Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 16, 1875, Page 4

' JOHN WELCH'S WIFE. From the Gatazy for Fetrnary. Mrs. Wolch's firm step flazged as eho left the horee-car, and walked up (ireen street. Green street in in one of tho prettiest tunfaehionable quarters of Philadelphia, and her house was tho moet attractive in it. here wero trees and » fountain in front, and a wisteria trailing ite pur- plo blossoms up over tho white marble and brick; and through tho open windows you canght a glimpse of taco eurtaing, pictures, aud | “And thoio’s not a bettor kept house in the city,” sho thought, with a sigh, a eho neared the gate, Ut was always in neat, delicato order, and the tabla was daintily sot forth when- ever Joht, chose to bring a friend home. Job's iucome was large enough for them to liva in enay comfort, and it needed but three or four hours of work a day for bim to carn il, His wifo’s eyes grew etill moro troubled as she opened the gate of the fiont yard. “Ho ought to bo ratisticd,” she said to boraelt, as Jenny came toddling down tho path to meet hor, all white embroidery and bluo rib- bons, Hor mother held her tightly by the hand, gayvo her a spasmodic kiss, ran upto ber own room, and walked straight to the glaes, looking atthe neat partridge-like figuro aud good-tem- pered, sensible face. * “There is no rengon why ho shonld not be satisfied,” sho aaid tarlly, nodding to herself in tho glass, The tears stood in her eyes, but sho took of her bonne: and gloves, folded them up carofully, and began to dress for dinner. Tho neat black silk showed every curva of her pretty figure, ‘Tho lace ruftles at hor writs and throat wero yellow with age and quality (Ans. Wini- fred was 8 connoiseur in lace), Her shining hair lay in satiny folds. Sho bad been down to seo that the soup, the roast fowl, tho pudding, each was perfect in its way. In tho hbrary sho turned the gas down, and cut and folded the evoning paper in ab oblong shape, ready for Mr. Welch, beside his easy chair. The wholo world, she thought, did uot hold 9 miro conipiets homo to welvoime any man, and John knew the love wailing for him there, I¢ he chore to be discontented with either love or oma, it was sheer rebellion against Providence. Sho sat down to walt; got up, took out a feather duster, hidden for her own ove in a closet, wlixked at the bronze candelabra, put it away, aid scated horsolt again. Thore was Mr, Welch’s step in the vestibule, his Inteb-key tuining in the lock. Sho waited invide the library door, her cheeks red, pauting alittle. It was so many ovenings since bo had come home in time for disner—sometimes had notcomoatall Could it bo that tuo happy old times were coming back? But she did vot run out to meet him; she always waited for him just 8 fout or two inside the library dour. John Welch was coming home in time, with somothing of the fecling of the prodigal son, Ho had stopped outside, strongiy tempted to go back to his “riotous living or swine,” a8 bis wife would havea dubbed Jus temptation, It was a sore tug of virtue that brought him in; and now he wanted a littie excitomont—applanse, stimu- lant of nome sort—asarcward, If Winny tad even scoided viciously or cricd, it would have given rchsh totkedinver. But she kissed him on either check, with the saine decorous little peck which she had given him sinco their wedding flowers. e yon are quite chilly, dear,” sho said. “It really fcelalike frost, Any news to-day for your little wife?” Mr. Welch replied no, that there was no nows, and that it did feel like frost very’ much indoed. lo was _ gravo, courteous man, mindful of the feolines of others habitually; the vagabond blood within that drove him to “riotous living or swino” had needed stroug temptation to bring it out—it ran through depths which Winifred bad novor sounded, Hoe took up the paperand began to read, She had laid the paper thero for. bim to read; yet her heart wrenched ber with a sharp pang as be did it. Ho must know how bitter his neglect bad been to her. If he loved her, ho would have sumo word of apology—some 1.ttlo sign that be did know, and waa worry; but sho mudo no sign—took out her tatting (she always tatied in the parlor; it was such a nice feminine sort of work), and gave little chirping answers to the bits of information about tho Noss case or church ecandala which he read aloud. “Tam so thanktul," she said at last, “that my childhood was passed in a village whoro those new-faxhioned idens of *aflinities’ and divorce wero never heard of. Almost every woman in Springville was a member of tho Church. You remember, dear?” - “Oh, yes, I remember them,” drily. ''Thoy were insured to dwell in decencies forovor, uu- doubtedly.” Little Mra. Welch's benrt was full, It waa in Springville that John had courted and married her, Had he forgotten? Tho way of living there waa so orderly and pious," Blio ebattered on, ‘ When two young people wero engaged they were looked upon as ¢ almost married, 1 noyer knew an eugagement broken in Springville: and nas for a marriage! husbands and wives grew old togethor without = jarring word. ‘The only couple who over dis- reed was Sims, the drunken cobbler, aud his mate A veritablo Acadia,” raid Mr. We “*Come ; dinuer is served, my dear. It bad beeu his habit whon they were firet mar- tied to fondly require an account frown her at night of every minuto of tha day. ‘The poor tittle woman, in her auxiety to cuter- baiu him, began to give tt now as usual. “You. don't ask what your ‘little busy beo’ bas douo to-day to ‘improve the winning hous,’ dear?” 4 “Teball bo very glad tohear, But, Winifred, sould you not rid yourself of that habit of ninking trite quotations? A quotation should have novelty and wit to pive it edge, aud really you havo worn Watts’ hynins threadbare,” Thero was a sudden choking in his wifo’s throat, Sho half rove to hor teat: the flood of yassionate reproachos which ad tilled hor beart ro long trembled on hor lips. If she bad ut- tered them, Johu Welch wonld at least havo known the woman who was hia wife, and this history veed never have been written. But fpningvillo discipline was on hor yot; hor old Sunday-echool rites of behavior roae imme- diately ta her mind. Sho eat down again, and broken bit of bread with shaking fingers. *Teball remember,” she said with a ect smile, “1 was going, howevor, to tell you about the day. I went to market’ by dawi, I wanted to he sure of the butter. ‘Chat ia verv good buttor, Ithink. After breakfast I canned» bushel of peaches; at 121 xat dovn to read Groto's * His. tory of Greoce.’ (ati! give an hour to this poor hittle mind of mino, you seo.) ‘Tun I sowed until 3, aud went ont shopping until 5.” “You miust be conscious of an approviug-con- science and a smiling heaven after auch a record, How do you propoxe to end the day 7” “T thought—as you are at homu—T am so glad you came home, Jobu,” luying her band tituidly On hin arm, “Yes, yeu. All do with tho evening Now Sire. Winifred’s brain was dull, and her werves Isy deep under the firm, well-rezulnted ferh. But she bogan to feel, with n sudden weak senso of _intecurity in tue world, and oven in God, that her hold oa her husband was gone; that her efforts at entertainment wero tedious tohim, She must givo him woclety, something moro stimulating than her homo gossip. “Shall we go down to Mrs, Jackson's?" sho ventured, ‘The church sewing-sociely meots $here, and several of the gentlemen will drop in after ten.” Mr. Welch did not repty for a minuto or two. Then he said kindly, * Lrhall take you down to mect your friends, Winifred, and call for you when it is time to come home. “You will aot come? You do not think the peuple there congenial?” witha qaiekened tone, **T did not say so,” calmly, “Tthonghta lktls gavety would round the day, There is no reanon why ovory day should wet bo complete tor uy. Phers is uo reavon why our live should not be completes and hap- yy” Little Mrs, Welch stood up, her colfec-cup [: hor hand. For tho first time in his life, ler usbaud aaw ber chubby face utterly pallid; hor hand shook sv that the fragile cup fell, aad was shattered into pieces, Jolin saw thot she id not even glance down at it, Mer Minton ware, too—her china fdol! Winifred'a naturo must be pierced to tho coro, he thought, Now that the crisia had como he flinched from it. “J know uo reavon why wo khonld not be bappy. Ido not think I fil inany duty, Winl- fred, and 1 am quite sure you do not," Mrs, Wolch did uot answer, When thoy passed out tuto the hull phe went up tho stairs, leaving him to go Isto the library alone, He heard her goiuto her own room and lock tho dour, mia btopped appalled 5 this quiet action wag aa t su outrosk from her as shrieks or hyst cries would have boon from uny other wes 1, Lut what was to be dove? We paced uy i: down the library tloor, an unlighted cigar 10 tue moutu, What could he tell her? She had “failed in po einglo point. Sho was the same retty, neat, pious little woman whuin he usd loved so fondly two yoars, one year ago. Ue had been reared in as strict conventional habltw as che; love and marnogo with her were Ich gravely, What aro vou going to eae contd he explain to hor the andden disgust which: had grown upon him with the small deceacies, the terrible deeorous monotony by which their liven wera he.lgod and barced ? “A man nvust have yent fer hin vagabond impalsex, must “wow hia wild oats” early or late in life, he thought, crumbling bis cigar, aad Singing it im the nre. Bat he wae sowing no wild cata! ‘There wan no crime in hia finding » coupanion,—a friend who could share jus tastes, go with him oulside of the narrow litzte bounds with which hin wife's idens held him as inacage. He her- itated, then put on his hat, and with o quick glance at tho mirror in the hat-rack, wont out. Meanwhile, Mes. Welch, while other heroines would havo been bathed in tears, was loo'ing at tho matter quictiy. After all, John bad dono nothing but absent himesl€ from homo mors and = more cach — we he had simply grown cold to hor. It might havo boon ennsed by @ tight place in business, a tit of indi- gestion. There was no other woman in tho eave, If thera had been auvther woman! Sho got up and stood quite stiilin the middto of the room. ‘There was a tap at the door, “A note, ma'am,” said tie chambermaid. The note was from her friond Mra. Maco, Vico-Presi- dent and © cutter-out” with bersolf in the sew- ing-society. Mrs. Mace wanted a pattern of n now over- Sho had ** seen one un Mrs, Voysey, who ing at tho Hoopers', and thought, as h waseo partiular o friond of hers, you might he intimate enough with her to borrow it, By the way, what a good, unseliish oreaturo you ate ,to alloy Mr. W— to be so fuithsul a friond to her. I oan them gomg due on ono of their oxcursions autumn leaves to tho woods this morning. aud thought, Why is not doar Winny of that party ? Surely sho enjuys feewh ai and autumn leaves as wellas they! But you, busy little houyekeep- or, were or prexorving, no doubs! Don't estry your scil-donial too tar, though, dear, Go with them to the opera to-morrow night.” Winifred les the paper fall. “Joun! My lite. band! ‘To the wouds—ana opora—ith 3 wow- an! It's a lie! a lie!" She picked up the letter, aud tore it iuto pieces in her white heat of rage. ‘Then she sat down, according to her habit, to “thik it over quiotly.” Wheu John Wolch camo home about midnight he fonnd lis wife in Jenny's room, leaving over her crib with medicines and bath-tubs in readi now, “Sho haa been threatened with croq she satd, without looking up, She bad thought it over enough to know tant it was true. ‘The explanation was enough to acconnt for blue lips und hollow eyes. Ha touk up the baby's hand aud kissed it. ‘Call mo if Lam needed,” ho said, going sleepile to bed. But when he was there ho could not sleep. Miss Voysoy had gone with him to hunt minerals. “So dificront trom Winny, who called oveu my specimens of corundum aud beryl ‘ stones.’ ‘Thov might ax woll be bits of a MacAdsm turn- pike for her!” Luura Vovecy was keen-eved aga lynx looking for minerals, aud simple, frank ass child im her maunor and talk, © She has gen humor too, which women always lack,” thought. But it certainly was not the quartz she had fonnd, nor her jokes, which made him toss slocplessly over poor Wiuny's oraidod pillow covers huif of the might. Jt was a word or two in a ballad she bad eung, a piteous little thing in a minor koy ; it wasa burning heat that rose to ber face as he took her band to help her inte the ine he car this morning, and the territied glance at him cst he had scen it. “She is just hke a child,” he muttered, ‘ qnite unable to conceal hor emotions, yot doubtless with the emotions of a woman,” CHAPTER Il. Mr. Welch breakfastod alone the next morn- j ing. Ile wife, the servant reported, Lad fallen adieop after her long walk. Wnou le camo home in the evening le found a note from ber, saying that as the child still seemed ailing, sls had determined to take it up to Bethlehem, for purer gir, and wight romain there a day or two. ‘The nurso was with ber, and they would board at tho old Sun Ho:el and bo very comfortable ; and she wae his vory hastily, Winny. Jobn Wolch changed color. ‘Gone without consulting me, without saying good-by!" Why, but a little while ago she would not go out for an hour without kissing him and ywhia- pering, ‘“*God blees you, dear." She was sick # loving, devout little thing! It gavo lim a wrench in some part of bis nature, which Mias Voysoy had uot reached, for her to neglect him. Yet at was conyenlent for herto bo ont of town to-mght. In that case nobody could take exception to his joinmg the Hvuoper party at the opera. He wont to dress ina nervous flut- ter. ‘Tho opera, and even tho evening dress, was s novelty to tho ataid, church-gomg busi- ness man. Ho was going to study this young girl's nature, too, asa mere intollectuil enjoy- ment; she was alone, unappreciated by her fam- ily, be knew from chance words’ she had dropped: he could give hor at least a silent, tonder sympathy. ‘lho white gloves and delicats necktie were adjusted at fast, and he took bis way to the Hoopers'’. Afcer he had crossed the street a little black ficure, wrapped ina wator- proof, darted out of the door and followed him ja the shadow, Jonny and the nurse wore asleep in tho old Dutch hotel at Bethichom, but Jenny's mother had been hiddon all day in the garret, “Hello! Juss in timo, Welch.” criol Major Hooper, a8 he camo into the bri:tiautly-lightod parlor, ‘Mra. Woleh pot cominz? Ont of town? Tgo bad. Well, you and Jaura can diz cuss your rocks undiaturbed. Laura has the houdache too, poor child,” ‘Tho windows, contrary to Phitadelphis 1wage, were open, and Winny could seo the tall, rounded figuro half-reclining on the sofa, the white farr closk suffering the soft neck and shoulders gleam into light, Aliss Voysoy wus not s baauti- ful woman, but her oyes, tender and liquid, looked into every man's faco as though lie were the only living being she could trust, and after that a thick nose or heavy jaw mattered little. John Weleb, drawing civser to her and meeting this look with the hazy effect. of jhalf-barod bosom, showy silk, ond warg hand outstretched, folt as though he were about to drink Homo un- known wine, whose fumes had already intoxi- cated him, A couple of policemen going by brushed against a small cloaked figure on tho other sido of tho way, Oueof thein touched heron the back. ‘You'd best move on, Molly,” le said. “You're mistaken, Joe.” said the other; that’s a decont woman, Curious, like her sex, to loolt at the quality.” Winitred Welch had thought nothing could hurt hor after last wight; but tho tonch of the policeman's finger seemed to burn iuto her flesh, Siuco she was born sho was in tho very grain to- apoctabts, Sho who sat in the front rank of du- vout Bunday-school teachers, dodging in dis- Bhise about alleys at nicht! She looked at tho alluring, luoso-litmbed Mies Voysey with the ia- tonso bate which ouly narrow goodness can feel, wIcis aku that has brought mo to this,” sho muttored, and determined she shonld pay tho debt of shame with interast. Sho meant to ful- low her husband to the Academy of Mu- nic,’ watch him, prove his guilt, if eult there was, and guilty or nat, ring him bacs. Winny lookedat hier tival with the oyed of jenlousy ; ane seemed irresistible to her as Cloopatra ; sho knew herself to bo little, forinal, wtif, even prizgisb, * Gat Lam not al- tozether a Sunday-seliool machine! You do nob. know the woman you married,” ber eyos fixed on her husband. Misa Voysoy did not go to tho opera, however, Tho window behind ber was open, and the moon shone into the garden, She looked out dreamily as John talked to her, and interrupted him sud’ lenly; “Is not this moonlight botter than tho rod aud blue blazes from behind the weoucy? Do you toally want toseo Don Juau drazged down ® tiap-door into hell? Tho wind through these treos is sweeter than any mugic,” ina ball whisper. “ Now, Laura," cried Mrs. Yooper, * After all the trouble the Major had to jet a good box! ‘Yo want to stay and look at tho back yard! ‘The Lact yard will be there to-morrow,” * Would you really prefer to stay?” usked Mr, Welch, gently. “Oh, no!” ring with a resigned elgh, “I shall go if aunt ineiats on it.” “Now, Laury, if your head aches, child, stay athome,” said tue Major positively. “Come, aveth.” lio awept his wife out of the room, while br. Welch, forgotton in the excitement, dropped tuto » chalr beside Laura, She souk back with a slow, contented emilo, “T havo stayed," he said anxiously, and per haps you—you would rather bo alone?" * Pam alone when you arowithme, ‘That is, 1 am uot conscious of anything different to myself, When I talk to you Lonly think aloud,” hfting ber eyes and resting thom on his, Mr, Wolch moved on his seat uncasily, This was @ delicious, ttranga exporience. Why had he never had a friend beforo? In his courtship with Winuy, what) with her shy blushes and modesty, thore bad boen none of this frank comninion of soul with soul, this instinct of oneness, Thera was aw tony silence. Her languor, her quiet, had a strane charm after tho Lrilliant madcap moods of fun iu which he knew hor bast. Shoe drow a long breath at last, The air is stitting to-night, and the trees have no scent of the forest in them. T wish" sho pansed, “Lknow what you wish! You have the woods home-nekness upon you, Wo can at least go out where the air is pure, and Nature ja eft une distuibed. Come, wrap yourself more warmly, We are but a few stops from a secluded apot in ® natural groove for his life to run intv. Low | the park, end, if you will, I wilt take you out on, tho river—if you will trust youreolf with mo.” . She etood s moment bepding forward aud looking up at him. Certainty naver yaaa amilo Mera innocent or swecter than Laura's." Yes," eho whiapered. pausing betweou cach word, ¢L will trust myself with you.” ‘To Mra, Welch tho smile did not appear oxo intotieating, perhaps. sa to her husband. She raw, tov, that the black laco about the mantle which she put on throw into strouger relief tho tender oyer, tho whito,throat. ** But it is not hor art that atteacts him; it is hor frankness,” whe said Iittorly, Bhe followed them up the stroet Into tho park, dowa one dusky alloy of trees after another, John Welch walked as in a droam, yot he had reason enough left to compare this giel with his wife, She hal not Winny's beauty nor even in- tolligence; but sho was so transparent, Ro guile- Tees. It was the virginal quality in every look and word that entranced bim, Hor abaolito innocence mao her perhaps too often. in her words walk boldly whore angele would fear to tread. ‘Vhoy came at Inet to an utterly dererted spot, whero the heavily-wooled bank ‘sloped down to the broad river. ‘Tho muon shone on the further bank, Laura sat down upon @ bench under a tree, and Jotin ntood leauimg on the trunk look- ing down at her. “Tt is os lonely aa Paradise mast have boon,” snid she, “when there was but the mater al tie wood, and tho man and the woman to- ether,” : How could she suggest such thoughts excopt in tho very recklesaness of childhood? “T Adam and you my Eve," bo raid, with an uneasy amile, drawing bt oath quicker, Sho nodded gavy. “They were the firat friencts, and you—" «Am [ your first friend?” engorly. “Young girls have so many tutimacies—tlirtations! Oh, Is it possible? [ cannut lope for that."” “Yes,” sho paid, with awweet gravity. “You are tho firat—tho only one L ever had. I have lived such a jonely life; loucly life; I have beon kept acbild by my mothor, in ntter eceluaion. She is a widow, you know.” “No, 1 did not know, I know nothing of your past life, or of you, except that—tbat—." Ife stopped, swallowing enco or twice as if chok- ing. Then ho gently moved her mantle avide, and sat down at hor side, 'T am afraid,” he enid at Inst, ‘that whon you see mote of the world L will appoar too—too old to your friend,” *Youdo not seont old to mo. How vould you?” sho murmured. “ We live so solitary a life in the country, that I roally have sceu nomen exeept tho old clergyman and Maj, Hooper, and then—you. It seomed natural that you should be my friend. You will be my friend 2" looking with a start of alarm. ‘The noon shone on her face. He did not speak ; bor warm breath reachod his cheek, He found her suft hand, which was hid noder the mantlo. “Laura,” he said. ‘They were both silent. ‘Then lis head slowly bent closer; her brosth cama hot aud quick, aud thar bps met. Thero was a anddencrash behind them of a broken bough. Mire Voysoy gave a little ebriok. “Tt iss squirrel, doubters,” gaid John Walch, riviag quicaly, “Busit'’s growing late, Shall We go home?” She rose moro slowly, and walked he- cide ‘hina, Ho was strangely nilont, and did not offer her hin arm. Was the first taato of the wing bitter or tow sweet ? He parted from her, almost without a word, at 3[aj. Hooper's door, CHAPTER til, John Welch rose boggard and pale the next morning. All day a mad intoxication carze upon himat times as a drunkard who must diain the just tasted cup or die. ‘Thon thero were times when he raged at Winifred’s absence, and felt thatif she were at bome be would waken into daylight out of » bad dream. Maj. Hooper met him jost at nightfall, and told him Miss Voyeoy had yous home, suddenly summoned by her mother. Then hoe painted her in bis feverish visious, framcd in a lonely cottage, a very hermitage, overgrown by _ rosea, in a deep forest, with no companion but her mother, a pure, ssintly woman, Two days afterward he received a note from his wife, ‘I have loft the town and taken lodging ina country inn,” she sad. Will you hot come up and spend Sunday with Jenny and ano?" giving minut directions how to find her, Sanday, and bis little girl, and biw wife! Johu Welch's face stddenly lightened, and ho drove tho clerks about energetically to make time for him to go. Early Ssturday mormog ho got out of a Jorney wagon at the door of a tawdry-looling house on the roadside,—a wagon stand, before which « cart, ono or two buggies, driven by Jaunty voung fellows, had stopped. *'1t is avery depot for heat, and flies, 2ud vulgarity," ho sald to him- self, making bis way through the bar, where a red-faced young man was pouring out anplojack, to a6& by 12 purior, gay with red and greon carpets and strined paper, and a» dozen colored photographs susponded by window- cord. “* What can have porsoseed Winifred to come to such # placo? Is Mre. Welch here?” ho asked aloud, of a blowsy’old woman in a black dzeas, much the worse for gravy drippings aud snug, “Yeu, Sho has walked out to the woods, You are Mr, Wolch, I suppare ?” John bowed. There was something familiar inher face; familiar a3 though a lovely dream had been converted into a frightful nightmare, “Tom Mrs, Voyeev, Laucy!" screaming up tho stairs. ‘My danghter and you are old friends, Mrs. Welch tells me.” “Your daughter! Lau!” For it wae Lsura who. crossing the porch, in one of those trailing, beltless, ditty calico gowns uffected by chambermaids, hor hair—why had he never seea how conrse and greasy it was ?— uncombed and tumbling down her neck. One of tha young men from the bng- gy waa chasing her up thostairs. “Tear, Loury, yon’ve got todo it, now! T’ll pay donbie for the achat, rs, Voysey, if Loi] will sweeten it with ® kee.” “Got away with you, Bill Rowo! -Thero youn, people aro full of their fuu, Mfr. Welch,” pai Mra. Voysey. ‘ Why, Laura, what ails you?” Bl Rowo bad gainod his kisa with but. stight resivtance and plenty of giggling from Lavra, when she turned and saw Mr. Welch. She hesi- tated a momout, but could vot fall into hor old role expertly enough, and, with abalf sob and a barmaid toes of the head, she left the room. ‘I'm xo glad,” tho old woman said, hurriedy, ‘that Laury has made auch agreoable friends in town as youl and Mrs. Welch. Sho always hal a good deal of capacity, Lanry had, but tloce her misfortune the young mon make free with her, and it's smiling her mauuers.” “What was her misfortune ?" said John Welch. Ho leaned, sick and cold, againat tho wall, “Why, since bor hasbaud left her. Thera he gocs now, drunken acamp, down tho Toad. Always prowling about to aunoy her aud me. “T did not know that Miss Voysey had # hus- band,” with o laogh wunaturally loud, Mre. Voysoy raided ber bands. “Bless my soul, I forgot! Maj, Hoopor—he's my first cougiv, you know—said he'd just introduce Lau- ry in town as Miss Voysey. It might keop off unpleasant remarke.” “I—T understand, Where ia my wifo?" To horried down tho road aud found Winny, ina holt white wrapper, somewhere under the troos withJouny, Hethought he never had seen a picture 60 pure, and tender, and lovely, Mra. Welch meant it sould bo; she had ‘set the stoga" for herelf, if not for Laura. “TI have come to bring you bome,” ho anid, clasping her in bis arms. You't you gu inte the Voysey House, dear?” “Vve bad enough of tho Voysey Houge,” ho said with au oath, aud then laughed » hearty, genuine laugh, "Como, Winny, lot's fe home to decent ways and deceut women, You too, baby,” toxsing Jenny in the air, ‘God bloss you two little women,” + Jobn Welch found 2 curious change in ono of the little women after that. Mer stiff. neat habits and ideas had dropped from her as too tight a garment, and below was s different cran+ ture from his wifo, more willful, more passionate, and much more lovable. He found her a difti- cult companion for a while, and had to woo aud win her all over sgaiu. He never knew what had changod ler temper or wave of thought. It could nut ba the graco of God; according to orthodox doctrinos, it was more like the work of thedevil, But it certuuly was schange yory much for the batter, mis eae SONG BY SWINBURNE, [Mr. Swinburne tas written a little eong which 4 dwoat Aune Page" stoge ut the Gaiety Thestre, Lon- don, where the © Merey Wives of Windsor” ie the piny, ‘Dow fy the cong 2) Love laid his sleepless head Ona thorny rose bed ; Atul his exes with teare were red, Aud pate bis lips as the dead, Aud fear, aud sorrow, snd scorn, Kevt wateh by bie bead forlora, ‘Tilt tho might waa overworn, And the world was merry with morn, And Joy came up with the day, ‘Aud klésed Love's ipa a be lays Aud the watchers, ghoutly ond gray, Fied from his pillow away, And bis eyes at the di tow bright Aud his lipe wazed ruddytas gue? Scrrow may reign for a night, Gat day aball bring back bt, THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1875.--TWELVE PAGES. THE VARY AND GARDEN. A Desire far Western Peaplo to Mrko tomes in Missiansippl.jrhe Adnpted to White Labora’ from Chienge to the South—sheope Musbandry—Gardening—The Were Plant—Sagar in the Upinida. From Our Aarieultural Corresranstenty. Misstastrrt, Jan, 2.—Sinee arriving in the Btate of Minsiasippi. Thave seon much of tha country, and very freoly niingled with hor poople. On the subject of immigration, there is but one opinion, and that 1p, to invito all good, induatri- ous people to come hero and to make thom homes, Tho climate is dolightful, the soil among the richest, and may be had from $5 to $30 por acre, according to location and improve- ments. A faim within 2 mites of Jackson was showr mo, of 200 acres, ovor half under tho plow, with n good dwelling, gin-house and gin, and other improvomonts,—all for $1,509 cash, to close wp an cstate. It may bo eaid that tho WHOLE STATR 13 FOR SALE Ataroasonablo price. The farmor who comes hore may rent for a year, or hecan purchase at ‘once 40 or moro acres, au his purse and taste may dictate, Thore are already hero, and constantly coming in, familics from the East, who aro set> tling down to farming; snd these pceoplo as- sire me that they have been vory kinily re- ceived. There may have been, and yet continue, Awort of socinl ostraciam; but I suspect that it 18 a8 much or more on the part of the new-comor than of tho native Mississippian. It was but Yesterday thats planter told me that many of the now-comers appeared rather unsocial. ‘I do not think that necd stand in the way in the lenat, an, in all the towns, and throughout the country, one meets with large numbers of people from tho otuer States, who havo come here ja hopes of improving their condition. A fow of these have thrust themsclyes iute office, and of theue some are bad men, nodoubt. It issnid that Gov. Ames came here in tho interoat of the OLD REPUDIATED BONDS; but, whether true or not, it ia not pobable that those bonds will bo paid. In the first place, they amounted to $3,000,000, and the money was loaned to tho old planters for the purchase of slaves. These havo boen lost, and now tant tho dobt, with its accumulated interest, has run up torumo 210,000,000, no ona is disposed to pay. it is reported here that Gon, Butlor, the father- in-law of Ames, holds $3,000,000 of those bonds, Of the justico of the debt beyond tls, 1 know nothing ; but it docs not look sa though the State will assume it. Aside from this, the State dobt is nut large, and taxes aro light as com- pared to most parts of Ilinoig, Three.por cent is the highest statemont that I have acon, and farm-lands sre listed at $5 to £10 per acre, mak- ing from 10 to 15 centw nn acto tax. Of courao, this is heayy on plantations of 5,900 to 10,000 acres, that are now lying idle, as*is vory often tho case. ‘The tonant-farmer may come hero and at once buy 40 acrea of laud, aud this own hia own hone. Ho cau got cleared or forest lands, or part of both, as ho may oboone ; if hill fand, or bottom land that does not overflow. Among the treed:nen, one mulo ia sod for plowing ani euitivating cotton; but many of the Northern people ase a double team for the plowing, and, iu most casos, are doubling theyield, Tho negro is satisfied with half a balo of cotton to the acre, but tho while farmer is not content with lows thau a full bale, ant often makes more, L have plenty of evidoncs that the average white man will GROW MONE COTTON AND CORN than the negro, ang that he can work day in and day out on the plantation, and auffer no moro from the heat of the climate. In the timo of Slavery there was a class of indolent whites who contended that no white man could stand it to work in this climato, and that class depended maialyon hunting and ‘ishing,—the hunting boing mainly of slaves who had taken to tho bush. Duta largo part of thia class have concluded ta go to work, and they make very good railrond-hands; and some of them have gone to farming, and others drifted into othor induatries, such as selling whisky, and keoping what are facetiousty called hotels, Mules cost from $150 to $200 ench, and aro not plonty at that. The parties cuming here had botter bring their teas aud implements with them. Co:mand cotton ato planted by band, andasyot Ihave uot seen & corm or cotton planter, a3 all of the cotton and corn are tlanted on ridges thrown up by the plow, 1 have not found «a planter ‘to give any good reason for this, only that, in a wet season, the crops may be worked sooner afters heavy rain- fall, But Dam inclined to the opinion that flat culture, as with us, may be adopted to advantaga when planters and sulky plows may bo used. A white man and ono nogro baad usnally put in 25 acres of cotton and about 15 of corn. ‘Tho corn laud ig ofton fertilized with cottou- seod. Vor this puroose two mules are required. In this couse, 40 acres make up the farm; but the Western man wilt have hia own pasture and meadow, and will not be content with fess than 82 acres, and this will make a good farm for a small family, requiring tho labor of two per~ sous, In the southern part of the Stato, ently vogotables and fruits. What thia Btato noods if capital, and active mon to put it to wae. Vo ncertain oxtent, negro Inbor fa valuable ; but, in all cases, it UST RE DINECTED. Ho tong has this boen-tho practicn that the habit capnot bo rhaken of; and the froedmat, whother a tenant or a day-Iaboror, cannot bo loft to himself. Natorally indotent aud tmprovident, ho seldom looks forward to results, As I havo Vefaro wtated, his wi aro low,—#10 to B12 te month, with « pock of meal and 4 pounda of bacon a week, ‘Thero Is little chance of his bo- ing ablo to buy a mile at $175 or $200, much lors to purcliase 210 acros of Innd. If he {8 vory industrious, ho may make ten bales of cotton on sharon, of which ono-half is bis, say at @:)00. On of this ho munt pay half of the foed for the mute, GOOD CROPS OF SUGAT AND RICE are grown on tho upland. ‘I'he ratoon or seed cane for an acre costs 225; manuro, say $10 0 year; and tho crop is worked up for one-fourth ofthe sugar and molasses. Tho sugar-cane is planted every fourth year, and ita culture ts as simple as that of corn, Many of the river-bottoms are no doubt un- healthy for the white man, and I would advise allsuch to make their homes on the upland, whore they will have no difiiculty of the kind, Gradually the frecdmon will go to the river bottom-lanis, for these lands aro very rich, sud will produce more abundantly, and the nogrocs suffer less from ague and fever, and aro lous ane noyed by the mosquitoes, which oro not trouble- some on the upland. To tho tenant-farmor of the Northwoat, this State offorsacheap and desirable Lomo, and, with sufticiont means for ronting a prairie farm, ho will be enabled to own one era, ‘Then the small farmer, with o lsrgo family of boys, can HOON NECOME INDEPENDENT. OF courae, no farmer who is comfortably off should think of loaving for any new country ; but, among our Westera farmers, there aro many utruggling undera heavy load of dobt, and to those a change ia often desirable, They may at first be in want of many things to which they aro acoustomed; but those thinga will como i good = time, and, with tho mild, gonial climate, aud ready markets, they cannot fal of boing pleased. It in true that, in somo respects, the modes of culture ara new; but, in tima, they must to a great extent sasimilate to those of tho North, {tis not long sinco wo had quite ag primitive modes of culture as is now ths ordor of the day here; yet thoreis no reason why the change may not be made. It ia within my recollection that 25 acrew of corn waa a fair average crop per hand; now it is not luss than 40. 1 do nat bolievo that the Western farmer will be content to grow 10 acros to the hand, 1f fet culture, with our improved im- plements, is a failure, ho will saon demonatrate that fact ; but I havo no feare of such a result. Sinco the completion of the all-rail route via tho Illinois Coutral, and the New Orleana, St. Louls & Chicago Nailroads, a SEW CONDITION OF THINGS has becn inaugurated, and thero is a growing disposition to take advautago of it, A joint tariff of those two trunk lines want into opera- tion about the Ist of Decomber, and now bacon, coin, hay, and all Weatern products, aro sent to New Ortoaué almost as cheap as to New York and Boston. ‘hat the great bul of the cotton Of this State must go East via this Northern route, ia quita apparent; at least, the compe- tition will be close between all-rail and the At- lontic, 1am writing this at a point 105 milca north of New Orleans, and there is now an agent of tho Eastern manufacturers making arrange. mente to compress cotton for shipment in boxe cars, all rail, direct to the mills without chango of cara; and bis present opiuion ia, that it will 0 to Cairo, thence to Chicago, and Eaut to At- feutto ports or mauufactories, He says thet is ta tho cheapest route, and will mako a large saving in time and insurance, Hero cotton is ehipped on flat cars, and ex- posed to the sparku of every passing eugine, Forty bales, of 500 pounds each, make a car-load, If these bales sre compressed ono-halt, thoy may be put inside of a common box-car, making a load of 10 tons, A commercial bale of cotton 4 400 pounds, but the common practico is to put up 500 pounds, a4 the charges aro by tho bale, without regard to weirht, ‘The planiers along this line of road have been in the pabit of getting their supplies at New Orleans; but thie new joit tari cannot Jail of MAKING 4 OMANGE, Ty this tariff, a ton of hay is shipped from Chi- cago to this placo for $10.60 a ton, and in larg Jots at even lews rates. But bay purchased in Now Orleans and shipped here costs $45 a ton, Adding $20 a ton in Chicago, the cost would be $340 a ton in favor of the latter place, A itike difference would ad in regard to meats, flour, moal, baygiug, apricuttigel impluments, and other foods of tho West. ‘I'he cars that bring these oods South can return cotton, augar, rico, cof. foe, gad othor products of the South ; aud {twill not be long before these will bem large trade in half of the ginning aud valing, and feed his fam- ily, Uf ig pute mn 6 or 1) eros of corn, he will make £50 to $100 more. Tho plantor who lias no motey must pay a high rate for his supplies, and 2!{ per cout a month forthe adyanco, and givo a mortgago on his Innd or crops forthe dovt; and, when tha ac- count 19 balanced, ho bas little loft between him aud his help, THE GREAT DRAWAACK 5 isin tho want of care and superintendonce, 9 canontial as before stated. Fow of the sons of tho plantors ara dixposed to follow planting, and niout prefer somo profession or idletieas, and tho result is & general Ktaxnation of business, While Slavery was very profitable, it engondered habits of proiligacy and idleness, that became o fixed that it will require many generations to correct them. Allof these things give the Northern man tho advaulage in the apbuilding of the fortunes of the South. No countzy fike thia can be long neglected, for the band of industry aid thrift will saon reatore it to ita propor standing. Cheap lands, cheap Invor, aud cheap treights, aro great factora in tho erection of new homey; and now thexo are within roach. A few days sino, [ was on a plantation of somo 2,000 actes, that, betore the War, nad pro- duced a princely rovenuo; aud yet the butter on tha tabio came fiom the North, at a cost of 57 conta & pound. The corn bread was also grown at the North, ‘I'he whole plantation was in A BEATE OF DECAY, and young pine-treos were filling tho old eotton- folds, The cows browsed im tho caue-brakos, and came up to be milked semi-occasioually, searecly producing nuli for use, to say nuthiag of butter, Cus thus paatured are feds stall quantity of cotton-seed tn addition, but tho but- torisuuflt for uso, ‘Tho Northern farmers, as they come hore, provido for pasturage, aud man: of them have their padture-flolds fuclosed, aud make good butter, and have plenty of rich milk, The hotels are supplicd by these people at 40 conte a gallon, BENMUDA GRass is the bino-grass of tho South, and makes a most excolleut pasturage. A planter near Jackson has 950 acres of this grass inclosed, and 16 get- tiug up a tlock of 1,000 sheep. He had urchased §=300 up to the time of ( hin leaving, at $1.60 to £22 per hend, and hia shephord was to got the remainder within « few days. Nohay would need be cut for thom, as the pasturage is constant the entire vear, I will venture to say that, for sheep-husbandry, thoro in no bettor State in the Union. Blany old plant- ors Lave sasured me that, in onte-belium timos, no better wool or mutton could be found than that produced on the postures of this Bormuds geass. Anothor planter haa 100 lend of cattle uoW pasturing on this same kind of grass, that lias overran the old, sbandoued cotton-ilelds in his neighborhood; onde ssys that he never saw stock do better, ‘Thero are many thonsandsof acres of land that may bo had at $2 por acre in lerge lots. ‘1heso jauds are mostly mortgaged, and must be sold to Pay these mortgages. ‘To-day I conversed with a small farmer, who had been for thirty years on a sugar plantation, but for the pat five yours » resident of the piny woods, abous 25 miles south of this point, In 1872 be planted 2 acres to BUGAR-CANE, and, in the season of 1873, mado 600 gallons of sirup to the acre ; and, though the year 1874 had been a severe ono ou account of the drought, ho had mode 250 gallons from the acre, This sirup was worth 73 cents per gallon, as it was it waa the jurce of tho cane just ag it came from the press. Shis gentleman thinks that sugar can bo profitably mado on this class of upland, provided that the farmer could have tho proper apparatus for making thosugar; but that the common open pan only made an inferior sugar, and it was more profitablo, iu tho absence of yacuum pans and contrifugala, to make tho crop intosirap, ‘Ibis looks very reasouable, and is perhaps nearer tho truth than statements mado me that sugar could be profitably made in opon pana, o8 we at the Wost boil sorghum or the sap of the maplo, The Price of sugar made in open pana may bo 6 cents, while that in yacuum pans will bring 10 cents, ‘This is an important difference, Cuorequa, Migs., Jan. 1.—Tho day bas been rainy, at loast the latter part of it, In the morning I spont somo houra with tho YATULR BEDEMPTORISTS, aschool for tho Catholic clergy. ‘The school is Dow ong, of only three years’ atanding, and has eight advanced students and about twenty just entered, ‘Tho institution is located on the bluffs of tho Tongapehe Liver, about 1 milo from thedcpot, Te selection waa was made on ac- count of the sslubrity of tho climste, being out of the reach of the miasma of the river-bottoms. Soveral gepticemen of Naw Orleans bave summor- residonces hera; among thom, Col. Gordon, a Director of the Now Orleans, St. Louis & Chi- esgo Nailroad, to whom I am indobted for tho visit to the Fathors. It,has always beon one of the first things to havo attrition by the Catholic missionary, to produce the food for the mission; and among the aide in that direction is the vegotable-gardon, Jo this they becoma practical toschors, ‘The lay brothers have charge of this part of the work, under the direction of tho Superior. In the first placo, wo visited tho vinoyard, which contains over 2 acres, in which are both European and native grapes. Over fifty varic~ ties are on trial, but it is probable that the Sane pernong will be the one prape for goneral cul- turo, and that nearly ali the others will have to giro it place. In the vegetable garden, we nota eabbage, turoips, caulitlower, color, Brussels sprouts, fottuce, spiuach, onions, feels, atc., from which the family draw daily suppiles. The atrawberry-beds aro just beginning to bloom. Peas have boon planted, but are not up; aud Ivigh potatoos and uweot corm sio not planted uniil the ground warms up, about tho Ist of Vebruary, a8 the soil is naturally a cold-retent- iyeoue, and {t is better to wait uutil the air be- comes more gonial. In the orchard are apple, pear, and peach, all of which look thrifty, but are yet too young to produce much of # crop, though now showing fruit-buda. Ove small rose was in bloom,—tho tiret that I have seen in tho oven ground. The Mespilus plunt was juat be- inning to show its white blossoms, These fathers have shown that vegetablos mir begrown cheaply and abundantly ; but, os at the North, stable-mauure is quite casential, The cows on tho placo aro the common breed, and are consid- ered ag valuable ag Jersoya or Downs, ‘They are fed slops, au with us, and give good rich mulk, from which tho family mako butter for thoir use, They also make their own pork, In the grounds of Col, Gordon is A TEA-TREE in perfect health, somo 6 fect high. The family uso the leaves for tea, ‘his is probably about tho northorn limit of this plant, asit is an ever- green, lke tho live-oak and faurel,—the leat somewhat resembling the former, being a to 244 inches long, and of a deep green color, The orange ia not quite hardy on these bills, but is found a few milea to the south. This place, though in the piny woods, has been ‘eroded by water xo ab to presont a very hilly appoarance, and the sandatone cropy out in some instances near the top, and, like mout aandutooe forma- tons, affords springs of oxcellent soft wator, One of the aprings, ins deep valley, has boon dammed, and is to bo supplied with lake-trout and bass from Now York ‘The valleys are filled with magnolias, some of thom 3 feet in diameter ; on the hills are pine, oak, hickory, gnm, and besch, though the latter ix taoro nbundaut in the bottoms. A little more than half a mile from {the depot ia a Catholic school for young ladios, iu charge of tho Sistera of Notre Daine. Reman, ——--— WHY? Why camo the rose? Becauso the aun, in shining, Found in the mold some atoms rare aud O08; And atooplug, drew and warmed them into gtowing,— Dust, with tho spirit’s myetio countersign, What made tho perfume? All bis wondrous kisses Fell on the aweet red mouth, 111), lost to sight, ‘The love became too exqulsite, abd Yaulshud Intoa Viewleas rapture of the night, Why did the rose die? Ah, why aok the question | ‘Yuero tg 9 tine to love—a time to give; Bho perished gladly, folding close the secret, Wherein {a garnurod what it is to live, Mary L, Kutter in Scribner for February, An Afflicted Father. Tho Whitehall (N. ¥:) Tinea contains an ap- peal for aid for E. 1, Murray, whose family afilictions have been severo almost boyond record, In July he Jot his wife, and, soon after, 8 new-born babe followed its mother, loay- ing Mr. Blurroy with nine children, the oldest 9 years, Two weeks ago diphtheria at- tacked bis family. Thursday two children wero buried, Saturday two more died, Sunday auother, and Mouday anothor, aud Weduesdoy the seventh oath in one week occurred, ; | SPARKS OF SCIENCE. THE PINE- SNAKE. Tho pine-fororts of Southorn Now Joraoy are inhabited by a membor of tho genus Ophidia CPitnophis metanoleneus) which is. characterized Tho roptile weara asuitof tho Dolly-Vardon pattern,—the ground being of 8 delicate cronmy hue, and the showy splashos sprinklod ovor tt of a dark browa vary- ing to bright chestnut, It is o gay creature, and, sometimes attaining a longth of 12 feot and adiamotor of 3 or 4 inchos, may bo regarded a8 anornamoatal foature of the forests, of quite by traits of poculiar intorost. notable account, Itis porfectly harmless, ox- copt to toads, birds, and othor amall animals which are tho serpont's natural pray; but it is irritable in disposition, ana vonte its diaploa sure in an appalling bollow. Tho Rev. Samucl Lock- wood, Ph. D., has chorished several specimens as houschold peta for @ numbor of years, aud writes tothe Naturalist » detatled account of their habits, ‘Tho eggs of tho snake are as largo as thoso of Twolve woro laid in two clusters, of five and seven rospoctively, ono ummer day, by one of Dr, Lockwood's pete which moasured 6 fect in longth and wasns Jarge round an 8 man's wrist. ‘The eggs in each cluster were agglutinated together sido by side. An attompt wan made to hatch them ia s box of an averago bantam fowl. aand, but without succogs. ‘Tho pine-suako demka aftor the manner of the horaa,—laying its head upon the wator, letting the lower jaw fall below the surface, and draw- The procees is Dr, Lockwood timed it by the clock, and noticad that the auake drank exactly five minutes without It thon paused for threa mm- utes, altor which it drauk for precisely five min- ‘Tho amount of water consumed was & little over a gill; but the snake had not in- ing the liquid into the mouth, conducted leisurely, On one ovcasion, tating breath, uter more. dulged in s potation for four weeks pravions. in wwallowing its proy, the suske commences with the bead, and gradually incloses tho wholo by aserios of slight hitches, occurring first on one alde of the mouth and thea on the other, When timed, it was found that twenty minutes wore conmumed in tho passage of ‘a rat down the During this time tho throat was com- gullet, letely stopped, so that respiration was y checked, Before svatlowing its vit With sotue others of tue family, taing to serpents was shown by one of those in Dr. Lockwood's possession, which did not swal- lows moreel for an ontiro your, In producing tho beltow for ‘which the pino- snake ig particularly distinguished, it filla the nd sometimes its whole length, with air, which it expels with a blowing noise like the thorax, roar of & bull, aud describad ag 9 tru!s fearful, formidable sound. ‘has uot bean dotermined. In casting off its akin, Dr. Lockwood observed that the snake occupied about thirty-five min- utes, ‘he process of exuviation begins nt the snout, where the old skin, which is at the time very soft aod moist, first breaks. Tho move- mout of the snake during the event ia lixo that Thero is no friction against any outward object, ‘The snake simply creeps out of its old end worn-out akin, In observing the excremen, vf tha snake, it was noted that, three weeks aftor the reptile bad of crawling out of a tubular cage, swallowed two rate in succession, it voidnd, firat a» clear liquid, snd immediately after a small bea, of granular powder, of s deop strawcolor, onthe top of which was a little mans of hair, tho only Not tho small- undigested portion of its meal, est particle of buno had beon ojuctod. GELATINE. Tho American trade in gelatine is said to em- ploy sovoral million of dollars annually, sud in Europe to be of still grestor valuc. callod book-isingl York, Tueslan feinglase, which is etill esteemed the best in the market, is as follows: ‘The bladders are placed in hot water, carofully cleared from adhering blood, cut open longi- tudinally, and exposed to the air with the inner delicate ‘silvery. mombrane upwards. Whon dried, this tuo membrano is removed by beating aud rubbing, and the bladdor is then made into tho forme desired, Gelatine is propsred from a variety of animal substances, but chiefly from the softer parts of the hides of oxen and calves and the skins of sheop, and also from bones, eto, ‘The mothod of treating skin-parings aud bide-clippings is frst to wash the picces carefully, and then to cut thom into amall piecea, and put them into a weak, warm solution of caustic soda for a week or ten days. From this they are removed to an air-tight chamber, whero thoy aro kept for some timo in & tomperature of 70 dog. Thon follows 8 cleansing process in cold water, a bleaching in the fumes of sulphur, anda final washing; after which they are steamed in pots until the gelatine is dis- solved, which is strained off while bot, and pourod out in thin layors, that, whon suficlently cooled, aro strotched out on ueta todry, Ma- chinory is employed to cut the gelating into the delicato strips in which it ia usually sold. Anipferior golatine is made in France from bones sud other parts of animals, It is saidthat the enormous number of rats which are killed in the sowora and abattoirs of Paria, after thoir aking aro taken off, aro wholly consumed by tho gelatine-makers, Tho French manufacturers havo a superior art of clarifying these inferlor gelatines, and, by coloring tho thin, transparent lates, rendor thom yory attractive and fine- Tookine, ‘Their cost ia much Jess than that of tho best qualities, tAIGRATION OF BIRDS, Arecent correspondent of tho London Times presents the novel bypotheals, that the migratory flight of birds is an entirely involuntary act. Tho argument is, that, at or abouts cortain perlod of the yoar, when a atrong aouthern wind prevailsin an upper stratum of the air, a subtle atmospheric change, rosulting from tt, acts upon tho muscles of birds in such a wayas to make them fly. Their wings beat ag naturally as thoir hoarts, and they cannot help going. Rising up into the ewift ourront of air, they aro borne along it as long an the spasm lasts, which gonor- ally ia long onough to carry most of them to warmer climatos, although multitudes recovor a |. litte too aoon’and porish in the oa, Some ex- Porlmonta made upon migratory birds in captivity lond plansibility to the theory, Kept in cages covered with ‘silk to pro- tect thom from injury, these birds hove been obsorvad, at the soason of migration, to be affected with s paroxysm of flight, which con- tinted through a period answering in length to the time occupied by birds in their sami-anutal journeys. When the paroxysm was over, tho irda fell to the ground, began preaning thelr plumago, and conducting themsolves aa if re had just reached a new homo aftor av oxtendo: lourney, The experiments wero mado in both Eugtand and Africa with similar results, Contemporaneous with tho prblication: of thia theory, Runeberp, the Sivedis! foot, apnonticey the fanciful conceit, that the birds are impellod to migrato by a longing for light. it has beon alXppoved by oruithologists that birds leavo their suinmer-haunts at the approach of winter be- cause their food is exhanuted or disappears un- der the guow, and they aro compelled, not onty by cold, but by hunger, to go South, where they can enjoy comfortable warmth and sustenance ; but Raneberg declares that "'Tho bird of pas- sage is of noble birth ; he beara & motto, and his motto is, ‘Lux mea duz.' TRUFFLES. A new and successful enterprise in agriculture is growing upin the Sonthof France, Largo tracts of land which bave hitherto been compara- tively worthless for all purposos of caltivation are now being planted with the variety of oak- trace beneath which traflea are generally found. Itisexpectod that, with this treatment, land which hes lately been sold at £5 per acre will produce s crop of trufiles worth £20 every year. The experiment has been extensively tried in the Depariment of Vanocluse, where, in the course of the last twenty year, 160,000 acres that wore absolutely unproductive have been do- yoted to the culture of trufiles, and aro yielding arich return, The cost of planting ia borne by the uifforeut communes. On billy ground this docs not excead 20 francs por acre; but on tho low lands i¢ is father tore, though the crops are proportionately heavier, 8 ao planted on the uplands; bot saplings im, the Pine-snake docs not Inbricato it, ayia tho habit ‘The remarka- bio capacity of abatinence from food which per- Whilo pouring out tho yol- umo of air which occasions the sound, the anslo is said by somo to emit a powerful and offcusive odor; but whothor this comos from the mouth, The purest form: of tho articlo is known as isinglass, which is prepared from the oil-bladdora and sounds of reveral specios of fish, expecially of the atur- gpon. Theso tidsuca are cleansed and dried, forming what ie tormed Jeaf-isinglass ; or, they aro twisted into various forms, called long and short staple ; or they sro folded into packages, 8, Tho production of inin- glasa usod to be limited to Russia ; whercas now largo quantities are produced in South America, tho Enst Indies, the Hudson's Bay Territory, Now and Cauads, The manufacture df the of B or & yoars’ rows 40 fect apart, aro found to anawor Dest on tho plaius, Vinos are planted betweon tho trees, ant, after five or frix years, thole Produco repays tho cust of the whole plantation and iteculture. ‘Thin exporimont, applied te travis of land which fave boon denuded of for. oxts, accomplishes the double bonellt of incrcas. ing ‘tho wupply of truilles, and roplacing the woodlands, the want of which iv much folt. ‘Truftos are wubtorranean fungi, ofton growing at thaidepth of afootor more in the ground. Their presence in detected by dogs, which ara trained to hunt them, or, in some parte of Franco, bv pigs, which display a facility tor this sort of sport. They are dug with a kind of hoa or pick, and tho stirring of tho oil in gathering thom soome to Increase ita productivenees, They vary In sizo from a plum toa potato, and are of 8 Diack color ands warty aurface. ‘Tha common trufifa (Tuber cibarium) is abundant in the cen- tral and gouthorn parte of Europe, Other apo- cies oro found in England and in varioue pore tions of the Continent, growlh, placed in THE CARAPA TREE, The attontion of commerce has bean lately attracted to tho Carapa treo (Carapa Gutanen~ aia), on account of the oil which it produces, The tres abounds in French Guiana, especially in the Dis.rict of Cachipour, whero it forme rast forests, It grows tos large size, and has beautl- ful, glossy pinnate loaves, with many leatlets. ‘The oil ja yieldod by the seeds, which aro in- closad in acapsulo, Those fall from February to Juno, and are so abundant as to cover the Rround to a depth of several inches. If collected. during thia penod, the seeds yicld aboutg5 por cont of an oll that ia thick, bitter, and anthol- mintio, Itiseaidto be patticularly useful in uarding against rust, and ia much used in lamps. “ho natives also rb it over their bodice to protect them from insects, which find tts bite ternesy obnoxious. Tho price of the article at Cayenne is from $25 to 230 por tou. A treo of tho samo gonus(Carapa Guincensis), and of nostly identical habit, grows in Africa, whera the negroes uso itsoll for making soap and anointing thoir bodies for the samo purpose as do the natives of South Americs, WILD-RICE PAPER, Tho wild rico of North America (Zizanta aquatica) Is widely diffused over the Continent, but is particularly abundant in the northwestern portions. It grome in wot, marshy places, and along tho margins of lakes. The culin or stom rises toa height of from 7 to 8 feet, with broad’ leaves, and a largo terminal panicle of flowers. ‘Tho seeds aro a half an inch long, aro slender, and covered witha dark cuticle. The Indians and ploncer gottlers make use of them as an ar- ticle of food, cooked like rice, Whey aro nutri. tious, but have o savage flavor. The stem of the wild rico is being cxtousively omployed in the manufacture of paper. It yields as much raw iatorial aa the oxparto,—a gravs growing in Southern Enrope, and freatly. used for making ropes, sacks, rats, boukets, ete..—and boing free from silicates, the paper mado from it is quite 48 strong and floxiblo as that from rage whilo it is easily bleached, economical in respec! to chemicals, fine in color, and almost dovuid of Specks and blemishes. It is ostimated that 1,000,000 tons of the rice-plant can be obtained annually-from the Cauadian lakes alone. THE AMETHYST. The amothyst ia simply a varioty of quartz ox rock-crystal, of a bluish or purplish-violet color. it is common in Europo aud many parts of Scot- land, but the finest spocimens are found in India, Coylon, aud Brazil. It occasioually occura in the lining of goodes, and in veins and cavi- ties of rocks. There is a varicty of spiral, bav- ing a purplish hue, which is called tho Oriental amethys:; but this is a procious gom, differing eutirely in composition and valae from the ordi- nary amethyst, ‘he import of theso latter stones from Brazil haa been #0 great since 1872 that thoy have become almost worthless in tho market, ‘the frst lots acnt to Europe brought from $5U0to #600 per arroba of 32 pounds weight; but, ag the quantity incroased, the price receded. until it became absolutely nothing, At present no sala can be effected of the lots on hand, INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL CONGRESS, Arraogements aro under way for an Interna- tional Council on Goographical Scienco, to con- vene ot Paris in the spring of 1875. ‘Tho sca- sions will continuo eight days, and tho busiuess consists of an exhibition of objects;and tho pro- sentation of papers relating to geographical matters. Prizos wilt be given for tho moat valu- able articles. A circular has beon issued cone taining the form of application for mombership, and for the space required to oxhibit articles, Tho deliberations of tho Congress and the exhie bition of the groups will relate, first, to mathoe matics; wecond, to hydrography'; third, to phy- sics; fourth, to histury ; tifth, to economical go- opraphy; sixth, to instruction; aud, seventh, ta vovazing aud travel genorally. Baron Reille ia tho Commissary Goneral, and can be addressed at 10 Boulevard Latonr-Manbury, aris. UTRICULARIA, Tho Utricularia is a geous of small ayuatia plants, with fincly-disuected leaves, generaily having little bladders, which aro Allod with air, and float the plant at tho time of floworing. Tho flowers ara yollow in all tho Amorican spootea except one, in which thoy are a violetypurple, and their form is much like tho blossom of tha snapdragon. In Conta Rica, s now spocioy hag lately been diecovored by M. Endres, which dif- fors greatly in habit trom those which wo know, It grows on trees like tho orctuds of the Torrid Zone, or, if found at all terrestrial, it is growing in rather dry soil. Its flowers are of a bluish tint, and it haa boon named by Prof, Biehoubach after its discoveror, Utricularia Endresii, ainsi IN STRICT CONFIDENCE. Dxan Netuts: I turn to you, lovo, in my trouble 5 I know I onght nut, Dut I muatepeak or diet T’va found put at last that all bliss ian bubblow Dou't think, though, with Jack there iu aught gone fee Our house ts superb, and deor Jack te just aplendid, ‘The baby's the swectest that ever you saw 5 I think that my homo wotid be Heaven descended ‘To Eurth, were it not for my—mother-in-law, Of course, I act out with s view to adore her— Jack's motler, you know !—I thraw open ray beard, Any daily in humblest salams bent before her, ‘o witi her affection, I tried every art. Leredited her with all good in ercation, Tahut my oyes tight ant! would not see « flaw; But now, spite of all, to my own consternation, T find inywelf hating my mother-in-law, IfT wish for a thing, shel adviso the contrary, She waylays my orders for dinner and tea, Sho worries the nurse-muid, and nage cook and Mary? Crilicines my friends, anu politely wnubs mus, Bho tries to control all my houschold expenses; Sho'd keop every koy, if abe could, {n hier claw; ‘With strictures alo drives me kalf out of my venses—— I wonder if Jub had s mother-in-law? And Jack, if ho knew it, of course would be worrled; But men ara so stupid; and Wit nover tell ! Wo wonders, I know, why I often sum flurried, to speak would be uscless I know vory well= things uo hat than & man eun bo blinders: He'd not understand, but Jurt answer, Oh, pela! Bhe docen'¢ hulf mean it, Goon and don't miud ber—" Just faucy “not minding” my mother-tuelaw, “ Sneb conduct's improper ;* ner, there’s atralghiway n ecend$ drexs, she counts tp every copper, ‘Aud sighs Such éxtravagance never wan scent * Sto manages slwaya with euch s aly kasck, too, Sho makes folks believo abo’s s saint without flaw, Ihalf wish wero dead, Nell—and baby and Jack too— In diesen one ean't havo a mother-in-law! TfL dance at o part: If I amilo ath part IT buy au She ruled her own household ; why can‘s abe permit m3 ‘To govern in turn my own now as well ? If you've any advico (thore, it’s post time!) remit me The same, Adiou, darling { ‘As ever, yours, ‘Brur, P,8,—Of all wives, Nellfo, dear, my aurmiee is, ‘Mother Eve was the 1u- taut tue world aver naw: ‘Though they loat an estate Jn a certain * Ful Orialy” Bue and Adam never bad a mother-in-law! —"Btehinga" in Seribner for she Dying Poodio,? Some of tho Froach papers are witty at the ex- ponse of American picturo buyers, ‘Tho latest story told is of a French artiat who had taken “The Death of a Poodlo” as bia thome, and had told the story most tonchiugly, as ho tlat- tored himself, but uufortunately no ono olve seemed to think wo, Happening to possess a odie himeelf, he placed the sumimal in ront of the picture and gave him & gavera bestin; This waa repeated until the picture aud eating became todiesolubly con- nooied in the animal's mind as cause and effect. Tu due time an American gentleman ontored tho studio, examined The Dying Poodle, about to exprosa disapproval, when the poodle rushed in, lay down before the picturo, and howled in tho moat heart-rending manuer. This was enough, Aplcture that could so touch the brute’s feelings must be good, and it therefors ‘was purchi at once at a price yory watissactosy to tho artist.