Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 25, 1880, Page 12

» Bhe'itkick, dear?” 12 THE HOME. The Pootry and Prose of Milking, According to Chat. “Sim's Sister” Contributes Her Views of. Things, Including Tho Home, The Grumpy Club Has a Wenk Side for Christmas and Santa Claus. Suburban Life as It Is, from a’ Domeatio Sketch by Topsy Tinkle, “Forty Yoara’? Relates His Expori- enco with a Siron Vampyree Molrlc Contributions by The Home Laureates— Prosorved Beautics. A SUNSET THIOUGHT. Hur The.Chicago Tribtines I watched the fock-llke clouds, one c’en, Retreat before Niztit’s enatern pall, And gazed upon a glittering seeno Which my poor syllables recalls The aun a rapid red ball rolled Faat toward an under-gult of skys In tanes of ainethyst and gold ‘The funeral pyre of Duy rose high. Benenth this radinnt sunset view, Cust on the western stretch of day, Thick marshy nilsta of changing hue Hung o'er n moruss drear nnd gray. To mists and vapors death-distent With fabrile talnt, this transient spell OF sular neerommney tent , ‘The subtle tints of uccan-shell, Vast fronts of mot Flainboyantly be And tora purple moment soemed ‘The outer walls of Paradiso. d ether lcamed y eyes, Bright waves of liquid Jnspor hove ‘On soft, Hiysiun shores of pearl, And iridescent Byouing strove Her topmost pennons to unfurl, Though 1 did thrill before this scope OF yente’s principality, I thought: *'The heaven afar Is Hope— Whe marsh beneath, Keality, Eta Dera Pr. CHAT IDYTS OF A MILKMAID, To the Buitor of The Chicugo Tribune, Bosconnt, Dee, 8.—" Say, girls, how would you like # cow?” ‘The above remark was addressed to my elster aud myself, by my brother-in-law one evening at the supper-table, “Tt woutd be charming,” exclaimed Ange- line, upsetting her teacup In her delight. “0, it would be perfectly aplendid, and then we could have new milk for the baby, cream for the coftee, and nice fresh butter,” Lerled, with all the enthusinsm of dnewhose only knowtedes of cows aud thelr habits consisted of what Thad gleaned. from pict- ures anf poetical descriptions of mAkmalds and nllking time. “Well, L thought you would like it, and Lhought ono to-day,” said Charles, with tho alr of aman who has denen good thing for. Ais family und knows ft; “and she will be here to-morrow.” “Who will milk?? sald Angeline, ensting n loving zlance at her husband, “OLD do the milking myself,” he re- plied, And that settled it, ‘The uext day was one of bustle and pren- aration, We had na carpenter put up a swinging shelf In the cellar, which we cov- ered with white oll-cloth, while Angeline tacked above [t, to prevent any dust froin falling on the milk, part of a linen table ctoth, whlch she tare up for the eccasion, and whieh was senltoped with scarlet zephyr, atd finished with scarlet balls at the ends; for she had quite an artistic taste, and en- deavoredt to make home beautiful and happy by combining the useful and ornamental, During the day Charles sent up a imilk-pall, strainer, ant skimmer, three dozen milk jars, 0 six-gallon tee-cream freezer, a four gullon churn, and a barrel of salt, “Isn't he the best; the kindest, and the most “ generovs man thatever lved?” exclalmed my sister, a4 ahe eyed the new furniture roposing in the middle of the floor. “fe certatuly is)? satd I, for I always acqulesce when she praises her husband, no mnattor what my private opinion Is, It is the safest way, % That ulght, when hoe sat down to milk, Angallne eried, ata safe distance and in a volce full of solicituide, * Ain't you afraid “Oh, nol? sald Charles; “you can tell by her eyo and tho general contour of her face that sho is perfectly mild and gentle’? And he milked away Uke a man who has perfect confidence in Ils own pluton, “He is such an excellont judge of charac- ter,” said Angeline, belicviiig every word ho end, and casting an-admiring glance upon hin. Butshe had searcely got tho words outof her amouth when the cow, by a flank movement, knocked Mm down, ran over hin anit kicked the pall and about ‘two quarts o! Milk over the fence and through the window of our ni oor nelghbor (lo whom we do not speak because they kesp chickens and we Innke garden), and then, giving a playful ebellow, threw her head down, and took after my sister, who just got in the house as the eaw reached the door, where she stopped te examine the awillepall, and, after stnelling of Mt, tipped it over, and. sent the contents all over tho kitchen floor, By this time my brother-in-law came rushing into the house, exeluluning: "Thunder and Hehtning | Angeline, you'll have to do the milking after this,” Usually, when my" brother-in-law) says “thunder and Mgtitning, Angeline” ils sister-in-law goes visiting, and his wife quict- dy neunitates in his commands, But on this occasion there was too much at stake, hor spirtt wis aroused, there was a giltter In her eve that ineant war to the kuifo, and the Knife tu the hilt, and she said: “Mr, Charles Augustus Sinith, 1 wouldn't milk that cow once to save you from the State's Prison, where yon belong HY oe “You wouldt,” he exellined in a threat entns volce, i get of © You woulda’t, eh? No, ole" she replied, “L wouldn't, © don't propose te get myself kied to please Tadun't propose to have your second posstug my children round in five or slx 8, though Wpposa you would onloy Hi"? cricd, as he began to wat mully np and down the rovim and swear audibly, “oh you ca rare around ah you watto, you ean pull) ont what fow hairs you have lett on your head, and you enn swear till your throat ds row, but you can't scare anew bity not bit, slr.” Ture she used to cateh her breath, and he took her Ne shoulder and Jn a deep, tragienl, volee, . bald: “Ie you don't have that, cow milked to- morrow night before LE come home to sUpbON, Vil divorce you, madam Fil divorce you.” “L wish you woul L' just wish you would’? und shestruck ic bescoali lag att tad, “and then Vd marry Fred Jones, Ho ulways warted ine, and he woulda't ask me tomik alotof cows if i hved with hii a thousand years, Le would have tuo much respect for Bus uotlite Fils eld Reet a * The poverty-stricken puppy,” roared my brother-In-law, “ Lo couldn't buy @ cow “Oh, I know he’s poor,” interrupted An- 8 oF Fyntenan, and ho geline, © but then ha! alt red-faced, and bald-headud, and he don’t weluh 200 pounds, and he dou't wheezo instead of breathe, and—" “Womanl" yelled Churles, ina tone and manner that jiads ie think of tornadoes, Voleauoes, Wrecks on the ocean, steanibout explosions, and rallroud collisions. Wo an At this terrible moment, with a heroism of which my most Intimate friends would not have deemed mv capable, 1 throw myself Juto the breach, 4 was as afrald us death of the caw, did not cat butter, never drank jutlk, and hated ice-cream, but 0 did not fulter, £ was morally certain the intserable. brute would fall on me broudslde and crush Ine tothe earth, She had w red glare in her eye Uist EF did not ike, and 1 was sure ahe + would “hook,” and gore, or kick me into kingdom come or obilvion—whichever It ly to be—before 1 got a plat of whut povts cull the © foaming milk." But 1 felt that duty eatleulinu, aud, besides, where would £ live ‘ THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1880—SIXTEEN PAGES, if my relatives untied tho wedding knot? So, Rolng up to my brother-in-law, L intd my hand soothingly on Iris rm ated said: af) Danis Charles, don’t, YN do the milking myself,’ ‘ “7 wish to heaven you would,” he erled, in a tone of rellef, and, turning tinpiisively toward me, he selzed my hand Lam posl- tive nothing but my calm ond dignified demeanor, and his wife's presence, pravented him from kissing me where I stood. “Ifyou do, Pitnever, never forgive you ns long as 1 live,” exelaimed my sister, and, throwing herself on thy lounge, burst Into a flood of tears, Jy went out of the room, but 1 Thnmediai Jefe the door open, First, Charley went to tho window, and drummed on the panes awhile. “Then he wentto the bureau, and, iter rammaghig through egal of drawers, called, out fi i eratt voice, * f want n lundkorehief? ‘She request was answered by two or three sobs, Then hy went into the bedrvon, brushed his hair, ening out, sat down, took up the paper, then ald tls hand on ils wife's shoulder, shook her gently, and sald: < Angeline ?? ie putulantly: shook off his hand, and in- diutged Ina fresh burst of Weepiig. For a minute he stood rresolute, then watked, aulekty to the table, picked up his fant, Jutnmredd itover his eyes, paused in tho middle of the floor, and salts “Tin going now? Augeling blew her nose and choked a Mt- tle, and when he went to the doorand turned rf ab a te riul voice nutrmured : i te arlie,’? Whint,? he answered, in a tone, as he stepped ov What? Tn ina hurr “ Nothing,” she sobbe more prov thane ‘Then, he came back and—well, U knew ny winter's lodging wis secured, and went out for a pull o: water ‘he next morning we found the cow had {amped the fence and gone; but the hours rought the night, and a oman brought the cow, and prepared myself for the ordeal, How welll remeber that night, and, remembering it, Lseem to’ be standing agaln in the open doorway, In the evening business-like er the threshold. beginuing to weep stntizht! [hear the sweep of birds’ wings, and thelr twittering notes; sniell the fresh ness aud fragranesot fleliLand woods; teu valley, tho it the ears rushing througli | the ant the smoke tuating back from engine, like a great dusky Nume; and se Wisconsin River windlug an its awa: bending, shining, motiontess band of bright- n aid, turning trom all this beauty, £ Charles standing walting for me, with a pall in one hand, a rope in the other, mid a three-tegred stool under his arm. | Be- fore Charles’ unfortanate purchase, when- ever 1 thought af cows, my head was filled with visions of green meadows, or sloping hillsides, amilkmaid tripping along with her dress coauetishly tueked up, displaying alls! vetingly pretty fuot and ankle (it is al- ways that way [fn pictures ant poetry), swinging her pail, and sing! goes up toa gentle, mild-eyed creature, with fv white star in her forehead, that always stands iia partleularty elean; green place in the shade of a lofty tree, while v ttle way of the Inevitable shepherd Jaddiv ts walthng and wateliing for her, and Inumulng softly: 0. thero’s n joy sno dear That tho henrt can hardly frame, We a bonule, bonnie tassio ., When the kye come huine, Instead of golng nnd doing In this highly fanelful, poetleal, ideal way. Thad to come right down from the imaginative to the aet- ual, and go right up tonnugly-looking beast, with one hari knocked olf and the other Drass-lipped, that stood In tha dirtiest place fia dirty barn-yard, sit duwn under her aft quarters, and, as my brother-In-law consol- ingly shouted, “Look out there, Chat, she's golng to kick now!” L took hold and— Yo be continued. Cuat, JIMS SISTER, HER VIEWS ON THINGS. To the Kdltor of Tae Chieuya Tribune, Cincaco, Dee, 22.—1 think The Home bas sadly degenerated sinee the days when its columns fairly bristled with the latest and nest mulignantly devised methods of mak- ing mluce-ples, strange and unhallowed de- vices for causing a piece of beef to appear three thnes a day for half n week In an ever- changlug variety of disguises calculated to lure unwary persons into partaking of It under the delusion that It was something else, and the fasemating column or two of “exchanges,” In owhich people who had tatting to trade for canury birds, or somo no-necount bulbs which they were desirous of Imposing upon any person with an inherlt- edor acquired wenkness for that kind of trek, were perinitted to disport themselves, ‘There Js no doubt thet tro: publi tuste de- manded this kind of fuod, and the eagerness with whieh tho average eftizen would aWatt the Saturday paper as soon as it reached gayly as she the “honse, only to be confront- ed with — tha ~ startling intelligence that Luey = Loosehair in Keokuk would never be happy until somebody sent her the words and music of * Papa’s Bun Jon's Better Now," and that a widow Indy In Janesville had sufliclently recovered from her grief to be desirous of exchanging her decvaseil husband’s sliver tobaece-box for a second-hand hair muttress, ean be better tin- agined than described, And then tho new and complicated dlgeases and misfortunes to which Infants of all stations in life suddenly became subject, and the extraordlnary nian- ner fn which thelr presumably doting: moth ers started hot-foot for the Post-Oiice with a letter to The Home, describing in the charm ingly vague way so characteristle of lovel woman the ailments with which thelr olf- spring were aflicted, ynstend of referring tho matter to the nenrest doctor, was simply tinazing, One agonized parent In Orexon would frantically demand to know what would stop her darling from erylng all night, and the following week there would be an avalanche of answers to her appeal, each one contaliing a remedy dint was dead certain to effect uw cure, and never missed fire, ‘The unhappily notorious baby would bo rec- ommended hs a tt subject tor the re- ception of boneset tea, calomel pills, vinegar teddy, quinine, mustard plasters, electric belts, and hot brieks. * Strangel enough, nobody seemed to think of a bull- club or a vigorously applicd slipper, When anybody, and least of alla mothor, should be alarmed because a baby evles ts beyond my comprehension, Ever shee bables were known thoy have squaltud, and booted, and walled with 1 peraistuney that, if apptled ti wreputable way, would hays accomplished wonders, If Dhada baby tn charge and it ceased cryhyg for more than a minute Ll should feal sdrlously aturmed, but, in spite of tholr naddening experience ta the cons trary, women eannot bu made to believe that an Infant is never happy except when in the net of rendering to. chtlre holehborhon milsorable by its disreputable vocal perform unces, ‘Cho woinan who Is: attending to her Roventh baby is just ns serenely ignorantand obtuse on thls polnt as tho young wife who is stleklug ping into various portions of her first born's Anatoly every tine she nttumpts to dress It. Lonee heard aman express sure prige at the extraordinary number of six-day walkers that spring Into notice a3 svon as wrizes fur that ostylo of — podestrian- sty ware glyon, Ile was ovidently un- wurricd, and had never Known the pleus- ure of eureurlng madly around a cold room in tho dead of night, carrying dn his arias a thinly-formed pledge of love whose frightful shrieks would make a tug-boat retire in dis- anny, 3 I proviously remarked, tha generous admixture of whooplng-cough medielug, Hints on how to cmbrolder suspenders, and directions for making cake that wn ostrich Would promptly dceline to ent, that formerly filled the columns of ‘Lhe Home, exclted i Wondrous admiration, wondered how it got there, and Lt admired the people who gould eomplucently road It week after week, Thut they were direetly descended from tho orl lat Spattana there Is ne doubt. Such stolcal courage is not avquired, it is heredl- tary, 4 used to think of tho Conductor as a class- feally pate un of middlg age with hyperlan Jovks und y strictly literary Jook In fils mild blue eyes, while a whinlhg smiley hovered wrpetually nround his dolicately-chiscled ips, 4 dowt think of him that way any wore, Lhave been undecelved $n regard to editors of atl duseriptions, and have delib- erately shattered all the tdols that once adorned tho chambers of my somewhat too premature imagination, Tai a great lover of poetry, and: when 'o residentof New York read with — Intunsa antlafaction the gems of thought in dine which appeared in one of the dally papers, Lused to envy the iin that had charge of the etry and wis free to read ng much of It as. he chose. eve ays and pleture him to my- self ag an estheticnl and cultured person from Boston or New fluven, who knew Byron, and Dhellvy, aud Kents, and the rest of the boys b: heart, and who only ate enough earthly foo to keep his Iyer in worklug order, existing Imulily upon tho nectar of the gods us djs- tilled in poesy, One day TI went around to tho office of ‘the paper, und discovered that the erenture of my Fancy was a rod-headed ond somewhat corpulunt youth, who regard. ed tho beautiful creaturey yf funcy that fell into his hands asso much “stush” (that was the word tho dreagful ereature used) to bo “Heed up” ashe said, 1 shall never again be dotected builtin ale castles, Contrary to the usual custum of Hoine writers, Ushall not conclude my letter hy ree (itrning thanks to Jennie Junebug, ar Miuce- Plo Mary, or auy of the ather delightful creatures who scontribute to its columns. And [don’t much eare whether this letter ig printed or not, ‘Tho slelzhing is good, and I nin going to take a ride aud eos, inyself, iw’s Sister, BOB, ME PSUADS FOR AN OLI-FASIIIONED CHRIST: 10 the Kditor of ‘The Chieago Tribune. Decatur, Ml, Dee, 20.—The Grumpy Club, Ike other peaple, are rushing around ant prepariag for the holidays. ‘The averago bachelor—nnd I fnust here remark that those composing tho Grumpy Olub are above the avernge—Is generally looked upon as un constituted to dspenso Invishly the gifts of Santa Claus, Yuet there are exceptions, and, the penatty they have to pay for not embra- elng matrimony is such thatonce n yenr tt be- contes necessary for them to encdgel thelr brains for some tnfallibls ruta to guide them in selecting from a thousand dilterent articles: something sititable for sundry male and fe- male, relatives, inclading widows, married people, “sweet sixteens,” old maids, and young ones Just entering that sublime estate, notte speak of babies and half-grown chile dren, Happy Is he who, having again paid the penalty, makes a high resolve that cre another year returns he'll be numbered among matrimony’s victhis! As many of tha members of the Club ara tobe absent during the holldays, the Inst incetlug was devoted to Christmas thoughts and reminiscences by such ag felt inclined to speak, ‘I'he President alluded to the present svason of the year ns one of pleasure, joy, and profit, Christmas was the day of all days when one could make merry with the ttle ones and experience a feeling of good- with to nll mankind, Je would feel reeom- rensed Hy, for wll. the toll, care, nud worry he had gone through he could be a boy again for ui liour, and mingle oneg more in the Joys of a bygone Christmas. ‘Fhe real hin. piness that attended his possession of glngerbread horse, asixpenny gunand alunp of tally was someting, he never expected to know again, Whatit the gun did collapse 1 after fitty rounds of ramroad had been tired ? Tad he not the satisfaction of knowin that he had hit the cat three times, and pointed it twice at the baby by mistake, and put his own Tife in Jeopardy by looking down the barrel when he fired, and had he not been eoaxed to give It up—In its dilapidated con- dition—to, the baby: and dow remarkably: atilet the baby was While I-was sucking the mint ot of Tt, And how he got tired lvok- ng the gingerbread-horse In the mouth; how he beld anto tts tall when he bit its head off, lest it might run down his throat allat once, how tex after leg followed tho head, till finatiy all had disappenred, and the tatty also, and how he wished when he lay in bed that, Christmas night that ‘sixpenny guns could be swallowed also, Dut tt was a tong thne since then, Fron boys they have grown to be men, and he was afraid they seldom in- duged in anticipations of Christmus now, unless connected with worldly protits, Yet there was a distinctive, honelike charm cons nected with Christmnge ay! a day for kind words, sweet siniles, and Joving glances; for the Inying nsidu of petty differences on the extinguishment, if possible, of the smoldering tire of personal hatreds; in short, a day when we should try and forget all tha il, wien, with | clasped hands, we greet euch othor with "A Merry Cheistinas.”” Whatever may be the feelings otindividaal members of tho Club on this occasion, he sincerely wished and hoped a full share of Christinas pleasures awalted them, ‘Thongh the Club would be somewhat disjointed for a short thine, he had still good reasons for saying that the New-Year would find them together ouce more, with renewed gigon anil a stronger desire to adyauce its uterest. Mr. Pickleding looked forward to tho holt- days with feelings of Intense joy, A family reunfon was to take place in his oft New England home, and family greetings such ag he hind longed to take part In woutd soon be indulged in. ‘Ten years had made many changes In his hame. . Frequent mari had reduced the number of aceupanty ‘inthe * old place, and tho little ones hed: all enteral their teens, He expected to be surrounded by strange baby faces,—his [ttle nephews: and nivees,—all “of whieh would be very fn teresting to him, ‘Then he woultt lave to apologize to the fathers, mothers, grandpas, xrandinas, uncles, and aunts for shirking the responsibilities of iif. But he knew his mother would sperk ont for hhu and justify his course, | Ie expected to note the changes that age had made In. the old folks, and the raven locks of his mother might be, perhaps, Ididen by the profuseness of the gray, It would be an exelting tle for hin, and, though Joy und pleasure would attend the meeting, the parting would be mingled with pain anil sadiess, Yet these varied emotions were but part of the.sum total of human ex- istence. ‘They entised but o slight ripple— Just to show ‘their {nfluenco,~and then all was culm again. ‘The Secretary was sorry to say that he had no family reunton in hls Christinas program, though there was no reason why he should not have an tinaginary one. However, he hoped Mr, Plekleding’s cup of Joy would run over, anit that, on his return, he woutd give usa pieture of a Now ‘Englanut family re- union, ‘Tha -Seeretary was of the opinion that Christinas In wv buarding-house was nothing more than a Sunday extra; that there was tov much boiling of bones the week previous, atid too much of the same kind of soup served up during tho same pe- riod, to Justify ang other elnim of the board. ing-house keeper than that of sordid profit in connection with a Christmas dinner,“ But laying asiie such un unsavory subject as boarding-houses,” he proceeded, “let ne ask you whut wo must do with this spirit of an- nihilntion that hag gone forth and is putting to death all the harmless superstitions of childhood?) Js it n fact that Santy Claus ts a myth?, It would seem so. Like many of you, 1 thoroughly belleved In our old Christinas friend, and most vivid are my recollections, when a child, of going early to bed the night before Christinas and covering myself up with the bedclothes lest IT should bd discoverud prying Into the atfuirs of the old gentleman who is reputed to come down the chimneys, What dreams of falryland tonk place L cannot tell, but, while the ‘stars. were ry shiulny in the carly morning, how we all bounded out of bed, and hastened down to tho ble fireplace, and eagerly ad the wellefitled stocking! low grate wo wero to find among the many things inserted at least something which wo hud fondly hoped Santa Claus would bring us! Jn tho discovery of tnt, our falth became stronuer than ever, But how ts lt possible for Santa Claus to appear nowadays? Inven- tive genius has displaced the great wide hearth, the biz fireplace, and the farge- throated ehimney with the unromanticstoye, Its five-lnch stove-pipe, its narrow tlucs, its sharp and crooked corners, Its close-thung dampers, and all the rest of its entangle ments, exch one of which Is sufictent to chuckimaty Santa Clana shoutd 6 ventitro tn at tha chiimney-top. nether, Santa Claus still exists, or whethor Pa takes his place, It makes but Httle difference. Anu up thostock ingd all the saine,—from the Wille dimpled. alurling’s to grandpa’s, and If you play prac: tieal jokes with the big ones, bu sure you put practical lave In tho little ones." And now, doar readers of ‘The Tome, some of you have of tate been Induluing wu great deal in adinlration of “St Ehno! and “Jane Eyre,” while others have been try to up- root that admiration, Ido not wish to re- open thosubject, but L would ask you all to take down, from the shelf—it you hava it diekens’ *Christinas Stories? + I reading “St. Eling”? a “Jane Eyro” turn down tho leaf—even If It he at the most ens tranclng chapter—and follow the Spirit a Christmas Past, of Christuias Present, and of Christmas to Come, In company with Serooge, Fallow them ayer tho fand and over the sen, to unexpucted places, and strange nelahborhoods, Knter into the humble home of Bob Cratchit and say a kind word to ‘Tiny ‘Thn, Go with the spirit from beginning to end and note down the opportunities In which sweet charity can work wonders, as it eventually did even in the case of Scrooge,— close-fislod, grasping, miserly Servo; changed by tho promptines of the Spirit front his low estate to a higher. And there, take dag an interest in humanity, he took a greater Interest in himself, Readurs of and contributors to, ‘The Home, to each and every one of you the Griunpy Ctub extends the complimonts of the season, Bou, ——— SIBYT. ANIGHT WITH A SORCERESS IN PLES AND BLOOD, ‘To the Editor of ‘The Chicago Tribune, Gnanp Kavrns, Mich, Dec. 3.—"* When I was 91,” said tha Mechnuteal Engineor, as he sottled himself comfortably In the deep “wis w white si It you ara’ Jeathern-covered arm-chatr aud eyed tho slender amphora of Rudesheimer approve ingly, “I sponta grentiteal of time tn look- ing these things over, | L think none of us escape the question of soti! or nesoul all our lives through, and nt that ago L am sure 1 gave innel more attention to the problom of continned existence than to anything con- nected with my profession, 1 had passed through a brief conrse at Heldelburg, and, in pinee of the stern and uncompromising real- ism which the constant presenee of npplicd mathamatics brings to most mind, I had ro- eelved «sense of correspondence aud cor. relation of all things; it seemed to mons If every atom of the universe was linked to every othor ntom bya subtle chain of spir- Uual sympathy, and fn every chemient change, and in every motion of machinery, £ recognized a shadowy, undefined, yet ever potent and: all-eunderlying Influence which made all things kin and uniformly subject to one master will, In this mood,-—I think L believed then that all things had a life and consciousness, elther with or without the power of expression,—I returned to America nnd applied inyself diligently to biology In Its simplest forin,—the refation and Inilience of one Individuat upon another, considercd Apart from all things else. ‘This ted me to some odd experiences, and among these, the strongest, 1 think, was the single nlght which included my whole personal acquaintance with Stbyh” ‘fhe Mechanical Engineer moistened tho Jower edge of his frosty mustaches with the pale aber of the Rilnaland vintage, and his eyes looked dreammily into the Jong past, and he spoke, ng was oftentimes his way, as if he sat alone and read aloud from a book: “Lwasnsilm young fellow at 24; about five fect nine; rather pale, with dark oyes and hairs quiet and sllent among strangers, and never really unreserved save when alone witha woman, Men Impressed me with v sense of repulsion, My health was perfect, and my powers of endurance and self-control, as‘L now know, far beyond the average, 1 had never, In spite of my efforts, met any person who had the least mesmeric fnfiuenco over me, although 1 fully believed In the ex- istence of mesmerie and clulrvoyant powers, and was very desirous to be convinced that ny faith was well founded, 1 had rather a wide acquaintance among sptritual mediums, mesmerizers, clalrvoyants, and such persons, and among illustonists and actors of the mil- dle grade jn New York, the clty of my chotee, So much by way of pretace, so that you may more readily understand the docile part L played In my episodo™with Sybil. Her name was a familfar one in New York at that time. She held herself gloof from associates ofall kinds, was rarely seen except upon tho stage, her residence was not generally known, and she clatmed no fellowshtp with tho Spirituntistic fraternity. IJerexhibitions Included only common feats of clairvoyance and mind-reading, and, although she unite formly drew crowdel houses, {had supposed her simply possessed of clever confederates, and had never witnessed one of her perform- aunees, f One Sunday evening in June, a good many years nyo, E notleed the doors of one of prin- clpal theatres open, and read upott the bill board; SIBYL: MEDIUM, CLAIRVOYANT, OR SORCERESS? TO-NIGHT. Lentered. The house wag filling rapldly. The curtain was up, the stage seb with a varlor scene; a sinalt pute table and seven ehairs—arni-ehairs, with straight baeks, Two of these were placad side by side at tie table, fronting the audignee. ‘The gay wis only Itghted In part, and the house had a Sunday night tlptoving yulet which made the orchestra stands seo strangely outof piace. Preelsely at 8 o'clock the footlights wera turned full on, and Sibyl stood before the audlenee, Sho was -rather above midd ¢ size, of ting full proportions, with a majestic ear riage of the bends, brunet, with large eyes which seemed black, au nbundant colf- fure of coal black hale, slight! wayeil at tho. temples, and in rostered igh h , Hor dress tin, With a low corsage and apen sleeves, unrelidved by n solitary arnt. ment of any kind, ‘She was ungloved aud carried a penell in her rizht hand. As sho stood for n moment, calmly aud rather dis- dalufally sarveying ‘tho full house, she was cortalnly one of the-most beautiful Imper- sonations of full, radiant womanhood I ever SAW, “The first exhibition which I shall rive you to-night,” suid Sibyl, in a deep round voley of extreme sweetness, ' will be a mind- wrenuling test, Such persons ag choose will frame inental gttestigns, and tho answer to the one which I shatl'select will Appear write ten In red characters wpon my loft arm.” ‘There was 2 protonnd hush for a moment, “WH the third gentlenmn to tho right of tho mid«lo nisl du the fourth row of parquet sents pleagy rise?’ sald she, ‘The person indleated rose, to become the target of all eyes. “ Yourquestion was, ‘Where was1born??"* said Sibyl. Lt was? “And this fs the correct answer.” and Sibyl, with a wide, graceful gesture, ralued her white arm go that the sleeve fell ack to the shoulder, reverting in crlmson letters tpon the round ivory of the ying tablet the words, “In Ashtabula, Olilo.”? “Tho answer ts correet,” sult the silent questioner, ag ho resuined hls seat. A murmur rippled over the audlonce, and deepened nt the extrema right of the par- quet, where a dozen heads were turned to- ward one speaker, “Will Dr, Briscoe,” said Sybil In a clear, cold voleu, “who ts saying that Mr, Saun- ders, of Ashtabula, is >a confederate, and that while he rose I wrote the words upon any arm, please rise fur a moinent 2??? ‘A tall, portly man of 50 rose, bowed with mock gallantry to Sybil, and stood calmly at hig ease, indiiferent to the curious gaze of a thowsand pairs of eyes, “Your name is [lerbert de Wolf Briscoe, educated at the Collegeof William and Alnry, student of medielne aud surgery in Parks and Vienna, and widely known us a wealth ond succussful practlelug physieinn In Balti more? “You flattor me,” replied Dr, Briscoe, bowing. nite gu, Lbollove, ara not a confederate of nt te “Lam so unfortunnte as not to be able to claim that delightful honor,” sald tho phyal- clon insolently, A. dark erlmson came over Sybil’s checks, and sho spoke with » voleo that cloft silence {ko wselmeter, "You wear upon the third tliger of your right hand,” said she, “a dine mond chister ring, valtied ub $3,000, ‘Tho stones are turned toward your palm, and you: have not tneclosed that linnd sines you en- tered this house, Shall L leave time ind dus; tico to by thelr own avenger, or shall L relate the Inchdrals whieh placed thot ring In your voplng Y au t would prefer that you should say noth- ing further In that connection,” sald Dr, deiaean, with o bow which was certainly not e “Your wishes shallberegarded, Basented. Der. Briseou Is not 9 confederate of mine,” sald Sybil, with o withering clreunlex, as she turned with w haughty disdain to the auillence, or acting was superb, The house sat sl: Tent. as If stinned by the actual presonce of a damning deed. Slowly, as if in anger, with averted facu she lett the stage, After along walt a sinall, shambling, sulf- based nan, with along. th nin face, bulg ‘es, DU crispy hale trailed on the col- his shabby coat, shufled up to the foot lar of Melis and auld fn a re w~ to Inhurmonic and antagonistic Tnthicnees, and the: pzeieties ot dark and un developed spirits here to-night, only one further exhivition of occult elven this uvenlnge ‘Thoso who ure dissatls- Ned can have their money refunded ‘at the regs-cirele whitow, 1 shall now distribute these squires of paper tothe audience, who ure requested to wrlta at will upon them, sign them, und fold thom so that the serlting cannot be geen, If some gentleman wil Kinully assist Iu the distribution and collec. tion, ft will effect a saving of thine, After thy folded papers ure collected, such of thon as were written undor favorable conditton will be read by—by—by the avsistance of Invisible forces herg present,” Lthink thore must have been at least 800 of the little nutes, folded Ike a druggists pows dor paper, on dhe table when sibyl appeared, pate sud, and cali, und, resting her right hail upon the table, sald, ina voice full ot pathos, *Ehaye buen brought fuca to face Unly nightwith those baleful lnilucuces which underlie aw we sorrows of this wuhappy world, ‘Pho cali forbearance with which mlght have revealed to you some trivial evl- dences of the Invisible reahn which sure rounds and controls all visible and earth) things bus passed away. Lam in no moi owers Will bo for the exeraisa of that delicate receptivity which atone gives ino knowledge of things Wadden from many, ln tha present test 1 shall require tho ‘presones of six persons here beslile myself, ‘These will be selected from the nudlence, aud condiefed to these seats upon the stage’? As Sibyl ceased speaking sha sank Into ong of the chalrs at the table, and, placing ler elbows upon tha board, eovered her fica with both hands, 1 think every man In the audience felt that he had had a’shave in cruelly abusing her. The small man cams out of the proseen- fun door, seuftied aboutamon the audience, selected six Individuals, of whom L was one. We entered tha proscenium door, passed tha Sybil who had risen, and stood side-face, to the house, observing us as we entered, We were ndvanced tn some order destnated by the Sybil, whose faee was witehed by the little frost-bitten man, like a master’s by i beaten dog. After the others lind tiled ‘the five chairs which sat inn row baek of tha table, L stepped forward, As I passed the Sybil Tfelt n sudden fhish of heat, as of 9 wart of suminer, Wannday alr—so stdden and so unexpected that C turned toward whence Iteatme and faced the radiant woman, who, with her face to the andlunce, smiled slightly, and, taking my and, seated mo ab her right in one of tho chairs, and with a lite tle touch on ny forcliend pinxell jy head against tho ¢halr back, and seated herself, saying in a Jow vole, “try to think of absolutely nothing.” Wurdly had oI realized the request. when T felt again the warm breath of a sultry day, nnd almost Instantly experienced a delicious. Innguor, in which fwas only conscious of a falnt smiluon the glowlng erlmson ips of Bybil, and the deeps of the black pupils of her gray cyes, which seemed fathomless as thoy held my own in thrall, Suddenly 1 felt a wonderful lightness and netivity In my Nimbs, 1 sprung up from the chair ant snitled In answer to the merry curve of the Sybil’s lips, and, as she bean to rapidly toneh the folded papers with her penell, ‘1 picked up those at which she pansed allghtly find opened them, or they opened themselves, and Dread thom aloud to Sybil. who smiled at me continually, After ] read them her lips moved, thotigh 1 could not hear her speak, and L know shu was repeating the con- tents to tho audience, It seemed a capital joke to me, thougl xl { saw myself still sit- {ng Ju the chair, deadly pate, and the [tt tle shabby man standing in the wings and wadlng ut my form with an expression of misery and hate combined which seemed extremely ludlerous, Sibyl’s perncil paused at nearly every note, { rend them ag fast us Tconid speak almost, nud she tossed them on the floor. Lheard no sound from the imn- lence, J was only consclous of the oxist- ence of Sibyl, the miserable Httle watery- eyed mia, and myself, Suddenly | felt cold, ad, horridly werry, nnd dismal, and was sitting In the ‘chair again nnd faclne tho au- dionce. I fult.a deadly nausea, snd then was conscious of Sibyl’s hand upon my forehend, and her breath’ upon my face, ‘Then she torched my hands for an ‘instant, and Twas enlm, atid full of a dellelous languer, that innde me Indifferent to everything, 1 was alone on the stage, the audience were leaving the house, and L rose from the chalr. ‘There wis a pleee of paper in my hand. 1 thought it was ons of the test notes, and glanced at it mechanically before [ dropped i Itsald: 4 Walt at tho atage-door ontrance for a cur rhage. yl. Lwatked'to the stago door, bewildered, When the carriage stopped it was before 9 tall mansion, ‘The bell was answered by the man with the Wispy hair and the buliny ayes, who leered about but sald nothing. followed him to n-duor, opened by a hand within, When it closed {stood In the pres- ence of anegress, su hideously old, bent, gray’, nud withered that 1 thought imyself drenming: as sho bent her binck, reptile-lookin: 1. and peered Into my fnce, “ Yis, dls yero’s one of em,” ste said finally, as she hobbled away tonwdoor attho fur end of the room, and was gone, Llouked about ae. A lght stuoke rose from a pastile smoldering th tell, glided brazier, Several boxes in tine woods, and two or three bottles beautifully cut, stood on asmall table. ‘The carpet was Inxurious, the hangings elegant; heavy curs tains fell from the cornice to the floor; there were lounges and ottumans, and two low Turkish chilrs, and, us L turned, Lsaw, in an aleove, a bed with silk housings, and a'lady?s toilet table nenr. Again L felt the sudden warmth, auc, turning, stood faeetu face with the Sibyl, ‘The satin: had been replaced by fassaner dndininull, ‘The mouth was sear- et still, but wreathed with 9 mischievous smile. ‘The eyes had lost their depth, and were merry and roguish, ‘There was charming dimple In her left cheek, and, as she took my handin both of hers with the frankest cordiality, there was nothing what: ever to remind mu of the woman who had held a thousand men spell-bounds who had been enraged, detlant, and trl amphants noth- ing of the sorceress, Who had, in my own ense, proven canal even to tho dividin ngunder of soul and body and the bringlug o} them together again, “Tow splendidly you ylelded yourself to my influence, ny dear boy! LI never had so perfeet n control over any one before,—you do not know how delighted 1 am with you, and how much L thank you for my perfect Suecess to-night, ‘Tell me your nanie, so that Imay thank you formally.” And she led me to ona of the Turkish ehaira, and, drawing the other close, sat down, and siniled her frank, sweet smile upon ne, “Surely,” sald I, “you know my nanie and my whole life, Whu can conceal any- thing from the Sybil, who reads all of the ‘bas! “You can," said she, “Those who follow iny will are soled books to mo. L can ine Muienee you, if you permit, but your past ts dark to ma—your past and your present both,—and, wi you choose, I have no power atall over you, Ido not know your Name nor tho least thing of you. £ ‘only know that you aro everything Cam not, and that together we form one perfect creature,” “Does that make life parfect for us, then?” sald I. “'Thore 1s no perfect life. Perfection Is extinction, .I lave known one other like you. I thought, as your question just now showed your thought, that we had reached perfection. Itwas not so. He died. You shall tive.’ Hor face liad grown surlous a3. she spoke, and her eyes filed with tears, *ButlLdhtnot bring you here té-night to sesmecry, Cknaw you have thought of many questions, 1 cannot answer wny of them, but Lean tellyou and show you all £ know, snd all, 1 think, that any human being tats BYE Known, of this life, Ask ne what 1 *lrat of all,” sald I, “what fs that L foot when 1 first approach you,—as if a warm stuumer wind blew on ma??? “Oh, that 1s the slinplestof all things,” said bi, "About every living creature iy an velope of soiie vital thing. J can show it you; of course Lito not know what Ib is at all. But let me ware you first,” sald she, fixing her eyes earnestly upon me, * that tn our ovening here together in the face of the inysteries you must give me nothing, You must reeelve everything, Above all, you must not kiss me,” and she Inughed a low and merry Httle laugh, fdon’t think Din 80 Irregistible, but Pi inight think it your duty, us 0 inark of appreciation, you know, You must not do it; romember that. And now you wish to ses the thing of which you spoke,” , Sibyl rose, and, opening oneot the boxes on the table, diselosed a sinall inirror of etal, whieh was so arranged as tobe sup- ported when the box was opened. From ate other box, carved with symbols of Silva and Vishnu, she took a pastily. “There are nong anve these In the world,’ sald she, 80 far as 1 know,” Sho placed ‘tho pnstilo on the smoldering coal in the brazier, and it burned with a thick, graysmoke and a heavy odor of wusk and myrrh. Drawing me tow certain position before the mirror, our images were reflected In pigmy size upon the slowly rising cluud of smoke, “ Now watch,” sald Sybil Slowly the vapor changed Jn tint to a pearly biic, but stl) was dense, and, as ft changed, a nimbus of pale fight sppeare about each of tha figures onthe cloud, Think of me now,’ suld Sybil, with a laugh “Think Tam very beautiful.” “Tio not need to bo told to think that? snid {, and, as I spoke, tho radiance about my linage moved ns with a zephyr toward the reileetion of Sybil, and seuntwd to wreath {tuelf nbout her neck and face. “You do not think 1 an prolly you Jove ine with your eyes. Watch, now, whillo I wish, ag ldo wish, that wo need nover part.” She turned her eyes tenderly on me, and the clrely of Ight about her retlecuion embraced iy shadow, enveloping it com- pletely Ina pale rose-colored flanie, Ag we stood this, the same sweet drowsiness of the theatre crupt over nie, and I felt a sense of self-surrender, Ganipluty and blissful. Sibyl shook me by tho shoulder,‘ Don’t sturo nt mo that way, pleasv; it isn't polite," and again the merry sinlle came to her face, and our shadows of the vapor stood apart once more, © That fy enough of that,” said aie, “Lot mo slow you one or twe other faneles while the night lasts, for these are no deutly Jor lay. Let me give you one drop of ay blood.’ eae Vo were seated again, and from another box sho took a slender bodkin, and, dipping the point in one of the vials upon the table, bricked my wrist. ‘Thon from her own arm she drew one tiny drop of blood and placed. Thupon the puncture © Watch it” said she, “and think of nothing else.” ‘Tho erlmson drop grew on rosebud, then a full-blown rose, with a sweet, heavy olor, and the pers fect flower grow larger and Inrger, until saw a beautiful, slentor serpent, banded with the purest white and the Jovellest yermiiions an, tg the rose grew, Wy temples seemed full almost to bursting, Sut f fett na pati. watched the serpent glide from the scented heart of the rase and wreath hls ite shining folds about Sybil's neck, and stv hor toy with the radiint reptile for hours, i acemed to ine, I thought the surpout was tyself, and that all of her Jove and hor caresses werd mine. Suddenly, with a wave of Sybil’s hands, the serpent was gone, and the rose was gone, nnd T sat there with only ine sect of dry blood on my wrist. A Hide bell, hidden in some borologe in the room, chimed three, “Wo must hasten? sath Sybil. That was Indian hemp, tho polson of tho coral shake of the Amuzon, and my bloud. Now, nd Inst, for one moment we will leave this Ie together, and than—ndien forever! And now——"" She raised her finger and anited onee more. Yor must forget yourself, ane forget me, too. Donotsttr. Everything de- petty upon the absolute passlveness of both, do not know that wo shill suecced, but 1 wish you to, sve SybiL as she truly is, Yietd yourself wholly to me,’ As wo sat in the ow chinirs faci each other, ff was ensy for Sybil to draw ive to her, and to Ty day nce npon her white warm shoulder, and to press her cheek tomy own, while she held me fn her arms aga inother hushes ¢ foved child to sleep, ‘The frst thing 1 notleed was the niurmty of Sybil's respirations next the deep rhythine throbbing of her heart. Seon foitnd that we breathed In uulson, and that our heart-beats were [svchronal, and then L confused or identity; the unison became abvolutuly. perfect. ‘Mere was no drowst- ness or heaviness thistime. Saddeuly we wero standing together. in the alr, with her hand “upon omy shoulder, and sho with «tho bright” simile oon her face, Uke a pleased child who his compassed suine piece of ditleult, and excessively ent. pable mischief. “This is perfect,” sald sy bth, joxously. Was ever muythiiig so ex- quisit? “Do see those too poor idfuis thera ? Shall we go away and leave them forever?" Thore ti the chairs reclined the material forms of Sybil nnd myself,—the round, ite aris clasping me, and the erimson ips ring, my brow and ghueks with tender , he poor thing seems ta like him, doesn’t » suld Sybilas she turned her eyes to should think he woutd be ashamed to Ile there Ike a stielk when he ts being kissed after that sort? sald J, Sybil ulanced at the ftzures, and a lool of deepest, horror and anguish shot cross f T saw anyself iift my arms and elusp them about her neck, ny lips were ralsed to hers, and then 1 was conscious of awakening. L jay upon one of the Jounges In Sybil’s boudolr. ‘tte afternoon sun lay In. long bars neross the carpet. [was alone, Lfelt a terrible fever, anda parehing thirst, £ Chdenvored to rise, and finally, after several elforts, succeeded, and crawled to the water {i and drank such x biissfil dranghe! 1 jookeud at ny hands, withered, and shicty and wrinkled, and parched wlth looked ont my face tn the glass, { seemed .50 years old, What had happened? Where was Sybil? Ifad I been sick for dnys, perhaps months? No, L had on the sng clothes 1 wore when Ll entered the house on Sunday night. jooked ot m: wateh, It had stopped nt 10:20, | dragged myselfto one of tho ‘Turkish chalrs, and iropped Into ft, reealled the events of Sun ay night up to the thine of tho fatal kiss. What had followed? Atter awhile I drank agaln, and found myself better. 1 resolved to leave the house. “Ltottered to the outer hall. ‘The shabby wreck of a man with the watery-blue eyes opened the door for me. T fancied a look of malignant triumph on his face, ‘The fresh alr revived ime, A boy passed with papers, I bought one, Lt was Tuesday evening, A fow steps further on, and Tmet Efile Af ton. She was a singing chambermaid trom tho St. Louis theatres, * Good heavens!” she excinimed, "Is it your ghost? Haveyou been on tho Island? “Aro yon sick? Come to our house right ayy And Ettle, who was ono of three a3 kind-hearted and whole. souled English girls ag aver fyed with thelr mother and worked hard on the boards for moderate lying, furlonsly sleniled a ear ringe with her parasol, helped me in and fol- lowed herself, nnd ordered the driver to the Aftan lodgings, “Ty Sibyl in town yet?’ Tasked ns [lay back in the cushions, : “Do'you know her? Ins she been vous doula. you? Is that what has killed you ?” asked Eile, all inn breath, “Do you know her?” said I. “Know her! She used to be an apple-girl {n the Comique, She was brought up by an old negro Hoodoo. woman in Almond street, She's nvampyre. She ents her Jovers allyo, She's a thousand years old, and has to take that Hoodoo woman with her wherever she goes, or vlsy she'd fall to pieces and crumble tip into little dry bits any minute. She takes moecasin-snake polyon; that’s what keeps her looking young, You seo I know all about it. An‘old Voudow woman that used to tell my fortune toll me all about her. Sho charms hier lovers with coral-snake poison, and they always dio ina little white, too.” “Who ts that little old wreel of a man sho has nround her?” Lasied, “What, that little, jnoldy, and thrown-nway old thing? A know? ‘That's scrubbled-up, Why, don’t you jer husband 2? a Forty Yeans. TOPSY TINKLE. SUBURDAN LIfe AA IT 13, WITH S00 SUGGES- TIONS ABOUT OUR NELP.? Ty the Editor of ‘The Chicago Tribunes Cimcaao, Dec, %,—I have recently been paying a visit to some young tricnds of mine, John and Maria Miss, who last spring enme to the conclusion that Ifo in Primrose Hollow, one of the many suburban towns within twonty miles of Chiengo, was some- thing needful to thelr happiness. ‘That ts, John hnd so decided; Marin, being still in her honeymoon, was quite passive, not yet having developed that stern determination to have her own way which every well-regu- lated wife should possess, Jolin happened to reat the advertisement of Primrose Mol- low, and was deeply Impressed by the deserlp- tlon of {ty beauties, Ie rolled its honeyed words as a sweet morsel under lls tongue, and all day long was murmuring, “ Pure milk! Fresh oggs! Oh, delightful fresh eggs! Leonld eat them raw—mixed up with the pure milk and alittle shorry, And the ‘strawberries! No more big-ones-on-the-top> nnd-little-ones-In-the-bottom boxes for me. 1 shall gather the scarlet beauties, all wot with dew, fresh from imy-own vines! And tho datsivs! and the buttercups !Oh-ce—the ‘beau- tifut, beautiful daisies!” Herothe unfortunate trilleda measure—" Oh those country butter- ike buttercups! [shall hold thom under Marla’s lovely chia and say Does 'oolove butter and she will reply, so cutely, ‘Doves too? Dainty dandelions too} 1 sli! chorish thom most of all for tho sake of the far-off “langisyne,’ when my mother sent me outto grub them up with an old knife, and when I come to the great thereafter,”—hore lls emo- tion all buthinastered bim—"1 shall pray ‘Sao that my grave Is kopt’—yellow.”" « Well, Mr. Bilss partinlly Invested in on house in Primrose Hollow,—so much cash down, 60 much In Installments,-and he and his wife moved out from Chicago, the hus- band Intundlng to go to the cly every morn- ing to his business and return at wight to lis sylvan retreat, “Wa shall not walt for the furniture to come by team,” sald John “Wo'll Just have It sont out, by freight, and It will be casy enough to have some ong cart it up to the house,” Easy enough, poor Iunatle, when every in: habltant of a suburban town knows It Is one of the most diNicult things In the world to get any one to do any sort of innnual In- bor for you, ‘The household effects wero duly shipped, and remained In Prjinrose Hollow depot about a week, pending. thelr removal by the “one and only” teamster In the place, who, not haying the fear of com: potition before his eyes, contented himself with gathering n few things at a tine and carting them up to the house In driblets, Meanwhile, Mrs. Maria wended * her weary way" through the dewy grass, the supply of aldewalk having glyun out near thelr house, In search of, the wife ‘tone antl only’? to come and clean house, She was the solo charwoman that Primrose Hollow could boust, ane her ysefuluess was somewhat bnpaired by a bad habit sho had. of dropping her wasb-rayg and falling into Jong dissertations on the neighvors, while It was dangerous to check her conversation in any way, lest shu should risv up and Ko, and never Come back any more, i shall say notalng of the hunt for a nian to men the roof, ara tinner to fx stove-pipe, or Wil how Alurly was obliged fosend to Chicago for a plumber to do ao: thing about the pump, and for a plano-taner Botlvot these lnst-natned Tndistinuts Mra, Hilss tind the pleastre of providing with, bonrd and Jodging for the nleht, Urimrose Hollow not being blest withea hotel. Not feed much ntention he made of, the: straw. herrles, except to state that John concluded that the principal difference between tho city and the suburban berry was, that inthe elty they are sent home to you, whereas, In the rural retreat you “frequently Nave the plonsure of bringing them home on fie ent x f tha berries ure ripe, thelr Juieg 8 pe scape from the box and ruin yout gloves; If unripe, you fect like pulling alt your halr out for earryinyg tha worthless things so far, Noriy It necessary to count the mornligs on which Jot ruahid hunger from the tomptliy breakfast-table to eateft his early train, or, failing fo “ make i”? was reprimanded by his employers when he dit make lls appearance In the eltys or to enumerate the minutes whieh Marta’ wasted while watting In the depot at Primrose Hol. low for the traln whieh was to take her to town; or of the thnes without number when, with vw sudden remembrance of something which nest he gotten from the ety at onee, she would maken tush for the depot, tying her bonnet-strings, buttoning her gloves, feeling for her pocketbook, wondering If she hadwt left her commutation-ticket Tehind her, only to futon reaching her destination that the ears were in the nef. of pulling out, nid, after maklive frantle efforts to attract the attention of the conductor, being drageed, up the earsteps by the altl of that worthy: aud the niet, Inerely to tnd, when sla took her seat, that all the passengers were on the bread grin. . Edo not deen it worth while to expatiate on the days which Maria spent gazing on a cord of wood In tha bnek yard, wondering If the “one and only” sould come and eat 16 up as he tad promised, or whether, by any possibility, sho cauld fineke off enough here self to ball the tea-kettle for dohin'’s supper, Alt these wers intnor evils, But when whiter eae, and Jolin was obliged to take his cottes every morning by candiclght, when the prajile winds mado st their clilef business to whistle throne every crack and cranny, vhen the water dn the bump froze up, and ttle Maria was foreed to te ‘fori some vigorous calistentes by ald of Its handle ere the water would consent to gush out; when the roads and sitewalks—what. there were of them—were in sueh a conditlon from snow and mittd tt walkhig was so very une peagnnt as tobe not worth the effort, and Mrs. Bliss was obliged to give up her daily constitutional, then Jolin cama to the’ eat. elusfon that life Inn suburban town, fora nan Of thaderate mens, was nob whit his fey Hatt Fondly painted it. All this tne Mr. and Mrs, Bliss had been without a—well, what shall £ call [2 1 would like to say servant, ns Indeed, all who serve, oF whatever degree, ares but the word seams to savor of aristocratic tendencies, so Lill stipol callie a female domestle help, Al, that’s tha rab. With wealth at cou. mand, fife ina snburban town may be mado very beautlinl. Horses and eartiazes will secure ton costal extent independence of the raltrond, a garden will make one's own strawberries nud early pens extstine facts, and money—thnt evatifon. to many MNs—will ive mans conveniences to the home whien the poor inan’s wife must learn to do with. out, Butallsutfer aliise from the luck of The average “hired girl” lias a deep- alike to going aut to ‘service in the y%—as If Primroso lollow, and the ik, were “country? Why shouldshe want, to go? Genurally speaking the convenlences for work ave less than In town, © wouldi’t go myself If L wore In her pisce. always pro- viding Leoutd get an equally good situation in the clive Js it tho correct thiig to look uno a “female donestic lelpe ag a ouseful may chine, without any of the feellngs, nerves, or aches and palus to whieh tho rest of womer Jay elatn ? L forgot to mention that, In Prim= rose Hallow, It is considered strict etiquet to open up reonversation with reference tothe allabsorblig tople of “hired girls,” One meets no frlund: “Good morning, my dear Mrs, Smith; have youn good glriv? And then follow congratulations, orcondolements, ay the ocension demanis. It is curious to notice the feellng of antagonism whleh seems to exist between sone mistresses wud thelr servants, Some thie ago L heard a tady say ton friend, who was remarking upon the ex: cellent qualities of her hited rl”? “A good girl! Dear me, Mrs. dones, do let me run over to your house and take a peep at her L didn’t know > there was such a thi in existence.” ‘This « Indy was consid: ered a inost excellent honsekeeper, She waa noted for getting every Inch of work possible aut of a girl, and foro liabit she had of lock- ine up every serap of calce and sweet-meats, so that her girls never by any ehitieco Ind a taste of anything nice. “I met lately 1 nice Mttle woman who ds eternally changaig her help. By a very slight stretch of Imagination, one might say that a progession of “female domestic help” fs continunily passing through, her house, One of the unalterable rules of Ablishinent Is that, Whoover engages service with her must do tha worl in just ex- actly the way the lady hins been taught to do it herself, and this, no matter Jf the gird be one long-experlenced fn housekeeping ora rough germ Just from the Emerald Isle," L pay tham my money to do my work,” she reasons, “and thay will do it my way or they will leave.” © Said I to, her one day, when sho told me she had secured a girl whom L knew would be n serlect treasure In my house, and whom she thought she would haye no ditil- culty In tratatig Into her way, “iny dear, don’t you think you are carrying the spirit of exactness too far? ‘There are many: ronds to Heaven, and—dontt throw anything atinc—do you not think thers may be other methoils of housekeeping, whlel In many particulars will give equally good results 03 yourown? Remember how hard it Is for any ons to doa thing one way attor having learned to do It differently. If, for instane the bread she gives you he equally sweet an wholesome as when you make ft yourself, don't compel her to learn tho art of bread- making all over again just because her way is not yours, Your girlisa enpable one, Say to her, ‘Mary, do your work In your own way, and if L do not Ike its results T will tell you, and don’t, for morey’s sake; waste your youth and brightness fn becoming ua forlorn inomber of the Glrl-Lunting Brigaie,”” In too nyany cases the dreariest, dinglest, most outbof-tha-wiy room In the hoyse is the one sacred to the memory of tha hifred girl. How much more pleasant and encouraging to {ts oceupant would be the addition of a piste ,or so, auth © bracket with some right, cheery ornament. Wherover possible, a rooni to be used by the help and her friends na n sitting-roum, yes, and to receive her beaux in, too— ' Benuxt beaux!! Surely not beaux, Mist ate followers ara not allowed In my kitehen,’ “Aro they not, Madam?” Then they should bea reasonable amount of them and. at rensonable ‘hours. Why should Bridget or Grotehen be refused the privilege, ga dear to every femate heart, that of 8 “her young man ones or byiee a week? For sce him sho willeven if itis an tho street~ corner, or ii tha buck alley, Low much more Would It conduce to thelr inutial self respect to meet, ay it were, under your pro- tection! And low many more of a desirable class of girls would bo Induced to enter serv> Teo could they but be assured of a few little Melts like these! Cheistinas-tite, with its tender Influences, is with us onee sore, and, while our hearts row Warne and wore Joying to our kith an In, lot ns forget not to remember” one hired girls; aud do not lot us always ho gly Ing gomething oxcoedingly woolen, and Ws. Ml, and charity-like, but, if possible, Jet our eirt be bright and. pretty,—some article our *help” would not feel justified tu buying herself, ‘Vorsy ‘TINKLEs MISCELLANEOUS, PRESERVED BEAUTIES, The Home Departinent is in recelpt of a collection of unusually chatee and begutifal spechnens of pressed-etlmbing ferna ond au tun Ivaves from the mountains ly New Nampshire, for which It is indebted to Alice Jl, Goodwin, No, 107 Main street, flavttord, Conn, whoso advertisement, In another cole wnin Will lowbtluss attract the attention of Momo readers, : MY SWEET NOSE WATH THORNS. For The Chiews Tribune She stood on the atep above me, Her Cuce so nenr wy arn That Fittasod the little darting Without one thought of barn. Sho smiled, but bur face grew waxen, ‘The taper hands vlasped tight, And her daluty red mouth trembled Au | folded her close that night. Tknew ny darling was troubled,— lust why | could pot tell; ‘Thon guessed har secret gil too soon, Btepped back, and almost fell. ‘hwo wort white hunds were on my checks, Allow, "it shall not be; T promised | would niarry bln, Jiut you've round ny heart for mee Bo L kiysed my Nettle darling As we stoud bpon the state; 8 voice hud called ber fair; Hla bund had toyed with ber brown ourlt Before ining growao BOMd cgncast ¥ cyos hud seen her own Ero 1 the story told. Careninae .