The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 30, 1896, Page 27

Here I am back again after a dreamy sailing o’er southern seas to distant sun- kissed isles. Glad to be with you again? Of course I am; and now that you've bhad your vaca- tion, and I've had mine, we are ail ready once miore t6 ehjoy ‘“Childhood’s Realm.” Heigh ho! If there isn’t September peeping round the corner at us, with eyes asblue as the sapphires which deck his slender fingers. Soon he’ll pop right into our midst, and fill our hearts with sweet content as be twines around us the grace- ful tendrils of his faverite flower, the morning glory. Of course some one else had charge of the puzzle department while vour editress was having *‘a little playtime,”” and that’s how that naughty little p lipped in— notsuch a little prize either, and it was very, very kind for some one to offer it, | only go to Washington and teil them!” A | but, all the same, we don't care to be paid in that way, do we? of you, and answer every omne of this week’s questions. M. W.R. Che oMl o5 “I j'w-to-B Grandma lives in a ganny place, The town of “Us o-E ‘Where - streets- ere roplikes” And a nice hot gupper & “tea” Where is the town of “Used-to-Be”? In grandma’s memory bright. The way? Upstairs, to grandma’s room (The cozy ope on the right). When can you gothere? Twilight's best, For Lthe dreamy glow in the grate 7 Lignts the way to the town of “Used-to:Be,” And nobody needs to wait. Then bo. for an hour in thie deat old town, And hey, for the husking-bes, “And-oh, the dancing in stiff brocaae, And, ah, the trysting-tree. And, ugh, the sermons, two hours long, Aud three of them Sabbath day, In a “meeting-house,” so cold and drear, Where the “foot stove’’ held iissway. But if grandma shows you a summer scene In a farmhouse and orchard fair, With rows of cheese on dairy shelves And bees in the clover-sweet air. And there, beyoud, in the kitchen wide, Grandm eif at the wheel: Epinning, singing, & fair young bride, You say, for you €an but feel, What & dear, dear town of “Used-to-Be”! But grandma’s volce dro; And shesays, ¥ “'Twas ali 50 long ago.” , half sweet smile, ~Boston Transcript. HoW _ALEPK SAVED THE RANCH. “There’s no use in figiring, Manay; un- less I get the pension and the back pay we’ll lose the place,” said Mr. Jenifer, gloomily, as he pushed away the pencil and paper. Mrs, Jenifer looked at her husband blankly. “Isit as bad as that, Hiram ?"’ she asked. *‘There’s no help for it,"” replied Mr. Jen- ifer “The mortgage company at Omaha will foreclose the mortgage on the ranch unless the note is paid. The wheat and the corn are harvested, and at outside prices won’t meet the note by $200.” There was silence for a few minutes, broken only by the click of Mrs. Jenifer's knitting-needles. “What did vhat nension lawyer at Wash- ington write in his last letter about the prospects of your claim getting through ?” she asked. “Why, you know svhat he wrote, Mandy. He said there were 3000 or 4000 cases ahead cf mine, ana that the Pension Bu- reau is very strict about considering cases in their regular order. He said it might be cver a year before they reached mine. ‘When it is taken up, though, be thinks I'lt get the pension and the back pay—that's about $3000, you know—for the proof is all right and I have a clear case under the law.” , *It seems kind of hard that, if the Gov- ernment is going to give you the back pay some time, you can’t get it in time to save the ranch from being sold over our heads,”’ sighed Mrs. Jenifer. *Yes, and the hardest part of it is that they do sometimes take up cases out of Now, go to work all | and people are | | order,” replied her husband, ‘‘but the law- yer =aid it requires influence to have that done, ot somie one must show the Com- missioner of Pensions that there is a special reason for it. I have no influence away ot beré on a Nebraska ranch. I can’t even geét down to Washington to plead my own case, There really seems to be no help for us.” . During the course of this conversation there had been an interested but silent 1is- tener on the opposite side of the table, who now arose and passed through the kitchen door. This was Aleck French, Mr. Jenifer's nephew. He sat down on the bench outside and looked acrossthc dusky prairie, lying grim and still in the | moonlight. In one direction a group of scattered lights showed the location of the ailway and the station. 1f they only knew all about it at Wash- ington,” he thought, “1 am sure they would take up our case first. Oh, if I could “No, it won’t do,” long time He sat there thinking, with his chin, in his hands, looking out over the | prairie. As he gaged he saw a light some | distance away moving rapidly along. He | knew it was the héadlight of alocomo- | tive, for he had often watched them, | miles away, creeping over the level | piain. Soon he could hear the rum- | ble of the cars, and by the absence of | lighted windows, knew that it was not a { passenger train. When it stopped at the station the lowing of the cows and some | discordant squeals and grpnts told him it was a stock train bound for Chicago. | Bveryday these long stock trains pas-ed, and sometimes they stopped while the cattlemen fed and waterea the live cargo. Thevcattiemen always accompanied the train, and Aleck bad oiten envied the lot of the young men who were going to see | the gteat city. Then an idea came to Aleck—the possi- bility of doing something to save the | ranch. He soon stole away to his bed, where he fell asieep thinkingebout it, and | took it up again eariy next morning when | he went to feed the stock. After breakfast he went into the kitchen, where his aunt was washing the dishes. There he told her his plan, growing en- thusiastic in.the recital. He wanted to go to Washington and tell the Commis- sioner of Pensions the story of their troubles, and ask him to act upon his uncle Hiram’s claim at once. As he talked she, too, became interested, and her wan face was lighted up for 8 moment | by nhope; but she soon became grave | again. “‘But, Aleck, we could not spare even \$5 to buy your food on the way, for per- haps your plan nlight fail. No, it won’t do,”” said his aunt, shaking her head. Aleck went out of tiae kitchen with a heavy heart and walked toward the barn. ‘When he reached the gate his own little pony, Brown Bess, came running to the bars and affectionately tbrust her nose at him to be stroked. As he patted the ‘mare’s ‘head another idea came to him. In a moment he was in the harness-room, tugging at-his saddle on the hook; and five miriutes later heé was calloping over the prairie toward the station. Up the principal sireet he rode without drawing rein until he stopped before the postoffice. Mr. Brand, the Postmaster, was standing’ at the delivery-window as Aleck came in, and seemed surprised to see bim, THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1896 [ited by “Why, Aleck, there aif’t any mail this timé of day,” he began. © “T'didn’t come for ma il,”’ Aleek replied. Then hie continved hastily: “Mr. Brand, you offered me”$20 for Brown Bess two months ago and I refiised to sell her.” “Yed, that's 80.” “Well, I've come to take your offer.’” “Why, what's the matter now, Aleck, that you are 0 anxious to sell?” “I need the money,” answered Alex, choking back a sob. Mr. Brand came out and looked at the horse. After some further talk the bar- gain was concluded and Aleck started out of the postoffice with four $5 bills. Before heé reached the door, however, he said: “Mr. Brand, is your son George stilla vostal clerk on the railway 3" “Yes, Aleck; his ‘run,’ as they eall it, is from Chicago to Pittsburg.” As Aleck left the postoffics he passed by his pony still hitched to the rack and Brown Bess neighed in &n inqairing man - ner as he went down the street as if to say: “Where are you going without me, Aleck?" Reaching home, however, he slipped in the | back way, and climbing into theé loft of the barn, lay face down in the hay and cried as if his heart would break as he thought of the empty stall below him. Great was the astonishment of Mr. Jen- ifer that evening when his wife revealed to him Aleck’s plan; and when the lad laid the four $5 bills on the table before him his surprise was complete. Far into the night they talked it over, for it was a momentous step in a young boy’s life. Fiually Mr. Jenifer settled it. “I'Il let you go, Aleck; it's to save the Yanch, and may God bless you, hoy.” On the evening of the third day after the sale of Brown Bess, Aleck French was at | Chicagoin the office of the division super- | intendent of the Railway Mail Bervice. | George Brand, the Postmaster’s son, was with him, and they were anxiously await- | ing a reply from the gray-haired, stern- | looking official who sat at the desk before | them. “It is very unusual to permit any one | to ride in the postal car,”’ said the super- | intendent, gravely. “I know it, sir,” answered Brand, “but said his Aunt, sadly. | this is a special case. Aleck would not ask | it, and I would not, sir, if it w ere not to save the ranch.” Here George told the story of Aleck’s racrifice of Brown Bess in his efforts to help his uncle, and of the difficulty he had | experienced in getting to Chicago. *I | only ask that you ‘deadbead’ him to lPi tisburg in my car,” concluded Brana, in an appealing voice. ““Well, you are a brave boy, and I will do it,’’ said the superintendent, “and I'll make it good at Washington.” A few moments later the boys left the room with a pass in the superintendent’s own writing. Aleck had come to Chicago on a stock train in the care ¢f a neighbor who was bringing a trainload of cattle to the market, earning his passage by help- ing the men feed and water the cattle on the train, 4 . When they reached the depst and climbed into the postal car Aleek was first introduced to the clerks. Then he made hifaself comfortable upon a pile of empty sacks, while Brand, who was the clerk in charge of the regisiered mail, began his | But he hurried on without looking back. | He Say the Pouch Beneath a Heap of work of checking the pouches, He told Aleck that.these sacks contained money and valuable packages and thatin one of them were several hundred thousand dol- lars going to the United States Treasury. “I'll keep my eye on that pouch, I tell you,” lauched Brand, and Aleck’s eve opened wide at the idea of s0 much money s0 near him. The next afternoon they arrived at Pittsburg and the mail for Washington was transferred to another cay. Aleck was sorry to part with Brand, but found his new acquaintances very pleasing fellowss He saw the registered pouch with the treasury money in it stowed away beside the registry clerk’s rack. That pouch seemed like an old friend, and he felt that heé almost had a pereonal interest in its safe delivery, That night the train was running down tha eastern slope of the Allegheny Moun- tains, swinging around the curves at a lively rate. Aleck was still awake, curled up on his pile of sacks in the reeistry clerk’s end of the car, wondering how many pensions could be paid out of the money in that registered pouch. Then there was a sudden jarring under the car and a terrible crash. The lights went out and Aleck felt himself rolling over and over, with mail sacks under and above him. There was an awful stillness for a moment; then the silence was broken by groans and cries of pain. Aleck tried to raise himself, but found both legs pinned down by a great piece of timber. He could see nothing for & few minutes; but presently, through the twisted mass of wreckage above he saw the light of a lan- tern and heard voices. “Helpl help! Here I am!” shouted Alsck. The ring of an ax and the sound of crash- ing timber told him that help was coming, and in five minutes more a hole had been made gbove him. A mian passed down to him a saw, with which he soon severed the beam that held hitn. Scrambling out, he found himseif on top of the ruinsof the mailear and the bagzage-car. The engine and two cars had jumped the track and rolled down a steep emibankment, but the breaking of the coupling had kept the re- mainder of the train on the track. The engineer and fireman were badly hurt, and every man in the baggage and mail cars had been bruised and Scratched; but, for- tunately, all had been dug out of the wreck. 1t was none too soon, for the wreck had taken fire, and one end was now blazing briskly. While the passengers and train- men were grouped arotind Aleck, who was the 1ast one taken out, the registry clerk came up to them crying: “Oh, where is that registered pouch with the treasury money? There it $300,000 in that wreck.” Like a flash it came to Aleck that the pouch was fear him when the car rolled over. Without a word he dropped back into the hole from which be had jnst emerged, and in 4 moment was groping for the pouch. 1t was not so dark down there now, for the burting wreckage, not twenty feet away, cast a ruddy glow through the mass of twisted iron and splintered wood. By this light he finally saw the pouch beneath a heap of sacks, and begau tugging and hauling at the pile. He heard the crowd above shouting to him to return, and saw the flames licking up the inflammable wreckage close at hand. At last he looseéned the pouch, and in another mo- ment had clambered out of the hole, drag- ing the bag after him. €% e * The Postmaster-General at Washington sat in his office talking to four men and a boy who were standing before him. The men had bandsxes around their heads; their faces were seamed with court plaster, and the boy bhad strips of court plaster upon both hands and across the bridge of bis nose. é S0 this is the boy who saved the regis- tered pouch, isit?” said the Postmaster- General, looking kindly at Aleck. “That'’s the boy,” replied the registry clerk, who then related the details of the story, and toid of their arrival in Wash- ington that morning upon the relief train sent to the wreck. The great man listened attentively, and seemed much interested in the account of Aleck’s scramble after the treasury pouch. “But how did this boy happen to be in the postal car?” he asked. Then Aleck in a straightforward manuer told his story, from the time he had resolved to get his uncle’s pension, and in simple language pictured the trouble hanging over the Nebraska ranch. ‘‘And now I've come to Washington to try to find some one with influence to help our pension case along,” said he in conclusion. “You shall have it, my boy,” said the Postmaster-General, and he took Aleck’s hand in his own and pressed it warmly. Then he told his messenger to call his car- riage and drove with Aleck to the Fension Bureau, where they were immediately shown into the presence of the Com- missioner of Pensions. There Aleck had to tell his story over again to the Com- missioner. “And now, Mr. Commissioner,” said the Postmaster-General, I ask you to take up this pension case as a favor to me. This boy has saved the Government $300,000, and it is as little as we can do to help him in this way.”” The Commissioner said he would be glad to do so, and promised to have Mr, Jeni- fer’s claim examined at once. That same night Alex left for homs, * Ashes. traveling on a Pullman car and on a pass which the Postmaster-General procured for him. There was great rejoicing in that little home in Nebraska when he re- turned, and when, one week later, Mr. Jenifer's draft came and was cashed at the bank the first money used was to buy Brown Bess from Mr. Brand.—8t. Louis Globe-Democrat. g “This, ladies entlem brated trigk male Dot ald the ciowntaly beast was being led into thé ring. '*After Thaky him 4o aay hing b6 wants 16 Laagon Eit st any! lrn : 10.”—London L kS o8 A3 DT 27 ITTLE Bonnibel brought to her dear dog Bose A beautiful rose which she held to his nose. “Would you like,” she said, “to smell of my rose?” Not a word, nor smile, nor a thank-you from Bose! I am sorry, poor Bose, if a doggie’s nose Isn’t made the right way to smell of a rose! BROOKLYN, N. Y,, Aug. 15, 1896. Dear Editor: Brooklyn is on the other side of the United States from what San Framcisco is, but that is where I live. My brother works in New York fora firm which gets THE CALL and lte brings it home tor me. Igo to school 4nd am in the eighth grammar grade. We have vacation now and school doesn’s begin until September 14. I have three sisters, and we have fine sport. Icen draw very good, having received one medal and threeé diplomas in school for draw- ings. Can I send a drawing bf nature and have it printed in THE CALL? I send a heading pos- ter this time and would like to see it printed. 1remain your correspondent, ALICE FAHLBERG, P. 8. THE CALL gets to Néw York on the Sat- urday following the Sunday it is published, so Icannot do any puzzles. ‘ Viensa, Austris, Aug, 4, 1896, Dear Editor: This letter comes from Vi- énna. 1learned English from Julius Haug of San Francisco, wiio used to 1tvé In our house. Julius Haug learns to play the violin at the conservatory: He is the best i the class. Mr. Friedberger, ffom New York, received a grand plano. He played the piano the best in the finishing class. He received a medal, too. Julius Haug is 13 years of age; I am 10 and Mr. Friedberger is 19. Julius Haug's father keeps THE CALL and sends every week THB SUNDAY CALL and we fead it togethér. I like to read the children’s page. I think Bau Fraf- cisco must be a grand city. ALFRED'SKODOPAL. VI Wienstrasse No. 15, Wien, Austria. GRASS VALLEY, Cal, Aug. 16. Dear Editor: My papa takes THE CALL and we like it very much. I have just been read- ing the “Children's Realm.” I have two brothers and one sister. My sister is visiting her friends in Nevada City just now and we miss her very much. Hoping to see this in next Sunday’s CALL, I am yout little iriend, ANNIE Loop. E, BLUE Lake, Humboldt Co., Cal, Aug. 16, 1896. Dear Editor: My papa takes THE CALLand I have been reading the children’s column. I like to read the letters from all the little boys and girls, and I thought I would write one from this far-off place. Ihave three brothers and one sister; her name is Clara. My brother Frank and I go to school. We have to walk about & mile. Our teacher's name is Mrs, Grace Crawford. I guess I won’t write any mora this time. This is my first letterand I hope to see it in print next Sunday. Iremain your little reader, WiLLiE T. MAHONEY (aged 9). ‘WooDsIDE, San Mateo Connt{. Cal., Aug. 18, 1896, i Dear Editor: As we have 1ot seen any letters from this piace, we thought we would write. We are two littie girls, and we like to read the letters in' THE CALL. We go 10 school together andon Saturday visit éach other. LastSatur. day our schoolteaclier took us to see the shingle-mill. We saw the big oxen bring in & lot of logs. There were lots of men there and the mill made lots of noise. They have big round saws to saw the shingles. We saw them pack the shingles into bunches. We have six brothers and they are all Republicans. Hoping this letter will be printed in THE CaLL, we ADELE MUNRO, Sl MARIE JomNso, OAKLAND. Cal., 'Aug. 15, 1896, .Dear Edftor: This is my first letter I has ever sent you. My papa has taken THE CALL for a long time. I enjoy reading the children’s | page very much. I am a little girl, 8 years old. Igoto the public school and my teach- er's name is Miss Brown. In vacation I wasin the country for two weeks. My cousin and I had & lot of funon the haystacks. I hope to seé this letter in print next Sundsy. I close. Your irfend, JENNIE STILLMAN, PLEYTO, Monterey County, Cal., Aug. 8, 1806. Dear Editor: Vacation is nearly over, ana I guess all my happy daysof this vacation are gone. So I will write and tell you about my vacation. I have had so many hapoy days that I could not begin to tell you my hap- piest. I went to San Lucas to see one of my girl friends just before the Fourth and stayed until after it was over. There was no celebra- tion af San Lucss, and we intended to go to King City, but it rained and hailed so that it was inconvenient to do so. When I came home my friend visited me and we had a very pleasant time. She left for home to-day, and I miss her very much. This hot weather still continues, the thermometer registering 102 to-day. 1 have solved most of the puzzles and should like to send you &nother oneifIam not presuming 100 far. Your constant reader, PEARL MOORE, BANTA CLaRA, Cal,, Aug. 23, 1896, Dear Editor: I thought I would write you a letter to-day, as I Dave mot written to you for quite a time.. I thiok I have the correct answer to théenigma in to-day’s paper, 5o I thought I would send it in. I guessI have ‘written enough, so I will close for this time, Yout Little frieud, Hazsl (aged 12). PSZZLES. I Riddle. < My ote is five, My two is one, For three I strive And find it none; My four, although I am not thrifty, 1see turns out to be a fifty ; My other two, I have no doubt, You'll soon put them in When you find them out. II. Contifidrums. ‘When is a field Jike a seam? 1II. What request does a cripple make of a dealer in artificial limbs? 1V, Transpose the letters of “to join” and have “to separate.” V. Dropped vowels—and also the “w” and “y” are dropped: A proverb ol eleven words— il nvr mss the wir tli th wll ros dr. VI. What important event in the history of California took place in September? VII. What well-known Frenchman, whose 1{fe was ruled by the great principles of our Revolutionary Fathers, was born in Septem- ber? < VIII. When ana by whom was the Pacific Ocean discovered? Nearly 250 answers to the enigma which appeared in the children’s puzzle column last Sunday were received by Monday noon, and altogether some 950 have been received. - According to the terms of the promise made the collection of postage stamps is awarded to Miss Josie Bob of 1215 Folsom street. Following are the fiames of fifty other bright boys and girls whose answers were correct and who are entitled to eredit as being the ones who, after the successful writer, sent in theé first fiity cotrect solutions: Maggie Walsh, Vallejo; George Bayley, 3001 Fillmore street, San Frafi¢isoo; Grace Whitney, 2030 Laguna street, San Francisco; Mary O’Keefe, 1718 Leavenworth street, San Fran- cisco; M. Burns, 16194 Post street, San Fran- cisco; Emma Orton, 778 Tenth street, Oakland; Julia Gregory, 768 Beventeenth street, Oak. 1and; Myrtle A. Burnett, 19065 Pclk street, Laura Howells. San Francisco; Pauline Hanson, Redwoods City; Walter Herzer, 2533 McAllister street, Ban Francisco; Mabel F. Reed, 2325 Sutter street, San Francisco; Johanna Thomas, Alas meda; Louise Kiel, San Francisco; Morri_ Stark, 1418 Morton street, Alameda; Christa- bel R. Sabey, 3524 Twenticth street, San Fran cisco; Nelly Cody, 1019 Hampshire street, San Francisco; Ffrieda Kirchmann, 11 Eureka stréet, San Francisco; C. F. Philiipp, 1827 California streef, BSan Francisco; Birdie Israel, 460 Natoina street, San Francisco; Nellie Hubuner, 721 Grove stréet, San Franeisco; Tessie Ahlborn, 171 Parker avenue, San Francisco; Lottie Andrews, 13 Johunston avenue, San Franeisco; Enid Tur- ner, 2803 Washington street, San Francisco; Frank A. Brown, Folsom; Mamie Kelly, Santa Rosa; Mabel Wosser, Sausalito; Elton Irving, 1919 Baker street, San Francisco; Hazel A. Terry, 2104 Mason street, San Francisco; Helen Brunner, 2415 Filimore street, San Fran- cisco; M. Selig, San Francisco; Alice Bell, 1923 Geary street, San Francisco; Burpee 0. Webber, Santa Cruz; Belle Jarvis, Newark; Ethel May Lawrence, East Oakland; George Hooson, Haywards; H. Blennerhassatt, 224 Beventh street, San Francisco; Bessle Lyman, Yuba City; Charlotte Corlett, 615 Jessie street, San Francisco; Etta Peabody, Vacaville; Roy Corrigan, 810 Sixth street, Oak- land; Ross Gilson, 575 Thirteenth street, Oak- land; Leonard Miller, 219 Haven street, Oak- land; Eph Nerell, San Jose; Eddie Plum, 1221 Eighteenth street, Bast Oakland; Roger Mac- pherson; Alameda; M. Chiristensen, 521 Jones street, San Francisco; Beatrix Cooley, 311 Walnut sireet,8an Franciseo; Flora Jordan, 941 Howard street, 8an Francisco; Willie Munel, East Oakland; K. Nolan, 1124 Broadway, San Franeiseo. The answer was as follows: My 18, 12, 9, 3, Loin. My 4, 6,15, 11, 12, 7, Faleon. My 18, 2. 5, 7, 14, 16, Carnal. My 1, 8,12, 5, 3, Beorn. My 10, 13, 2, 5, Scar. My whole—a Household word—THE BAN CaLL. 0ld boarder—I understand, madam, that our new associate of the festal board 1s a grad- uate of Eton. Landlady—Don’t you believe it ! He'll never graduate from eatin’ as long as there's any. thing to eat.—Boston Courier. NOT 6F [[EARTH. O little Oak That cl The weaker You'swe Of faith and To soul In which w ® Foraye O fettered hi What y Makes like a (¢ The ear Your little To waft . Away from f Which O precious h Just fre Yet all its d To you Like half-cl That le So thy pure >f heav’ and Ivy, osely cling, to the stronger, etly bring, streugth a lesson, s yet pure hen they are mate endure. tele eaglets, _ou descry fairest vision th and sky arms are winglets' the scréen ace of heaven, then 1s seen. ‘uman blossoms, . sh from heaven, ew the purest 1s given, osed buds low-bending, an to earth, souls are dreaming uly birth. FRANS DEAGIORY