Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 11, 1874, Page 11

THE CHICAGO bHLY' TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, JANUARY - 1%, 1874. 11 METROPOLITAN MODES. bs aad Dregs of Fashionable Follies---The Social Lull, Eighteenth-Century Stuffs in Nineteenth- Century Forms. - Modes New and Old---0dds and Ends. From Our Own Corrcsnondent, New Yong, Jun. 8, 1874, 0t the bolidsy-cskes and alo we'vo only the cambs end drge to remind us of the recent festal time. Most of us ate glad it is over, en- orable thongh it was, for the promise of rest sod quict after the week of porpetual merry- makicg is very welcome. : The New-Year's calls were less general, but {he callers were more agreeablo than they have boen of late. Thers were fewer who gtaid two minutes, and moro who spent fficen, thaa has been (ho custom; and, the duty-visits wers over, thero after : v were many delightful reunions of friends to erown tho dag's pleasures. But already thrifty souls are biding away their fine feathers for a {ime, and returniog o the profitable aipaca and (o all-enduring cashmere with sincore satixfac- tion. It is best to be zay and wear flounces and sarbelows now and then, but we can't keep up {ie revel forever. Touse a Hibernicism, the Jongest balf of the winter lies before us, aad puch wo:k is to bo done that requires good peads, strong Lauds, and plain clothes to accom- s, As 3 matter of course, there isn't much that s seally novel in the way of fashions just nows; the news clothes are mostly made, and it is the se-creation of tho old that is chiefly agitating tho podistes’ mind at present. Dear to the Leart of the average woman is o fresh drcss,—espe- gially if it bo blackt silk,—but dearer yet is an old fress made over. It fits a8 no new one ever ea. It hasaleads become & poition of the sesrer. She kuows its foibles; she is aware of fhe cxact strain it will sustatn; she does ot eere if ebe gets n spot upon its immaculate sur- fres, becauso eho is perfectly conscious that ander the rufiles Jurk other spots; in short, she iscomfortable and free in it, and from that very fact it is usnally twice as becoming as its brand- pew compavion. A mew gown is good, but an od oue made over is Letter. NEW-OLD CLOTHES. fomebods’s grandmother was good emough s bestow the while of an ~ elabo- o wardrobe upon her, the other day; and somebody at once,set to work to put into wear- this shapo the superb eills aad satins thus cbtgined. - To tegin with was a magnificent Llack brocade, perfect 85 to quality, but ratber ecant as to Geantity, which, of course, Lad to bo eked out by something else. Somebody bad determined that potning modera should bo purchased to re- new tho germeutsa; 8o, wherever o lack. was discovered, it had to Lo supplied from nmong the rewa:nder. To finish the! black brocade, {Lerefore, & Llack China crepo was sclected. A demi-trait skirt was made of the crepe, trimmed rund the bottom with an eight-iveh box- fated flounce,—a spaco the widih of the pisits betwcen each two. The Hounce a5 hned with crinoline, and piped on the edge with the tiniest pussibie jold of blatk satin; a brcad bias band of crepe. triply piped with alts pate zatin sud_crepe folos, iniehing the top of the flounce. Above tho flounce two mve-inch ruflles, similatly plaited sod edged, were laid crescent-shupe ooross the front aud side breadthe, terming at the ends with bows of eatin snd crepe. From the brocado was cut a long Wattesu poloraise, looped high xnd gracetully on theships, aud bsnging loug iv the back, Tho polonnise bad a loux pointed vest of satin, cut squate 1 the veck, and oudined by s narrow. eczut, pisited ruide of the brocade faced with gstin. Tle aieeves are nearly tigiit to tue elbow, ending in.dcep reiiies of the brocads lined with eatin. Vers tull sleeves of old Dechlin lace, and Mecchlin lace neck-raflles, finish tie toiletto. Nextin order to tho biack brocade came a eaperh WHITE GROS-GRAIN, brocaded with rose-piuk velver flowers. This was 8 digiicult subject for mantuan skl to deal with, Trimming 1t _could not bear: neither could it bustaiu an sbeolutely simple style. Ro- cousse was bad, tnerefore, to the comvenient court-train, which mvariably comes to tuo res- cus when everything else proves unsuitablo. A e.ticoat of eatiu, iho shade of the smbossed svers, was concocted out of an old train in wkich the andent beauty had cuce danced a mmnget at & court-ball in London (This tradition ucfortunately added not an inch to the length of the skirt, which waa in- eoavevieutly ubbreviated, but incroasol thel pleasurs of possession to the new aud blooming owner.) Around the bottom of the peiticoat was a ten-inch Jounce of exquisite white Spanish biondo lace, hended by s four-inch stauding rublle of the lace, with a very tull quillng of piuk satin between. Up the midule of trs frout breadth were large bows made from barbos of tze vlonde drawn tbrough pearl buckles. Tho waist sud rein were cut togetber, of the bro- cade,—the train berug looped back in broad scal- lops, edged with a Llonde rutlle, and headed by a quilug of eatin. In the back, tho tain ~ was _ looped _in a large int, formed paitly by _drawing ihe readtbs up, and partly by drawing them away from the tront: ‘L'oe waist formed a deep point over too petticoat, aud was finsbed by a satin cord and a frilt of bionde lace, ‘he square neck bed 8 quilling of =aun aund upnght ruche of bloude, inside of which is worna Lerciuef of tuile folded Quaker-fashicn. The sleeves wero like those of the black dress, nearly tigls to tho elbow, with decp_ tlouces of tho orocade lwed with atin, and ulonde ruiles juside. Y'he cdge of the train was faced on the wrong side with pink satin, as deep 03 it was likely 10 turn_over. To my taste, ths biack dress was the prettier, butit would hardly bave pieased tuo popular taste 23 well. GOWN XUMNLER TOREE . wasa fine silken _tiswue, with twilled stripes of purple on & white ground. Sprays of bright tlovers, ag fine a8 1f painted by hnnd’ wera stamped on tho surface, sod the whole stull Tesemules o web. The fabric 1s moic nearly sllied to Chamiery gauze tban anything we Lave, but is finer aad_softer even than tbat. Wiat 10 do with the limited quantity was tho vexed question for gome time; but it Was pres- catly armanged after this manner: A vexy short traided silk was made of white organdy-muslin, covered, with finger-wide rufiles more than Lalf- ¥y 0 the wairt. Then trom the tissue was devised » long, full over-skut, hemmed on the edge, looped high on the sides, drawn {ar back, aud much bepuffed bebind. ‘Lhe stuff itself is 5o soft that 1t requircs’ more draping than almost any thin goods 1 have ever scen. Tho waist was mado over white muslip, and cut wiih pointa before sad belind. A spleadid rufl of Valencicnnes filled the V neck, nuder o gath- ered ruffle of the tissue, passing down tho tront ca both eidcs, aud forlowing tne ecdge of the ¥aist round the points. Tho slecves wero Ppufled lengthwise, from wrist to shoulder, on Thito muafin linings, the pufls beiug separated by parrow rufiles” cf Valencienues lymg each ¥y, with a piping of the tissuo between.. The dress s really lovely, simple_thongh it be; one 3.'1:.3‘{’ most attréctive, indeed, of the whole ber, Dut the GEXM OF TEE COLLECTION 5 a white Canton crepe, than which no fabric =ore beanlifal. It was no flimsy crepe du Jhine, whuel: is beantifal or not, us it Lappens, 0t of the old-fashioned kind, ibat in dress- Quantities weighs little less than a ton. Hygieni- Iy it is not to be recommeundsad, but artificially Baught {5 more desirable. The skirt was a plain Zemitrain, the material being too heavy to ad- g of any comfort in Wearing au exteneive 2l Borderod with a ten-inell flounce (box- Blsited, with spaces), corded on cach edge with &0 eatin, there was, sbove the crepe .a superb omo of Valenciennes. oo was hesded by a bins band the crepe, piped with satin, and wrcught wish fracate vines of convolvuli.” Four flounces of Iace with worked headings, brought tho gflmmg_nemy to the waist; & crepe sash, fid&e_d with embroidery and edged with finger- +1% Valenciennes, beiug tied once very loosely " the left sido of the train. The waist was cut o deep points, and laced in_the back. Dee] rtelles of laco passed over the. shoulders, an yeze headed by embroidered bands. The sleoves ere half- finished by two lace ruffies xy -flowing, mluepe one between. The neck was ‘high, Rz dig full rofl of Valenciennes. Of course the uof belong to tho bequest; bub is was J Dot new, having done service on more than one party-gows before. B ODDS AND EXDS, - The- fashion of economy, this winter, has Lrought rather a pretty change in wedding- cards, The brde writes the invitation on a large card (if tho sacrifice be of sufficiently informal chazracter), simply naming the hour of the cer- emony. Now that bonds and morigazes appear to hs uncertain investinents, worldiv-minded ladies declaro lace to bo the ovly investment they know that returns a sure and large interest. It is lways beautiful, always useful, and, to use thair phrase, * lasts forever.” - Modistes declare the nkivts and light over-dresses a8 likely to erdure another year. We are going to bo so eaving daring tho mnext wwelvemoonth that, by the time spning and sam- mer aro hete again, we shall bo unwilling to purchase even au alpaca, and regurd a 10-cent calico s an extravagauce’ not to bo countenanc- ed. ‘The toploftical bounnets aud hats of the early winter Lave come down somewhat, and have gained beauty and becomingaeus thoreby. Thore 188 hintin tho air that the head-coverings of the vernal seanon will be moro in consonance with our poverty : plaio in form, and requiring little tamming. This is almost’ t00 good to be true, and perbaps it 1s ouly the wish that fathers the thought. FunpELOW. e _igon S e MARRIED LIFE IN CHINA. Very little is known in this country of the married life of the Chinese, tut nevertheless their'babits and customs in this respoct are very minute, and by no means devoid of interest. ‘The patriarchal system of the country is eshibit- ed, on & #mall scule, in all Chinese households ; for, a3 the Emperor claims to be, and theorati- cally is, tho absolute and despotic ruler of his subjeets, 80 overy father exercises a similar pow- or over his family, even claiming tho right to sell his children as slaves < A womanin China, when once she is mar- riod and has assumed her busbaud's clan- name, becomes part and parce! of bis family, and henceforward bhas bot a slight con- pection ‘with her own relations, ber duty and obedience being cutirely transferred to hor hus- bind and lus pareuts, the ttter of whom, sad to relate. frequently treat her with groat cruelty, and maro as s slave than a danghtor-in-law. ‘The Chinese wifo's great hope aad ambition is that s30 o fancy for black AT MAVE MALE OFFSPRING 10 perpetunte ber Lusband's name, to caro for and sapport him in old age, aud, ufter deuth, to watch over and offer sacrifices at his grave, and at etatod periods to burn iucense before Lis tab- let. If she chanco to be 8o nnfortunateas to bave no children, or only daughters, thereis rarely any hoppiness in stors for her in ber married life, 20d ber busband is very likely to take to Iumself & concutine, if Lo can afford to do so, hoving thereby to atéain tho darling wish of his heart. When women have no children thoy anpplicate the goddess Hui-fu Fu-ien to sid them and eend them soms, for, if possible, they would rather mot bave caughters. If a man have no sons bo is thonght to * livo without Bovor and dic unbapps ;” and so eager is & Chi- nasnsn for a male beir that, fuiling » son of Lis ota, bo will adopt one_from his vrothers’ fawi lien, if hecan get one. Occasionally, too,from ti: ell-abeorbing desire for o son, parcnts vl bribe amuree to got some poor wan's boy and substi- tuté Lim for a newli-bova daughter. In the ex- axgorated pliraseology common to the Chincse, thiose who do this nre said “Tou lung, Luan feng,” that is, to steal o dragon and exchango it for a phonix. ‘Tiie folicwing customs, related in tho **Soclal Life of the Clunese,” aro 1ather amusing, and show what devices womeu in the Celestinl Em- ire will resort toin the hope that they may be blessed with children. Every year, between the eleventh and fifteenth day of the first and eighth Chinese moons, several of the most pop- ular temples devoted Lo the worship of a goddess of clildren, commouly. called ‘*arotneR,” are frequented by macricd, but childless, women, for the purpose of procuriug oue of & kind of ehoe belonging to her. Those who como for a ghoe burn incense before the image of ** Mothor.” 2ud vow that they will cffer a thapisgiving il ehe will aid them “in bearing o male child. The ehoo is taken home and_placed in the niche which Lolds tho family i it age of the goddess, where is worshiped in connection with + Moth though mno: Ecrarately, on the first and fifteenth days of each moon; fresh fowers sro then offored up, and incense, can- § dles, and mock-money are burued. - When the 1 cluld thus prayed for his born, should sucha fortunate event tako piace, the happy mother, in accordance with ber vow, causes two shoes to be made like the ono obtained from the. temple. Theso two «nd the oiiginal one aro brousht to the temple with her tbauk-offering, which gen- erally copeists of sevoral plates of food. Some women, instead of asking for u shoe of the goddess, beg some of the flowers which ehe enally Lus in her hands or in o flower- vase near by, The shoo is lent, but the flowers are given. Oo reaching bome somo women fasten the flowers thus obtained in their hair, whilst otbers place them in a vaso vear the niche mentioned above. Should the suppliants not become mothers, no thanksgiving Would be expected by the goddess whoso aid had been invoked. Whea a son is born THEDBE ARE GRECAT RLIOICINAS n s family, and shortly aftervurds whet is termed the “milk namo” is given, which so- swers 10 **pet names” among ourseives. Later on the boy receives a regular name, usneliy of two charzctere, corrcepending to nbat wo call the ¢ Christinn name ;" when written it is placed of- tor the clan or surname. When grown up even, boys are often called, not by tucir proper names, Lut by their number i the family—Tor examplo, A-szo or A-woo, that is, Number Four or Num- ber Five. On the third day after itsbirth the nurse washes the child for the first tims, beforo tho family image of the goddess * Mother,” who is currently believed to watch over all cbildzen till they rench their 16th year,and st tho eame fizo n thank-offering of meat, cakes, fruit, wine, flowers, etc., is_paced before Ler, in rec- ommition of her nid in tho character of Lucina. Asis always the case with suchlize obla- tions in Chion, they are afterwards consumed by the family. Tho important ceremony of TINDING THE WRISTS is now observed, and the practice in this matter Giffers considerably. A commou plan is to tic a picce of red cofton loosely aroucd tho wrists ; another is to fasten some_ancient copper coing ou the wrists for eeveral days by means of red cotton. In some families this is not finzlly re- moved from the infant's wrists for several monthy, though it 1s more usual to take it off after fourteen days. The iden is that this bind- ing of tbo wrists togetber will = prevent the bsby from being wicked aud disobo- dient, not only in childhood, but also in after life. In allusion to this singular custom, whea children are troublesome or naughty, they are askedif their mothers neglected to bind their wrists. When tho babyis a month old the head is ehayed for the first_time, acd:in the casoof a boy this ceremony is performed befors tne An- cestral Tablet. A feastis also given, to which the relatives and intimate friends are iuvited, and it is customary for them tobring presents of tovs, food, money. etc.; they also frequently club fogctuer and eend tho infant a silver plate, on which they inecribo three characters, meaning LONGEVITY, IONOR, AND HAPPINESS. A Shortly sfter thus, the parents mako their acknowledgments to their various friends for their congratulations and for the presents which they have sent ; {bis is commonly done by serd- ing n small present of cakes in return. At a subscquent entertainment, which somotimes takes place when the child is four mouths old, the *bapyy father,” it is said. *‘bows down before the poddess (Motber), and begs that the child may be good-uatured and easy to take care of, tiat it may grow faf, that it may gleep well at mighs, and that it may not ing, etc. From this we may be given to crying, nnt'r;xmlly infer le;g the habits of Chinese babies are much tho same-ss those of our own, and that distracted perents in Chins, as elsewhere, Jmow what it is to have waaeful nights and ualling babies. Eq’i“ha lfillemu grandmother, when a beyisa sear old, sends biin & present of a cap 2nd & pair of shoes, as well as some other garments, and on this cceasion another family fesst is held to celebrate the birthdey. “Toghsh mothers, whose children are backward ip walking, will bo amused st the following piece of CHINESE NURSING SUPEESTITION: 4Tt is the cuetom in many famulies,when the child 18 just beginning to walk alone, for a member of the family to take a large knife, often such as is used jo tho kitehen to cut up vegetables, and, catting something. This is called “cutting tho cords of his foet,”” and tho motion is repeated two or three times. It is done in order to facili- tate his learning to walk, and is supporod to be of great nso in keeping the child from ctambling and falling down, After the suaving of the head at the end of tho first month, it is 8 common practice to allow & patch of hair to grow on the top, if the child b a boy, and on both rides, if a girl; the bair is braided into tight little quenes, which-stick ont, and give the children a very comical look in thelr earlier years. When a girl, however, reaches womanhood, she ceases 0 wear thesa queues, which bave latterly hung down her back in glossy braids, snd her bair is dono up on her head 10 a peculiar Chinese style, which, we be- liove, varies buu littlo all over the Empire, and roport eays— though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the story—that the singuiar edifico is VERY RARELY TAKEN TO PIECES, and that the women use & curions little cane illow to provent tho disarisugcment of their aiv at night. On the fifteenth day of tho first moon of tha year, the birthdsy of the goddess * Mother” oc- curs, and married women then ropair to the tomplos, and worslip ber, burning inceaso, and having crackers let off in ber honor. Of this fact we can epeak from personal experience, baving hived for upwards of two years within a fow yards of such a templo, and having been often uearly sulfocated with the smell and fumes of the burning joss-sticks ; the fire-work part of the performance, too, was always carried on con amore, a8 we know to our cost. The din and clamor raisad by the crowds of women frequent- ing the small temple of which we sgpeak, on * Mother's" high festivals, will naver fade from our memory, for they were truly awful, and could bardly be said to savor much of real devotion. When a boy goes to school for the first time, he is expected to take with him two small cans dles, eome incense-sticks, and mock-money, all of whica are burned in honor of Confucius be- fore a ulip of paper bearing some such inscrip- tion ag “the teacher, a pattern for ten thousand ages,” or ono of the great sago’s oclier numerons titlos, tho new pupil bowing down and making his prostrations the while, = About the end of spring in each year, schoolmasters often give their boys s treat, when very similar, though moro elaborate ceremontes, aro performed, and it is the custom for the pupils to bring preseuts of moey to defray the expenses. Chuldren of both sexes aro said to G0 OUT OF CUILDUOOD,” when they are about 16 yaars of age, 88 in China they are then coasidered to have become ndults, and the event 15 usually eelebrated by cortain family observances. It must, however, bo borno in mind that, though a child i China becomes of age at 1G, be is ot theroby cmancipated from tlie control of his parents, for duriug their Life- time be is bouud n{ lav sud custom to oboy them implicitly, bo Le ever #o old or over 8o wealtby, Theonly excoption that is made to this rule is when tlo cbild has attamned t2 some ofice under the Governmeut, aud then heis abliged to render his obedienco to the Emperor, who, whilst e 18 in the public servico, stands to him in loco porentis. When a sou has reached his 16th ycar, ho commonly assumes tbe direction of tho business matters of the family, if his father bo dead, unless, indeed, s sometimes happens, his mother have a vouy stroug witl of her own, Tue doctrine 1cculeated in the Chinese classica is that a woman has THREE STAGES OF ODLDIENCE: to-wit, firsz, sho must obey her futher (befors sbio marr.es) ; socoud, hor husband (after she is married) ; aud, third, ber son (when hor busband is dead), provided, of course, thct the son bave reachea the age of manbool. In tho last-named case, bowever, law and custom would never up- bold the son in nu uokiod or uutilial manver. Filial picty is beld in tho highest estcem 1o China, even to an exaggerated extent, and it may biappen that, in cases cf extremely unfilial conduct, parcats wil bring their ofsp:ing before tue district magistiate, and iavoiis the aid of the law iv support of their rights; such iustances are, bow. ver, rare, put tacy occasion- aly occar, and the only persons who have any claim to Le consulied are the materaal un- cies of the accased, who, if these concur with his pareuls in_their viow of his mieconduct, stands o very Lad clance indecd of cgcaping wiih- ous some sortous mark of indignity, if ha e lucky enough to get off Wilaout beVers punish- ment. ¢ Fathers have virtually tho PCWER OF LIFE AND DEATH over their children, for evenif they kill them de- wignedly, they are subject to oniy the chastiso- went of the bamboo aud a year's banisbment; if struck by them, to no punishment at ail. The penalty of strikiug parents, or for tureing them, 18 deatb, ns among tho Hebraws. Ia practice it doos not appear that thix absolute power bestow- od on fatliers is productive of evil, the natural fecling being, on tue whole, & cient socurity aznunst its abuse.” If ason be convicted of the murder of eithor of bis parents, Chineso law visits the crime with awful soverity, for not only is the murderer ex- ceuted, but Lis body is cut up wto small pieces, aad everything possible is droe to maik the caormity of tho crime. On thus point the fol- lowing extract, from the work quoted befure, describes very graphically tho course that is pursued : A man and bis wife bad beaten aud otherwise severely ill-used the 1nother of the tormer. This bemg reportod by the Viceroy to Peling, it was detcrmined to cnforce, in & sugular manner, TUE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES of tho Empwe. ‘Tho very place whers it occurred was snathematized, 8s it wero, and made accurscd, Yho princi- pal offenders wero put .to doath; the mother of the wife was bambooed, branded, and cxiled for bor daughter's crime; the sclolars of the district, for tbree yoars, wore not permitted to atlcud the public oxaminations, and their promotion thoreby stopped; the magistrates were deprived of tacir ouice, and banished, Tho Liouse in which_the offendors dwelt_was dug up from the foundstions. ‘Let tho Viceroy.' the cdict adds, *wako known thus proclatnation, and lebit be dispersed through the whole Empire, that the people may ali learn it. And if there be ay rebellious children who oppore, beat, or degrade their parents, they sbail be pun- ished in like maonmer. If the peoplo, in- deed, know the principles of = rovorence, then'they will fear and obey the Imperial wilt and ot look oa this o empty declamation, 1 instruct the magistrates of every proviace to warn the beadsol families and eldcrs of villages, and oa tho % aud 16:h of every mouth to read the Sacred Instructions, in order to show the importance of tha ro'ations of lifo, tnat pereons niay not rebel sgainst their parents, for I intend to reuder the Bmpire filial. " Tl - furegoinz paragrapb will give a very clear idea 6f what is uviversaily tho theory ou” the subject in China, but, judging from_ our own knowledge of their clioracter, we much fear that in this, as well as in very many other mattors, the Chineso are much more perfect in their theory than in their practide.—Euglish Magazine. HUMOR. A writer wishes to know why people always spell finis without an h. —A wag, on being asked for an appropriate in- seription t0 a foundling asylum, proposed: “Thus far—but vo fartber.” —A batter 0 Terre Haute, Ind., has a bundle of old upaid bills hung up in bis store labeled, +* The ressun why I Gou't give credit.” —Do not run in debt to tho shoemaker; it is unpleasant to Lo unable to sy your sole is your ow. A circus clophant, wintering at Louisville, is on thie wateh for the man who tossed him an aple full of catarrh suufl. —It is fortunate there are no female Legisla- toreases in Mississippi, whero one Huggius is caudidate for Speaker of the House. —\What is tLe difference between s plan of & battle-ficld and & roasted pippin? One is & war map, aud the other is a warm apple. —A Jemsey paper describes a man 28 being “'as sociable as Latch of candidates two weeks beforo elecuion.” —A dismal jokc—the following memorandum left behind by the last spiriwual ruicide : ** I have purified my soul for the last twents-tive or -hirty years. I thiok I must bo s rectified spirit.” —One who knows how it ia herself soys: * The man who is awfally urbane to Lis wife before ptrangers is genexally also her bane behind their ‘backs ! —+ Grandma, why don't yon keep a scrvant 8oy longer 2"+ Well. you see, child, I'm getting 0ld nov, aud can't take care of one, as I used to, you know." —A woman at Fort Laramie has soed a paper for soying that she has murdered three hus- bands, when the fact 14 she hasn't murdered but two, the third oue getting away with a broken xib. The arrangements of Naturo are admir- able,” exclaimed a young lady, duriug the late lugh winds, * The same wind which disar- ranges our dress blows dust into the eyes of the would-ba observers.” s _A Green Bay woman, whose husband kicks her down gisirs every second might, says he likea to look over his old letters commencing with: ¢ 3y deorest, darling little angel Alin- nie, heaven alone knows tho depth of my love for'you.” E 5 _“A correspondent of the St. Louis Republi- can eays that the aget at Fort Gill, Mr. Tatum, rejected certain flour on the ground that it was roaching him from bebind as he is toddling e o pat it between bis logs, or hold it a oog, fiztlo way off him, with the edgo downards, and then to ring‘.'}i‘:n:oumgmund, asia the act of | antt for human food, adding that he had tried 1 in his own family. He wes curtly informed tho Department that *“the floar was not intanded for agents, but for Indians.” —A young man sent bis girl s box of grapes, one afterncon lately, and tho next day a follow met him on the streot and eaid, **Those grapes were jolly good last night ; sond soms up every ;Vadue.udny evening—taat’s my night, yoa now.” A remarkably dirty man stopped in frout of & small boy eitting on A fence, oxpectiug to have some fun by chaling him, He emd, * How much do you weigh?” The snswer was: “Well, about as much as you would if you were washed.” . —A good brother in a Daptist church of Jii ami County, Indiana, while giving his experi ence, not 1o0g ago, vaid: ** Dietherin, I've been a tryin' this nigh ounto forty year to serve the Lord aud got rich both at onct, snd I.tell yer, it's mighty hard sleddin ! 2 - An amateur sportsman went hunting the ottier day. He only fired one_luad, and bronght all the sbiot home with Lim,—in his leg,—all but four graius, and bis dog caught them in his car.., “Thera is such a thing 83 being too economical. —Irish ** boy " (to Lenevolent old gentlaman) —4* Maybe yer hooor 'll give a poor boy some- thing. Sure, it's a dissolute orphan, and deaf and dumb I am!" Abeent-minded old gentlomsu (putting his band in lus pocket)— Poor fel- low!” A little boy was recently presentod with & toy trampet, to which_ho became greatly attached. One night, when be was about to be put in his «littl bed.” and was ready to say his prayers, he handed the trumpet to his grandmother. say- ing, * Here, gran’ma, you blow while I pra; =''Tho name of the present Duke of Bucking- ham 18 Plantagenet Campbell Temple Nugeut Bridgyes Cuandos Grenviile. Tle name is, tho main. well enough in its way, but the Duke's maunor of spelling Bridges s contemptiblo.— Lowsoille Couricr-Journal. —An enthusiastic African, who had * spent de winter in Jamaky,” found it an earthly paradise. He said he co io alcd, and, putting bis arms out do windy, pick oranges. pine-apples, and Jamaky rum right off de treea.” —Tue custodian of what had been Garibaldi's straw-stuffod bed in Ischia was heard to mutter, on sceing a lady carrying awav a few straws as a relic: ** Thoy will doic! I've stuffed it six times already sinco tho Goneral lefe.” ° —Julis Ward Howesays that * There isnothing ‘but dumb submission for tho womew.” Thero isn't, b ? She ought to meander through this Stato and look upon the splintered rolling-pins and Dbatterad potato-mashors.—Detroit Free Fress. —:* No woman,"” eays Mrs. Julin Ward. Howe, “can be brilliant after marriage.” Can 1t bo ossible that Mrs. Ilowe has [forgoiten that linois woman who hias been married but fecur- tocn years and yet bas twelve chilaren P—Louis- ville_Couricr-Journal. —Daurhter of tho Heuse (to a privileged old friend of tho family)—* Dear Mr. Lupits, vou don't seem to be enjoging yoarself. I slould so like to have you waltz this once with me.” Yrivileged old friend—* 3y dear caild, T don't dance; but if it suits you I wounldn't mind “sit- ting bere with my arm around your waist while ths others aro making themselves dizzy."— Punch. —¢\Vho hurt you, bub?"” asked a pedestrian of nsmall boy who sat howling on the curb- stone. *Johnny Kydd,” fobled the victim. #T)l see about lum 1f Lo does it aga'n," re- mariced tho man, condoningly. but the boy sud- denty st pped howling, and exctaimed: * Just leave bim alone, - When I grow up I'll get on tho police force, and then I can belt him all I waat to!” A ludy made a complaint to Fredoric Great, King of Prussia. * Your Majesty sho, * my husband treats me bally.” * That is noune of my business,” said the King. * Bat ho speais ill of yon," £nid tie lady. * That," said be, * i nono of your tusiness.” —A celebrated Scotch divive bad just risen vp in the pulpit to lead tho congregation in prayer, when a gentleman in the front gallery took vut his handkerchief to wige the dust from his brow, forgetting hat a pack of cards was wrapped p in it. Tho whole pack was scatterod over the floor of the gallery. Tho munister could mot resist a earcaem, sclemn as the act Was in which ho was about to cngage. *O man, man! surely yeur psalm-buik bas been ill buod.” —Fashionable Chiristianity in London Is grow- ing to bo amusinz. People aro mow invitcd to prayer-meetiugs preciecly as invited to a social goiree or an evening party. The Neweastle Chronicle priuts the followinz tiauacriot of a card, which it hus received: 4 Mr. and Miss — Erofose (D. V.) to Lold a Bible reaning on — evaniog at T3¢ o'clocik, when tho company of friends is requested. ~ Subject, Rev. II. Read- ing from 714 to 9¢. Moraing dress.” A writer in the Broad Churchman states that he gota card of invitation, whicn. as far a3 the body of it was concerned, might have applied to a davcs or card parey, but in the corner were the chiarac- tors “Tesand P." Aftér awhilo he discovered that tha cabalistic sign stood for Tea aud Phay- ers. Mo weat, aud whoa ho found them hsnd-, ing Bibles round on a tray, he left disgusted. 2 A devont clergyman sought every opposr- tamty to impress npon the mind of his son the fact that God talies carc of all Lis creatures; that the falling spairow aitracts his attention, and that Ifis loving kindpess is over all His Happenitg one day to scc a crane wad- n quest of food, the good man pomted out is son the perfect adaptation of the crane io get his fiving in that manner. “Se ead he, * how his logs are formed for wading! VWhat a long, elender bill he has! Observe how ricely hie folds his feet when putting them in or draw- ing thom out of the watr! He does not cause the slightest ripple! Ho is thus anabled to ap- proach the fish without miving them notice of his arrival. * My son.” snid he, **it is impossible to look at that bird withont recognizing the good- ness of God in thns providing the means of sub- gistenco.” ““Yes," replied tho boy, **I think I sco tho goodness of God, at least o far as tho crane is concerned; but. after all, father, don't vou think the arrangement a little rough on the fisa?” DANTERRIES. A smart Danbury woman doces the work for a family of nine, milks two cows, and Lkeeps track of thirteen continued stories. —The skunk is no respecter of persons. He 1s Just as friendly to tho ownor of one 8uit of clothes as to the ownor of a dozon, and, if any- thing, a trifle moro so. —An Essex streot lady sitting in her parlor and engaged in tho dreamy contemplation of tho mustacho of the young gentleman who was to escort her and her sister to tho festival, was sud- denly awakened by an -ominous whisper io a ju- venifo voico at tho door: * You've got Ann's teoth, an’ «ho wants 'em.” —Oneof our prominent citizens on his way home with a ueighbor, Thursday night, reached his promires in thoe midst of an earnest enuncia- tion of his theory of tho planets, and. bracing Lis back against his fence and leaning his elbows on tho top, finished his argument and went into tbo house. On taking off his beaver overcoat be was reminded that the ferco bad that day been mewh painted by the condition of the back and eleoves of that garment. He dida't say anvthing about tho planets. He simply Iaid the coat on the floor and danced around it, and wiung_ his hands, and suatched tafts of hair from bhis head. and scrcamed euch dreadful things aboul painters {hat his wife fainted dead away. Anyone who would like to exchaoge o new overcoat for an extensive knowledze of the planets will fenrn eomething to his advantage by addressing Isuac Welsh, Danbury, et LIZZIE. - Lizziehoa a rognial eye,~ Tore's a wealth of mischief in her; Sleeping, waking, morn She Lias eet me thinking, d With those cyes so wicked-briz Liko stars upon me ever beaming. Hzve you secn the stariled fawn Wiin it bears the hunter's horn? use you eoen the bursting dawa 0f & glorious Summer's mors 7 Kot more graceful, nor more fuir, ‘Than my hesateous qucen of pearlsy Tender, loving. fon, snd dear, 1o my Lixzfe, best of girls. There aro women, I ellow, Who can boast of higher vaatty,— Grecian noee, and marble brow ; Worship them, if it will suit thee, But Il adore the roguish eye Whose glance is like the sun above me, And I know I'd surely die If my Lizzie ceased to love me. Crrcago. Jasirs LavinLrx, PR -1 Extraordinary Casc. An exiraordinary case was investigated by the Pirmiogham (England) Stipendisry. A souug couple, tho husband only 19 sad ths wife 17, bad, it appesred. both beon on the point of com- mitting suicide, after three months” married life, becauge they believed in certain statements of & fortune-teller in the Black Country. Tuey bad visited the fortune-teller togother, and the husband had been told that ne would have three wives, and the wife would be implicated ip seri- ouns troubles and would not dic in bed. These things, according io the story of the young wo- man, iaduced her to buy poison, which she was, prevented from takiog by the police. She after- wards attempted to drown herself. Tbe lad aizo wrote & lettsr to his wife, saving he had drowned himself. The case was remanded, and the police are in search of tha fortune-telier. A WIDOW INDEED. From the Galazy for January, I am not going to deny at my time of life, and in this ago of the world, that women are change- able. It has come to be one of the fixed facts that Do one wastes srgument upon; nearly all women acknowledze it at once, as 1 do; bat what we do contend for. with ono voico, is, that we never change without good reason. When my friend Isabel Deane suddonly sank {from a pinnaclo of proud and huppy wifehood into a desolate and heart-broken widow, it was a chango quite proper, and to be expected, that she shoald tarn her face to the'wall, and refuse to be comforted for many days. Jolu Deane had been her lover, as well as her husband, as loug as be lived, and all the world quoted them 28 2 model of married happiness. His death was sudden, and all the more over- whelming to the wife who bad lain so serenely on bis strength that she had never noad to put out Lor own. Iam an old maid myeolf, but 1 can dimly im- agine what it might be to Iean one’s heart and soul on 8 goud man for many years, till one's boues wero all bent that way, and then how long it might take, when the eupport was snatched away, to gropo Jamely about the world, till one could learn to stand upright again. I offered Isabol no consolation, because I kaew of none; I justsat dowa with her aud her childron day aiter day. \When she gave long wistful looks at the portrait of her husband which hung always before ber, I made her look at the baby's smilo; but when I saw her mnecdle go hard through her work for falling tears, I could only let the baby go, and ery with ber. Ay weck dragzed after week, Isabel bezan to tako up the stitches sho had dropped 1n mother~ love, and the real strength that was in ber, bitherto doymant, sprang up full-armed for hor cutldien, She hal been’ wousded well-nigh unto deatb, but balfl a dozen soft little hands id much to sovtho and stroke away the paiu. ** Isabel will come round at lnst. Sio must bave some idol, and, since the big one is Droisen, she will'set up threo Lttle oues in ita place, aud tho worship will go on in her temple all the same,"” L said to a friend whom I was vis- iting for o week, wisen ir. Deane hud been dead about threo months. I bad liked John Deano vory woll myself. I1f Isabel must marry at all, which socmed xtrangely necessary to her bappi- ness, a8 1t does to tnuuy other women, I rather preferred Limtoany oue elseas herbusland, He way whbolyy devoted to ber. which nas no mora (hin she deserved, and fora mav ho was very litele in the way. Nevortheless, I returned to lLer with a certala inward comfort in.the thouglt that sho would be more than ever my frie.d, when sho bad fairly settled wmto the new groove that widowhood would male for her. ‘T'o my blauk snrprise and constornation, I found her urging forward ai! possiblo preparations to go abroad with ber children for an iudefinite time. Llor eyes wero bard and cold as if sho had no more tears left, and the corners of her mouth were sharply drawn &s of oue in the fixed babit of enduriug pain withoul mentioniug it. Her manner bad a orisk abruptoess that I nad never uoticed vefure. The Louschold Labits, which had become a little demoralized by the presence o1 sorraw, bad suddenly straightened iuto the utmost order. Tle servants syed mo curiously toscoif 1 noticed the change, and made many furtive s:tempts to talk about it. I could not have been more bewildered if a soft, ‘izmk baby bad suddenly bardened usder my hand into ono of thoye grim old statucs that keop guard over Egvptian tombs. She did not seem to manage it, but I could never sec ker aioue, aud she care- fuily ignored my hints at the cuange in ber. Lor beauty bad. slways beeu wacmed and beigbtencd Ly bappiness; sle nceded sweet ex- citements to scep o flush'in her naturaliy pale cueck, and dewy brghiness in ber large gray eyes. ' When the sun is saying good nighit to tho peaks of - tho Junglrai, sbo colora like blush rose; but when tue sun 1s gono she turns pale sad gray, snd is nothing but a cold tock after all. This was procisely the chauge in Isabel Deane. Hor faco was like a transparent_picture, sottly glowing when the ligut of happin:ss was belund it, but without thiat light it was o picture at all. Shio hiad et ber house on a long lease, and all of her affuirs wero as carcfully settled as if sho were goiug out of the world. You Lehave as if vou bad received sentence of everlasting esile,” I said to ber uu her last day. when she could no longer escape me, ‘I hopo it may bo so,” she replied, lookin etraight at the wall; *“I have swlfered so0 mu hete, that, but for the children's interest, I sbould be glad tosce this house burned to tho giound.” 3 1 looked at the wall, too, and perceived that JMr. Deane's portrait Lad been removed. ) “iYou will take it withs you, of course,” I said, by way of maiing talk. +<Oh, no it would be a troublesome package. I bave scnt it to Mr. Deaue's sister; she always admired and wanted it.” Had grief turnod the woman to stone? I took bier chin in my hauds, aud made her look at e, while I entreated her with teara to toll mo what Llight had fallen on her. “Don’t you remsmber tho day when John eont homo that portrait to surprise you o1 your birthday, and you went on your knoes to it with delight, as if it had been an altar? You were distracted with joy that day. #Since then I Fave known what it was to bo distrasted in other ways, and only for the chil- dren's sake [ would have died and made nosign. You s¢é a chiango in me, but I feel1t; and I as suro you I do uot Lind any more comfort in it than you do, but it caunot be helpcd.” “That is nonsense! It can be Lolped if you will look at it in the right way.” *: Ibave looked at it in 21l ways, and thero is 10 1ighit way Lut to take up my croes and bear it to the end. I ean bear it atter if Iam svoy from all that caa remind ma of the old days. sbal not come home till I have outgrown evea tize memory of them,' . “That memory was ‘your dearcst treasure when I left you for that short woek, Isabel.” *Yes, but you forget that the world was mado in & wock., It is long euough for moths to cotrupt, or thieves to break through and steal our grealest treasure. Do not speal lightly of a week.” she said, with a woful smile thnt Liad better bave been a sob, *Inabel, you break my heart,” I criod ont. *Do I? “Lhen you will be in the fashion. Women's hearts were made to ba broken. The crack comes late to some and early to others. I hud a loug probation, but it came at last all the same,” She went awayacroes the sea next day with all her flock, but the dregs of her bitterness staid with me. I bad believed in her, and been disap- pointed; i: is Dot an uncommou experience be- tween lovers, and [ am assured that tho sonsa- tion is very uncomfertable. I certainly found 1t B0 in my own case. hero must bave heen leaves on leaves folded asay in her character, that I bad never found or suspected, to_account for the eavage change in a woman who had been **all womaniy.” It injured my digestion aad disturbed my sleep; for it forced mo to take to picces all my pet thicories about women, and make them over agamn. Her infrequent lottors told nothing of her real life ; they were fall of glittering generali= ties abont pictures and cathedrals, aud now and then a bitter jest on the bollowne«s of life. Married happiness seemed to provoke her to special wrath, The trail of tho eerpent was over all ier thonughts. When I pressed her about her own Lieaith, she_wrote, “ I am always well enough to bear my burdens, such u3 they are. Nothing can kill o woman, you knoy.” Bat one or two travelers who saw her at THeidelberg (where she bad fixed heraelf, to_be Dear ber brothers, who were in the university) brought word that sho was white and wan, and onls ‘tire shadow of her former solf. “Ihave been Lored to death lately,” she wrots once, *‘with the devotion of Cousin George and his new wife. They may be called vagabouds, baving no visible means of support ; but love is to be food and drink and loJgiog, to say nothing of clothes. The deluded woman thinks ehe bas power to keop him always at her feet, and it would not surpriso me at all if he were already, in Lis heart, a little wears of ‘her. Women are eo casily deceived that I wonder men have taken 8o much pleasure in doing it throngh all ages. I begin to favor the Yre.ch custom of selectiog wives and Lus- bands for oue's children, instead of lesving them to their own devices in the most importa:t mat- terof their lives. ‘Lhe cnly objection liss in one of old Fuller’s nutahells : *’1is to be feared ,that they who marry where they do .ot love,s will love whero they do not marry;' but peupic will do that avy way, and, after all, lovo ia only the night side of grief.” - When George Deane and Ius “deladed wife ” came home I charged them, on their honor, to gvo me a true and unvarnished sccount of Alrs. Teane's condition of body aad mind, They bad been 5o rapt up in one snother, that they had 1ot seen mucx c:angs ip her as to manaer, but they had somchow got'it nto their foulish heads tliat she bad not lived Lappily with her husban a8 she would never talk of him even to hor chil- dren. I speedily disabused their minds of taat notion; for, as I bave said before, Isabel and her husband had never ceased to live in their honeymoon till his death. 4 Isabel had been abroad five years when she ront_mo o golden curl of her daughter’s hair, braidod with iron-gray, which ebe insisted was horown. I gat twisting it aboat my finger with my heat full of rebeliion azainst the evil fate that had taken ber cleau oat of my sphore, when I had counted on 5 double share of her socicty for the rest of my Life. “ This isthe conclusion of the whole matter," I eaid to myself, for want of anybody else to say itto, * Diessed be those who expect nothig, for they will not be disappointed.”™ And on that instant the postman, darting up the stops in the raiu, hold ap a lettor to my win- dow. It was a very thin letter, and held only these wordy : AMuss Dexxison: If you will come round fo the Russell Stra;t lafirmary as soon a8 possible after re- celving this note, you maybe dosome good, and greatiy oblige, yours truly, Manzs SToxNg, Matron of Infirmary. Doing, good in hospitals had never been my forte, and I was morally certain that I had never pu a woman of the name of Maria Besides all this, it rained as it it were the first day of another deluge, and most likely tho lctter was meant for another Miss Deunison ; Deunison being & common name, and the prefix Miss comwouer still, and growing mora 0. . Iomashamed to eay that I hesitated some minutes, with my rubber ehoes in my hand ; but curiosity, rather than benevolence, finally car- ried tho day, and I went forth on & long, wet walk to Russell street. ** Are you Miss Deannison 2”7 said a woman, who seemed to be wating to let me into the in- firmary. *You" ¢ Miss Eleanor Dennison 2™ *Yeu." “Then you are the lady wanted.” 1t was comfort in my soaked condition to hear even that, though I put no faith in it. 1 was led through o room containing seven or oight beds, all occupied by convalescont patients, into a smail one, 80 dark that I could not distin- guish anything for a moment. *Is she here 2" I beard o woman's voico ask faintly, aud, guided by the sound, I saw & womun llym[; on anarrow ped, propped up with pil- ows. **I am Miss Deanison,” I eaid, “ but Iamvery wet, aud may give you 8 chill.” “'Lt don't matter,” she raturned, alter waiting for a prolonged coughinz-fit tapass. * Nothing ca hurt me, and I must say quickly what I bave o sny. Even then I felt a certain impatience that I had been dragged out on such a day, to hear the dying confession of a stranger, who probably in- tended it for some other person. ‘How ofteu, but for our hard-working gnardian angels, we should pass by with a sniff and miss forevor tuo most blessed opportunities of oar lives! I sat down by ths woman's bed. and she grasped tho cape of my ** watorproo! " as if to Lo certain that I should not escape her. She was much emaciated (her cheokbones stood out like rocks at low water), and. having boen s dark brunette in her best days, her coal-black hair and extreme sailowness mado & ghastly contrast with the white pillows at her back. ? * Aro we alono " she asked whea the Matron went out aad closed the door, without noticing -my silent entreaty for her to remaio. I gianced ovér the room and perceived snntber bed, in which the ontline of a human figure was viible under the coverlet. * Not quite ; there scoms to be somo one asleep in the ather ed.” “‘Yes, 3ha's auleep fast enough, and sho won't troubls us with ber drems ; it's the only kind of sleop worth having. She died while tho ha- tron was down staits,” , * For mercy’s sako lot ma go and tell her!” I said, horrifiad at Ler careless maunuer. “ It is for mercy's sake to the Lviag that I bave sent for you. Never mind the dead.” ‘The womau was not in the least wild in her manner, and paused only to congh at intarvals. “Iam AMadeleino Dejoux. a seamstreas, who woried three montha ouce for Mre. John Deane, making up the wardrobe for one of Ler babics. I think it wan the sccond boy. Iused to see you, Miss Denaison. evary day., and yoa have changed very litclo. Dut I 'was’ handsomo then, with a vrilliant, Spanish sort of besuly ; you would not 8uppOs? it, to sos mo now 2 “I bave given no thought o tho mat- teratal” 1said, a littlo sharply, recogniziug ber at last a8 ono whom I bad formerly di:liked, and suspectinz that sbe’ was about to confess tho thert of Liabel's gold thimble, or sometinog of the sort. ol T sappose not. but .you musl give bota thought and understauding to tha reat of what Ihavetosay. Mr. Deans and bus wife, 33 pos- sibly you bave noticed, were the most porfectly bappy macried peoplo that I ever saw. Daing 80 long under their roof, I bad every oppor. tunity to obsorve it. Ialwass sawed in o htle room, adjoining their bed-chambar, which Mrs, Deaue used as & nursery; indesd, shs usually sat there with the only ch'ld she had then. *Sho treatad me Kinlly, after a fashion, but someiow sho seamed to make no differenze beo- tween mo and the servaots in the house. [ was just the person who served her purposs, and shio wanted no more to do with me. Ihad been taught that my good looks were to be my for- tuno, and she pever noticed them at all. “She was s plio-looking woman at times when ehs bad no color; but if she Lad been a full-fledged aagel, Mr. Deane could not bLave Dbeen more convinced of her DLeauty, He fairly Itorshigml the gronnd 820 walked on, and when I could hear them bill- ing and cooing over their boy, I would grind my tecth with sheer onvy of her Liappiness. “Itrled in every way to attract Mr. Deanc's attention, evon to lacing his wifo's boots after slo found it difficuit fo stoop; Lut Lie had eyes ouly for her foot, aad pever saw tho scatlet flower in my hair. I bheld bis boy till my arms actiod, and tried to maguctize bim with my touch'; but I might as well’ have been so much empty air; for bim, thers was butone woman in tl:e world. . “Itisnot a safe occapation for a voung girl to try such experiments. I had not beeu in the house two months before I loved him with all my heart, and bLe scarcely knew mo by eight. He had a habit of reading aloud to his wife for sahour or two esery dav,and ome book. in which thoy wera mucli intorested, was James Greenwood's ‘Seven Curses of London.’ Mrs. Deano pretended great sympathy with the poor wretchesthat it described, aud talzed very loving- Iy of the fallen ones of lLier own sex; of course, Alr, Deanc loved her for it more than ever, if that wero possible. “They gavo it up, howover, after reading a few chapters, because sho said in her mawkish way that it was too painful to be trne. I hopo she Las found out by this time that becazse things are painfal thoy aro all the moro likely to be true. Igot the book oat of tho library again a8 soon a8 they returned it, sud finished it my- solf. If you have read it (and if youhave not, I recommend it to you and all other starcaed-up womon, who have seen nothing but the whited sido of this sej-ulchre of o world)—I say, if yoa have road it, you cannot fail to_remember a car- tam chapter which, after deacribing maay forms of villaiay in the way of anonymous letters, goes on to dotail a very ingenious method of Zotting money out of widows and orphaus, called the *dead-lurk.’ “ Aficr a man dics somebody writes o very fazailiat letter purporting to como from his mis- tres. or an accomylice ial some picco of wicked- ness, asking for monoy according to promise. a3 1f they had not Leard of his death. The odds are that the poor woman, Lioping to preserva her husband’s name from the stain and disgrace of an investigation, will sud the money. Women are so credulous that they will believe one tory as soon as another. I admired the talent and acutencss of euch a trick ; it was to me the cream of the book, and I did not thiuk it 00 painful to be true. +¢ About a month afterward Mrs, Deane hap- ned to hear me use a vulgar word before ber ittic boy, who repeated it at onco. It was slip of the tongue, not worth noticing; but sbe could pot make fuss enough abont it, sud scat mo away dicectly. Soe was too self-rightcous to give me_any recommendation to ner friuds, &0 I had to go into & stiange plece, with very littte money and no certiticate of charactor. Bat never mind that now; sie has had her re- ward! +*1'so0n found peoplo enough to look at my blach cyes aud the flowers i my Lair, and came to grief of cowrse. You have been looking all along as if you expected it. I came to gl witbout delay, as 1 said, but I got sowe pleas- ure on tho way, perbaps as much as my Lettora in the loug run. [ got on well enough tilla slight cold turned to & cough, and I began {0 grow ick and poor cqually fast, Ihad one child to support; he was tlien abont 5 yeary old, the only creature who cver loved me.” But Iseo you ars mot_interested in bim ; nobody over was interested in bim except his mother, T Liad no prospest beforo_me but 2 lingering. death io the poor-house, while my lovely, blue- eyed boy would be cued about eome orphan asylum till he was old_enough to work. In this evil case, when [ was in sorcst extremity, I saw the denth of Jobn Deane in a mewspaper, an: slimyold wrongs st his wife's hands rushed over mo like a flood ; at_the same moment I re- membered the ¢ Seven Curses of London,' and the trick that I had admired so mach. I'don't protend to moke aov defense (you are 00 hard- hearted to admit t, if [ did), but I was desper- ato, and 1 cuuld not ses m boy siarve. - ¢ 1Yith the ntmost care and delibsration I put together s letter, addresred to Mr. Deane, which mind, that I had been near and dear to him. It was long and affectionate, and eigaed by my own name. It referred to those first days when he had spoken kindly to me in the sewing-room, and to my meeting him more and more often alterward away from home, and how wiser thao a serpent he had been in never letting his wife suspect it. It spoke of our blue-oyed Jolnay—how proud he wonid be to show paa, on his next visit, his tirst jackot and trousers. “1t spoise of wy being wholly dependent on him in my 1l healch, and how blersed I bad beeu in gaining the love of 50 good & man. 1t reminded bim over so delicateiy of a certain alluwance that Lo uad promised to make me from the be- gioning of that carreut sear; but the one thing that casiied conviction to Mrs. Deane’s mind, aod I kaew it would when I thought of it, was my telling him in the letter how Johnoie had scen bis back in the looxing-glass, and had dis- ia\'emd a mole, *just lize papa’s,’ on his shoul er. * I happened to be aware of this mark on Mr. Deaue's shoulder from overhearing his sis:er say that all hor family bad it precisely in the same spor, and she Liad looked for it on her nephow as Lis sut o my lap. I studicd overy sentence of that letter, 83 one studies the face of a sick caild, looking for hope in 1. My love for Jr. Deane bad never gone out of my bears (tirst love nevor does, I think), and in all theso years I had kept accatnt mora or less cicacly of his habits and welfare. I kuew that he was often driven from Lowe by bis business, and that he was obliged to ve away macy days at a time. I sent the fetter in fear and trombling, and bided my time. Ina fow days I bad -a notice from a bavkiog-house in Newv York that a certap sum would be paid me every year by order of Mrs. Isabel Doane. It was precisoly the amount of the nliowance I had mentioned in my letter—not &u extravagant sum, but just enough to snpport my boy and me docently. “She could spare it well enough, and, after all, i dou’t kncw why I sbouid be sorry for do- ing it. She had had more than_ber Bbare of happinees, but I have often wondered how eha took my Lrtle thunderbolt. I Leard aho went to Europe withs her children. Madeicine Dejoux bad said ll this in & high, constrained voice, 18 if &be Lad beea wound up to run just 8o many minutes. Sne uow shrank down among bLer pillows, and seemed to be brac- iug hersolf to receive my winth in whatever form it might break upon bor. For one black instaut I had a savaze longing to clutch her throat snd shake out of har what Little Life she bad left, but the great jovfulness of thie tidings that I con!d send to Isael swept itaway. Iehould have beon a pagan indaed to give anotber turn to the rack on which remorse sud disease had long bound her. 1 felt ouly contempt for the workings of such & miad, when she looked into my eyes 2zain. 1 see you have been furious,” she said, read- ing me asif [ had been printed in the larges: type; * but aow yon have turned scornful. You used to be a devout admirer of Mrs. Deans, who, with all her tamcuess, could fascinate men and womsn both. I know all tho wires that men are pulled by, but I never had a womaa friend uuless * Never min without it a8 I have always. I see vour interest in me ends with this laterview. You would trample me under your feet if you could belp Mru. Deaue vy 1t."” “That ia of comrse. 1 may think of sou in connection with Mra. Deane’s scr- Tow as one tainks of °"tho scrpent in the ruin of Eve: we follow her fortune ever after, but 1dou't know that agybody cared what be- came of that particular sarpent. “] wassoro tempted,” she pleaded, *“and I conld not sce my boy starve.” “Whera is your 0oy uow " +-Oh, ho is dead. 1 never repented till then.” “Aad i be had lived you would never have andeceived your victim ; you would have let her drag ont ber Lifain torturing donbt of he hus- band's faith ¥ . “ Yes, I think so.” “And I talnk 50 too,” T said, drawing my cape, which sho had never let o, out of her haud. *You are mistaking remorse for _ropent- ance: but ateast, to give you yoar due. you have done one good thing before it is too late.” Sho turned hLor face away from me witha movement of impatience, as if she balf grudged even that ono white thread i a wholo lifo woven out of ovil, and I went quietly out of the infirm- ary sadran ail the way to my own house. While Madelcine Dejoux’s words weors fresh in my memors, { wroto every one a8 she hal spoken them; but they could nob reach Isabel in less than a fortnight. and I would not prolong her pain even that length of time. I wrota half-a-dozen telagrams before I could bit on a form of words that satisied me. One was: ** Madeleine Dejoux bas confessed bor deception,” And another: “The woman who wrote a lying leuter to you is dying,” but I feared tho telesram would be opeued bya stranger, or by one of the children, before 1t and tho questions and sur- ing would bs encless. At * Glad bidings of great joy. Look for a letter.” Then I made threecopies of ifadoleine's con- fession, and sent them on successive days ta Heidelberg, that Isabel might bo nearly sure of gotting one of them if the others failed. Then I eat down aud folded my hands, so to speak, fecling mysell the contra of a great stretch of peace and calmness, as peopla do aftor a troublesome piece of work is fairly finished, and folded up and 1aid away for futare use. T never saw sgaln tae wild, self-torturing woman who bad firss ‘stolen and then ro-torad Isabel's comfort. but the matron sent me a no- tu:; of Ler death two or three days afcer my visit to ber. In less than two montha Isabel came home, bringing her children. Sne loozed worn and alcered, but tho sweet, sofu daw of happiness again brightened her oyes and flushed her cheek. Hor talk, a8 of old, was3 full of simple, fnnocent, womanly matters, uutouchod by the earcisma which had come over theseain all these years, and_bad_pricked me liko arrows. We spioke 0o word of all that bad come and gone between us. o just bured the ugly skeléton, and put no stone to mark the place. Bat when she was ngain settled in_her old homo, with her work-iable in front of Alr. Deae’s portrait (which she had begzed from bis sister), I some- times caught ber roturaing glanco as sho gazed long upon it, and I constantly read in ber faco, «¢ Forgive me, forgive me, O my husband! ™ To besr with eyes 1s part of love's fine wit, and ours was but a woman's friendship, but I loved Isabel Deane well enough for that. Era W, Troxrsos. LOST. ‘Wandering on with aimless feet, Td the din and the rear of the busy street ; ‘Watching the sights so strange and new ; Btopping to peer some house-door throngh ; Gazing delighted ot windows gay, Cliocaing what toys ahe will buy somo day,— thipkirg or Xnowing to count tho cost. do yoa know you are loat 7 Never Ah{ baby-Fs; Years pass away ; and adown tho street A wowan wanders with simless fect. The n'ght is murky—thn wind is chill— And ahe drifts along with & wanton will, Draggled and torn ars tie tawdry clothes Men jibe and stare as she onward goss. Oh! she never bad counted the fesrfal cost, For Fas—oli, Fay !—yon're lost,—~you're loat | Cmieaco, New Year's, 1574, ALant 8, ATxIN, A Woman Suing Ilcr Eather. Fram the Nasheile (Tenn.) Banner, To 1869 or 70 Amanda Rushing, a married daughter of Isaac Kembro, of Davidion Conaty, brouzht suit in the Circait Conrt for damages alleged to bave been sustained from bis wi pin: ber. She was rendered judgmens for $3.5 Gamages, when the defendcat sppealed to tho Supreme_ Court, where tho judgmont of the Court below was aflirmed. It lgpuxm that, be- tween the time of the alleged whipping and the bringing of suit, the defendant, by dead of gift, transferrod all his property fo his remaioing children. Mrs. Rushing now files abill in the Chaacery Court, Alle;:inf that the conv ce to the remaining two caildren ent, and | made for the purpose of Cefesting her claims ard those of other creditors agsinst him, and asks that the conveyance on this account Lo set aside. A Story of the London Fog. London Correspondeuce of the New York Herald. Of course, the town is ringiag with atories of the adventures which have harpened dusing the darkness, oe of which is worth quoting. ~ An old gentleman who bad some busizess at Chariug Crous mads his way as far a8 tlio Strand, but there completely lost himeelf. Ho crept slowly op and on without the lesst ides of where ho was going ustil he found himself descending some steps. Oo these steps ho plumpedazaiost aman who was coming up them. = * Hallo " £aid the old gentleman, * Hallo!” said themaa. *Can you tell me,” ®ald the ald gentleman, + where I am going to?” *Yes," s3il the man, ++if you go straight on you will walc into ths _sould bave carried conriction, even to your | river. for I'va iust come out of 14,