicially, Interrupting my landlady's wail.
" Because Louisa took it up and tried it
on her finger --only she and Agatha and 1
were in --and said, "Isn't it lovely ?" and
Agatha answered, " Yes; I wonder how
much money is shut up in that crystal,
which almost looks liko a great spot of
blood 0" I remember exactly whatshesaid,
because folly—I can't think what has come
to the bird these two days I--oaugltt up her
words and begot screaming out, ' Money 1
Blends 1 Blood-ntoloy, blood•nloley."'
"folly has brains in his head,!' I said
with a laugh,
i' Oh, \Ir. Laurence, don't speak liko
that. The poor Colonel, tvitfl his baud hurt
even passable style if at the moment of and his ting one 1 There Polly sat on top
action 100 stopped to think of its nature, or
analysed how it might move our souls. Let
me admit that I never felt anything to be,
monotonous that over happened to me, till
long after it was over.
I slept sound end late. When I enteral
tho dining -room next morning, Agatha, her
aunt, and the Colonel were there, but had
not begun breekfaoa. Agatha and hors.
Grotton worn talking aside, As I carne in
I hoard the latter say, ' Well, you oau't de
any,' At the same time she handed to
Agatha It letter she had been reading, and
of his cage, slapping his wings, and crying
out Blood -money 1' till iso quite made Ino
nervnlis, awl I was glad to got out of the
room,"
And then?'
" 011 1 that's all I know, I wont down•
stairs to help Jane, and Agatha and Louisa
both wont not and when the Colonel, who
had. been at the War (Moe or somewhere,
came hone and remembered his ring, it
11'asn't to be meet anywhere."
Wo had a very uncomfortable dinner that
day—cold ealnio1, cold Iamb, cold tart ; the
mid and idol° remains of yeetorrlay', feast,
Agatha 1u io sly 1101151 it 1111.0 he• 1,0:1101.
' Wliat is t1t0 mutter?" I "eked, secm;f i°gflu u tl orotcoldnesm tvhnato is and
The Colonel'soression el is
•
that myawaothearblookedtronb!arl' .lid not trouble sue; I did not love
"Oh, nothing 1" she answorod ; but she him well enough for that ; but Agatha had
DEER -HUNTING IN THE ANDEF.
seem Amerieee Indians seize Any Adeline
sage Over 'Theca They 1':um.
left the roan, and Mrs. Gretton hastened
of ter iter.
I felt annoyed diet Agatha should not
have confide, her vexation, whatever it
was, ••0 me ; and 1 motel to bovo my
annoyrneo out nn somebody. The Colonel
was handy.
"That Was at interesting story yeti told
115 last nicht, l'oln•'• '1,- I began. 0I1 was
'queer, thnuf e..h ,nrl'ot should have
1111011 - so mush
not come home to dinner, and her vacant
chair was a vexation to my eye, An alootrie
die0enfort 1i11od tho net of the party. Mrs,
Gretton would fain haysbegnn to cry ; L0usia
looked at her mother with furtive glances of
waroimrs and reproof ; and poor Mane nearly
clrupll°dt the Colonel's plata when she ,not
the distrustful glare in his angry aye. Only
the parrot, though imprisoned in hie °age,
kept up a wilco, hilarity foul laughed and
• chuckled like it bird possessed,
The children glad y promised to send the
flowers, and then the fairy 51411.1 : " Isere is
a tiny silver bell. 1f you ring this, Condo
will come and take you clown the broken
stairway into the forest.'
Lorle took the bell and rang it. Lumedi.
Moly the large bird appeared, and first it
carried Walter clown to the forost and the;
returned for Lorle. 'the children quickly
ran home, whore the father received them
with tears of joy, and all Ins grief was for-
gotten,
The children remembered their promise to
he little fairy, who had been so hind to
them. And every day they gathered largo
bunches of the sweetest flowers, and in the
evening carried thein to the forest, where
they rang the silver bell, and Condo, who
answered the mall, Ileo away laden with
lilies, roses and violets, and curried them to
the cold,00ld moon whe.reonly ice and 5110W
are to bo found.
The Arbitration League Jubilant Over the
Prospeotive Settlement of the Behring
Sea Affair—Sel'via may Become a Rus-
sian Depenelenoy—The (treat Storm
The Iutertati0uol Arbitration League,
10111011 held its twetlLioth annual meeting in
Lonci0n last 100011, is suffering from is severe
attack of 611011en lead, caused by the sue.
cess of its representations to " President
Cleveland" and President Carnot in favor of
referring bhe lioliring Sea and Newfound.
land questions respectively 1.0 arbitration
The League has not the slightest doubt that
most of the credit for both " peace victories
is due to its shorts ; 1leloe its pre00nt
malady.
It cannot be said that arbitration upon the
Behring Sea dispute is received 101th univer-
sal satisfaotlon hero. An uneasy, although
undefined, feeling prevails in some quarters
that it may be in proportion as disasir 0 u
for John Bull's soli -esteem as in tine case of
the Alabama claims, Doubts respecting the
ABDUL HAMID,
what the Grand Turk Loom Like in 1118
I/w•11, 1'a Lace. •
Abdul Nanoid is of medium height, rather•
short than tall, weil•proportioned in hie per-
son, and carrying bravely the weight of his
onerous duties, though there are also mo-
ments when an old and careworn look comes
across his lace, and vvhen he almost person-
ifies the apathy we so generally connect with
the Turkish character, eay5 "Sovereigns and
Courts of Europe." His beard, cut into a
slight point, is black ; so are his hair and
eyes. The latter are tender in ex�uression,
reality' of Lora Salisbury's other "diplomatic
triumph" are more gel.et'ally expressed and
better founded. The point to be submitted
to arbitration is not, in the opinion of many
in dispute, and France, while losing nothing
pending its settlement, gains the prolonga-
tion over another season of the obnoxious
modus vivendi, Ingniriee in diplomatic
citoles show a unanimity of opinion that
France, in one way or another, willkeep the
Newfoundland question open so long as the
British soldier shall remain in Egypt.
The imbroglio at Belgrade grows w008e
daily. The regents, closely bound to ex-
Iiing Milan by their 0)111 interests, as well
ne by pledges, are seriously embarrassed by
his presence in Servia.1,So long as ho remain-
ed away and kept 8115111 the violence of the
Queen and leer friends defeated itself, but his
appearanoo ab Belgrade and his vehement
attack upon Garashanine, his former
Minister, have alienated the sympathy with
him whfuh leas growing up among the
people. As one of the regents said lately,
the lung seems driven by a Greek fate CO
damage his own cause and dynasty. While
here In London, Milan fregneatly declared
his belief that the attack made on his life
in the cathedral at Belgrade three years Igo
by the winnow of Cal. Markovic, lva0 fnapil-
ecl by the Queen, and that Garashanine 1000
privy to the plot. This seems to have be -
001110 a fixed idea with hint, though nobody
else sees any reason for it. He said lust
weak in Belgrade to a friend that Gara-
shaniva was bound to the Queen by this
criminal complicity. Doubtless he believes
this, but if nobody else believes it, his per-
sistency in charging it must injure him
with the country.
The great storm of Monday night rennnd-
erl Canalians in Landoll of 01)101118 blizzard.
It began seen alley 0 o'clock. A hurricane
blew and 50I0w fell, and 1011011 the theatres
closed nine -tenths of the nabs had sought
home. The next evening, when the moon
shone down upon the little cottage where
the old sexton lived, Walter whispered to
his sister: "Lorne, I am going into the
forest to find the fairy."
"Ulu, Walter, do not do that," said his
sister; "father would not allow it, and the
Fairy may be wicked and cruel, and might
not let you return to us."
The boy made no reply to these words
but silently determined that he would see
the silver stairway, leading to the Inoou.
That night Lorle did not fall asleep as read-
ily 0.0 usual. She felt anxious about her
brother, and several times crept to Itis bed-
side to see if he were sleeping. But the boy
lay so still that the kind sister soon forgot
her fears, and slept quietly until morning.
When she awakened the first sound site
heard was her father palling for Walter, and
when no answer was made to the call Lorle
felt sure that her brother had gone in search
of the Fairy, who lived In the moon. And
this indeed. was the case. Little Walter
was nowhere to be found ; and those, who et
first laughed about Leek's story of the stairs
loading to the moon, were now forced to
think that; the 0ex.on s sun had sought Lhe
home of the Fairy, and either forgotten his
friends, or was unable to return to them.
The sexton and his daughter wore sorely
grieved over the loss of little Walter, and for
days continued their search for him ; but
finally thinking that he NV00 lost, they gave
up all hope of seeing him again,
One night, when the sexton wont as usual
to the church to ring the bell, Lurie, being
afraid to stay alone in the house, stole after
her fettles', intending to wait for him in the
uhurohyard. As rho little girl sat 111 the
shadow of the great building she saw a
small, white figure glide before her and
hasten toward the forest.
"That is the moon Fairy," thought
Lorle ; " I moat overtake her and learn
where Walter is."
The little girl quickly followed the white
figure, and jusb 105 the Fairy se05 entering
the forest Lorne seizes her dress and cried
" Please, good Fairy, tell ale whops nay
brother is .
The planner in which the South American
Indians hunt deer in the Cordilleras is very
interesting and somewhat ingenious. They
first i15aortein the locality in 1v11i011 the 7.111I-
111018 congregate to gra.:¢, and thou the men,
women, and old children of the tribe snake
extensive preparations to prem in the hold.
In order to utlnse tt stampede they blow
horns, yell, and stake other bewildering and
otiblattciish noises. As a natural consequence
the frightened deer quit Iheie grazing places
They form in line in regular marching order,
the elder males leading the way, followed by
the females and voting, while the roar of the
column 10 bl'ollght up by the young burk5,
who act as protectors to bhe centers.
The Indians nolo close in on them, seeing
w11i, 1 the minds propane to iso battle for
their lives, The hunters then proceed to
prepare the instruments of destruction, con•
sist ng of iurge lances, resinous lurches, and
nooses Need to long poles,
The wast enemy of the deer is the jaguar
awl wildcat, aid their animosity to thein is
such that flies, have been known totem) ave'
a hunter in order to attack either of those
feline foes, Tho Indians knowing this, em-
ploy it to great wives nto.geduring these hunts.
The w011)011 stiff a number of jaguar and
oat skins, vhich are placed iu prominent
positions on the edge of precipices, in full
view of the deer. Immediately the bucks
make a violent effort to get at then, in or.
de' to hurl them into the abyss beneath, but
are thus treated themselves by the wily Inn -
tors, who push thous over the cliffs, where
they are quickly hamstrung orotherwise lis•
[Nod by the women, who are stationed be-
low, After the first onslaught on the stuff-
ed figures the remaining deer seen to reoog•
nlze the feet that they have boon trirkod
and huddle together, awaiting [mother et-
tarlc.
Then the Indians throw lighted. torches
among them and a patio ensues, They
make dosporat° efforts to escape, but the
relontlese hunts 0 drive then over the crags
entil they two that a suffleont number have
been captured ---0511111131 1100 or 600. They
do tot usually harm the females ands fawns
and also allows, few buolcs to escape. Very
seldom is a doe killed, and if n fawx is
captured it is immediately liberated. The
flesh is eaten by the Inatome Ind also tarried
to the village to bo sold, while the shins are
either purchased. by dealers or made up into
various articles by those 10110 assisted in
their capture,
them,
The fact is Abdul Hamid does not feel
himself safe even In his own palace. He does
not suspect any person in particular, but he
is on his guard ega11101 every one. o " "
Few padishahs have been so beloved by their
subjects as he. lu(leed, he is to them quite
a new type of sultan and they do not fail to
appreciate the novelty. Here is it man who
does not pass his rlatys to his heron 1nyittg
with his slaves. there is a man who takes a
reap interest in Ihe'welfttreof his people, who
far from following the example of his prede-
cessors and leaving the rains of government
in the hands of some clever courtiers, insists
on seeing toll ,fudging all for himself, clown
to the minutest particulars.
Personally he is most benevolent and
kind-hearted, and scarcely a 111011111 passes
that he floes not enntributo some large sunt
out of his private purse to alleviate sntle'ing
among his subjects, irrespective of race or
religion. His character may be summed
up us having for its dominant note an ex-
treme caution, and he is endowed with an
unusual faculty for work. In manner lie is
exceedingly polite, es leaially in his treat-
ment of European ladies, Indeed, ho un-
deestatuds the rare net of making himself re-
spected by all with whom 11e conies in eon-
taet.
Abdul Hamiti gats up early. His toilet
does not detain hire long ; indeed, it might
detain hint longer according to European
codes, Dressed, 110 at once devotes himself
to recite the prescribed prayers, after whiolr
lie drinks a cup of black. coffee, and instant-
ly afterwards begins to smoke cigarettes, a
pastime that he continuos all day almost
without intermission, for he is an ardent
smoker. Breakfast ended, ho arranges fanc-
ily affairs and of 011011 varied ages and needs.
This done ho quits the harem and goes into
the selamlik.
Hem pie receives the reports concerning
court aff'air's. Towards 10 o'clock his court
secretary and chief dignitaries appear, bear-
ing the day's dispatches and reports. These
handed in the sultan 0ca10 himself on a sofa,
with, on his rigout, these documents, and on
his left a pile of Torki)11 newspapers and ex -
triune from the b lIropomn press translated
into Turkish for his benefit by a translation
bureau specially appointed to that enol. His
lunch, which follows the dispatch of this
business, is most simple—little neat, a fair
amount of vegetables.
The Fairy turned around but there was
no kindly smile on her beautil'211 face, and
1101' fair brow was drawn by an angry frown.
"How do I know where your brother is?"
she naked.
" Ifo spent in 5001011 of your silver stair-
way," replied Leyte, and he never came
back. 1 sin 52110 that you know where he
e,' < kward
Is your brother that great alt
boy who rani up my steps and broke them
nearly all ? asked the Fairy. Then he
deserves to bo where ho is 1 but if you want
to take hint home you have my permission
to do so. First, you 1111st help uta gather
some flowers."
" Have you no flowers its the moon ?"
naked Lorle,
" No," teas the reply ; " nor trues, nor
groes, and itis cold,vo'y oold there."
When a largo bunch of flowers )tad been
gathered idle fairy said; "Since your
Prather broke my steps, 'have to rido Vamp."
Thep 'heaviest: ' Oonla, Condo, 1501 wait-
ing for you."
And immediately a Ia'go bird with cod
10at11010 and gre011 oyes came dying tlti'ooglt
1110 11 r.
"Noy, Condo, "said the fairy, " after
you have taken me dome, I want you to
return for this little girl."
The bird grumbled, and declared that
was too much work for ono night ; but did
not dare to dieobey tie Fairy, and in a short
time Lorne, holding fast to Condo's rod
feathers, was speeding through tho air, Up
above the forest she wont, and before tho
had reached the end of her journey alio had
shot ninny lvon11rful sights. Al, thehead
the sta1rway, along whlall Lore had seen
the malty stops broken by \Vaite''e swift
tread, Ciro Fairy was waiting to conduct the
Tho meal ended, ho will take a walk in
the pari. 00 row in e, little boat upon one
of the 1511110 it hollow, always accompanied
by a chamberlain of 00100 high dignita•y.
After taking two hours' exerei50 in the open
air he 001110ns to his sitting -rooms, where ho
holds on open r000ptiol, or else 11r001(les
over some committee meeting. An honk' 00
two before sunset he oleo more gots ono for
a walk. 1{in dtllneu'-io 115041111)1021011 lo 1111,011,
His favorite food is pillar, sweets, and a
very little moot. I'Io never touches spirit -
onus ligno's, in obedience to the commands
of tho prophet, but he deinit5 largo gttantf•
ties of 'sherbets and oats a great deal of ice-
cream,
Dinner over, he receives company in the
eolatnlik, or he will retire into tho harem,
where his daughters play and sing for hint.
Hu himself on these oecosiot5 will often spat
himself at the piano, an instrument Replays
fairly well, )for painting, for lino arts in
general, ire inns no taster Hill 100111011, 1.00,
011111 111111 very cold, but ho is devoted to )lie
children, and also much attached to the
members of his family.
M'intrimonia)
Mr. J011e8'—;0 you .n, a
bridal tour 10 Niagara Falls. 1 , - • ul yet
see that pleaesd you most while y(lti (01111•
away, Mrs, Sonny :
Mrs, Spivey (modestlyl—'l
At a late English poultry show, a mem-
ber of Parliament and good farmer had
something like this to say about poultry in
an address made at the time of the show:
It was generally believod that the an00s•
tors of most of their common fowls came
from warmer olimales, especially from Asia,
and when the Borealis first invaded the
shores of Great Britain, they found bout
the fowl and the goose domesticated, but
not for the purpose of food, only for the
aako of fancy and pleasure. At the pre-
sent day, they breed poultry chiefly for
foots acid shows suck" as they were witness•
ing that day. Tho roaring of domestic
poultry was, if properly earned out, a very
Fair souroo of renumeration. As one who
farmed rather largely in poultry, he would
say that he found it profitable, and he
gave them a fow figures., On his 01011 poul-
try farm he had about ninety hens, mostly
Langshans, and ho was very parlianlar in
counting the eggs ]le roeleved. He found
that his ninety hens last year laid 0,1101 eggs,
and the year before 11,1)11, Those eggs
always brought him in, taking the average
through the year, Id. (Id. per dozen, and he
was aisle to dispose of his poultry at 3s. ad -
all the year round, they being taken from
the fun without Lily feed or cramming. He
thought that showed that a little poultry
10001 soul d be made afairlyprofi table concern
In East Sussex poultry farming now was
carried on very 11111011, pal'tionlariy in the
Heathfield utd "'Mishima districts, old ho
1110115111 it would be a greet adrantego if, in
the western )pert of Sussex, they would oleo
take it up. Now, ho would toll them about
his g0os", Ile only haclone, and that goose
laid for two ,years miming fifty eggs. From
those he reared thirty -sever goslings, and
during the past year they raised thirty-five,
Therefore, he thought the goose had done
hot. duty,
When the Oable Was Lad,
The first 81.5111101' to carry rho cable across
Ile Atlantic, says the Sun in 01151x01' to it
correspondent, was two steamers—the U, S,
S 'Niagara andl3. 1.1:, B. Agamemnon, They
sailed from Valontia, Ire„ Aug. G, 1857,
the Niagara paying out the cable first, But
the cable broke,and the steamers returned,
In Juno, 1853, nother attempt was 11 0110,
bit in vain, In July the same steamers
started again. This time they wont to the
middle of the Atlantic, lat. 62° 0' N., long,
139.° 27' W., and on July 00, leaving spliced
the cable, they hovo'it overboard and start-
ed, the Niagara for Newfoundland and the
Agamemnon for Iroland. liot11 vessols
landed Chair ends on Thursday, Aug,
6
,
1818,t
The cable stnppedtvorfling, however,
on Sept. 4, 1.838,The (treat 11!astoen laid a
new cable in 180(1, 'Thee are now 940 sub-
marine nobles in operation.