ve Le — VIEWS FROM A BALLOON. BY JOSEPH BARBER. The following lines were written in a basket attached to one of those bubbles of the alr called a balloon, during the first (and last) ascension of the author: The cords are severed and we float.in air, Launched at a venture in unbounded space, Our bark a bubble and our wild course where The mad wind listeth in its curbless race, Onward and upward like a loosened shaft! Earth to a map seems turning as we gaze; In spiral circles soars our fragile craft Through eddying clouds and seas of sunlit haze. A storm! but we have pierced it; never wings Fanned the blue air where now we hold our way. Faiut on the ear the ascending thunder rings, And far below the harmless lightnings play. Hat what bright vision mocks our dazzled sight? Lo! on a sea of vapor tempest driven The regal sun with many-tinted light Is blazoning all the heraldry of Heaveat The pageant wanes, dissolves—like scattered plumes, Chased by the gale, the parted vapors fly; Once more the uncurtained earth beémeath us looms And things familiar greet the wondering eye. By distance dwarfed, the Liliputian scene Seems hike some model landscape deftly planned, Aping, with silver threads and dots of green, The streams and meadows of a pleasant land. And how bedwarfed the boasted works of man! Here is a lesson for his vaunting pride— Hamlets diminished to a pigmy’s span, Towns that an infant’s outspread hand would hide. Oh, haman insects! it provokes a laugh To see how small your grandest homes appear. Ambition, what a bitter epitaph On all thy greatness might be written here! —_—_+#+—___ THE DEVIL'S CANYON. BY HERO STRONG. In the third year of the gold excilement at Pike’s Peak, Major Luke Bretonne came there from somewhere in que of the New England States, i He was a proud, “uppish” sort of fellow, and did not seek to make frieuds with the rough miners about him. Evidently he held himself far above them, and when he deigned to soil his white hands with the filthy ore for which they were all toiling, he entered upon the work With an air of protest, as if he would like it understood that he was not brought up to such menial business. O{ course he got a slang name by his behavior—indeed everybody had « name in Uiat vicinity not given them at their curistening. The miners called him Count Luke, and the name clung to him till his death. Shortly after the advent of the count at the diggings, there was another noticeable arrival. A tall, supple, slen- der young fellow, with a complexion like an Indian creole, an eye dark and piercing, end hair soft and fine, and abundantas a woman’s. Nobody knew where Charlie King hailed from, nor what were his antecedents. He was reticent, without being sulky, aud all the miners agreed that he had ‘seen trouble,” and treated him as teuderly as it was in their rough natures to treat any one. Charlie's hands were blistered over and over again by the harsh toil, but he was brave and plucky, and he held his Way nobly, and made his little pile with the rest of them. One thing about him his companions could not understand —he neither drank nor gambled, and it was something which could not have been truthfully said of any other man then at the Peak. He had a little hut all by him- self, and he kept it scrupulously neat and clean; and When sunset came he sat outside the door on a rude bench, and looked at the red sunlight as it quivered and glinted across the broken spurs of the mountains, He never smoked either, and whenever any of his ac- quaintances asked him to go down to Page’s witht them— “Page's” was a canvas-covered grog-shop in the heart of the shanty village wilch had sprung up around the diggings—he always thanked them, with a grave polite- ness very strange in that locality, and declined. Count Luke seemed to seek the society of Charlie on every occasion, but was repelled by the latter; and more thau once some miner, more observant than his fellows, declared he had seen the veins in Charlie’s forehead swell into cords, and his slender fingers clutch the palms of his hands until blood came, aud all because Count Duke had slapped him familiarly on the shoulder, or pulled playfully a tangled curl of his long hair. They all agreed that there was some mystery about ‘the boy,’ as Charlie was called; but there was a rude kind of honor in their natures which prevented them from seeking to penetrate it. Matters went on quietly enough for ayear, and then to the vicinity of the diggings came Col. Lauderdale and his daughter Maud. The colonel was a large owner in the ore-bearing tract, and had come on to see after his claims, His daughter had begged to accompany him because she Was young and romantic, and wildly fond of adventure. She was nineteen that summer, and beautiful as a peri. Her hair and eyes were black, her complexion clear and waxen, like the petals of a water-lily, and her lips red as the innermost crust of aspray ol coral. She had the free, graceful step of an antelope, and a voice sweet as the ring of silver belis. In Philadelphia, where there were plenty of women, she was a belle—judge what she was out there in that uncivilized regiou, where women were scarcer than white elephants, aud, as one old miner ex- pressed it, *‘a man would gladly walk a dozen miles to see & Woman’s apron hanging on a clothes-line.” They were all ready to fall down and worship Miss Lauderdale, and Miss Lauderdale was quite ready for the worship to begin. Count Luke was among the first to offer up his incense of admiration at her shrine. Handsome and cultivated he certaiuly was, and no doubt he appeared at his best by contrast with the roughly-dressed, uncouth barbarians around him; for certain it was that Miss Lauderdale smiled on him in the sweetest manner, and before the colonel had time to set down his wrathful old foot and forbid the love-making, it was all over, and Maud had promised to be Count Luke's wife. The girl had the temper of a mule—not to speak disre- spectfully of her—and to all her father’s ravings she made bat one reply—shie loved Mr. Bretonne, and should marry him. So the colone!’s wrath soon boiled itself clear, like @ tumbler of soda-water, and he gave his consent, and doubtless was ready with the historical, “Bless you, my children!” He would, however, have delayed the celebration of the nuptials until their return to Philadelphia; but Maud was romantic, and the idea of being married out there in the wilds had taken strong hold of her. It would be some- thing to tell one’s grandchildren, sie said, and of course she had her way—a determined woman always does. Not far from the cluster of shanties was a deep gorge, through which ran a noisy stream, dry in the summer, but a swollen torrent in the season of the fall rains. 1t Wis a most wild aud romantic place, and was known as “Devil's Canyon.” A narrow foot-path ran along the edge of the ravine, and high above, fur hundreds of fath- oms, towered the bleared wud storm-bieached crags of the Mountains, Aud just there Maud Lauderdale would have her mar- riage services performed. No amount of opposition in- fluenced her to chauge her mind—she was bent upon being married in an entirely origital manner. Sie was sick of the darkened churches, aud blazing tapers, and perfume of hot-house flowers, she said—she would speak her vows in a cathedral of Nuture’s own building, with the wild roar of the mountain torrent by way of organ re- sponses. Ali very pretty and romantic, no doubt; and as the colonel had yielded so much, he yielded that poiut also. As for Major Bretonne,>he fully realized that he was abont to marry the heiress of half a mitiion, and it did pot matter whether he married her before the high altar of St. Peter's at Rome, or beside the beetling crags which overliung the Devil's Canyon. Lt would not affect the financial part of the operation in the least. So he kissed his pretty young jicncé, and declared it was a charming pian, and he was delighted that she had suggested it. Tie day cane, clear and cool, and bright with sunshine, All the miuers took a holiday, and washed themselves, by way of dressing up. Some of the more aristocratic among them, treated themselves to clean shirts, and turia- ed their overails inside out, so that the coating of mud wight not be quite so perceptible. Aclergyman had been brought from a town a hundred miles away, aud everyting Was propitious. At ten o’clock the bridal purty, nrounted ipon ponies, rode in upon the scene. Tue bride was dressed in a fow- ing robe of crimson, with diimonds upon her bare eck audarms. Her magnificent hair was unbound, aud here and (Chere, amid its raven folds, sparkled the priceless rubies which were thickly set in the golden coronet which held back Che hait from her forehead, Sretoune, haudsome, suave, smiling, stood by her side; and Colonel Lauderdale, a litte in the backgreuud, Wail- ed to give away the bride, ‘The miners, to the number of acouple of hundred, stood around, leaning againsi the dark rocks, while overhead the sun shone ina cloudiess sky, and at their feet, a thou- sand feet below, thundered the hrountain stream over its rocky bed. Tie clergyman offered up a prayer, and rising to his feet, advauced toward the wating and expectant pair, But quickiy between him and them glided a tall figure, Wilh aneye which gleamed like fire, and a face set and hard as the everlasting mountains around them. The miners uttered an involuntarily cry of surprise, for they all recognized Charlie King, 5 What was to come next they need not imagine. *jFold!”? said Charlie, in a clear, firm voice. “I forbid this marriage!’? ‘““Whereiure ?? cried the clergyman, sternly, while Bre- topne’s fair face flushed with passion, aud his haud in- yoluntarily sougut his pistols. ; “Because the man is aiready married!’ said King, slowly, and never removing his flaming eye from the face of the would-be grvom. “Itisa lief’ thundered Major Bretornne, drawiug his re- volver, but those Who looked at him saw that his haud trembied, and his lips were ashy white. “Silence! said Charlie King, in a yoice which rang like steel. *-) havea story to tell. Three years ago, in a fair New England town, that man,’? pointing to Bretonne, A ® “wooed and won a simple-hearted girl named Lucy King. She was the only child of an old father, who, thoagh poor, was of as proud a race as ever stepped on the Puritan soil Of New England. ‘he man could not make her his, as he desired to do, without marriage, for the girl, thangh a fool, as all girls in love are, was pure and Chaste as snow. He took her before a minister, and there said the yows which made him her hasband.” ' “But the minister was no minister!” cried Bretonne, savagely; “he was only a tool hired for the occasion!" “So you told me afterward,” said King, ‘and the knowl- edge did not break my heart, as it broke my father’s. It turned me into stone. When you deserted me and my unborn child, Luke Bretonue, I took a vow to revenge my wrong. I followed you to these wilds, that I might re- deem that vow. For, my friends, Jam Lucy King, and I appeal to you all to decide the case—am I, or am I not, in the sight of Heaven, Luke Bretonne’e wife?” And from a hundred throats came the cry deep and strong: “You are his wife! Let him deny it, if he dares!” With a wild shout of rage, Bretonne sprang upon the slight form of his accuser, and bore her toward the edge of the precipice. The wronged woman flung herself back, and grappled with him in a deadly struggle. Only for an instant did it last, and before the astonished meu around could lift a hand, Luke Bretonne had been dashed over the precipice. A sharp, despairing shout came back, and thea nothing was heard but the wild road of the torrent. Lucy King stood on the dizzy brink, aud gazed down- ward with hard, dry eyes. Then, half-turning to the crowd, she said: “I have revenged my wrong, and now Iam going whither he has gone. For though his heart was black with vil- lainy, and tie name of his crimes was legion, J loved him/ I love him stiu \" They rushed toward her, butit was too late! She had gone over the brink! There is little more fo tell. Miss Lauderdale bore herself like a heroine, and if the truth must be told, the colonel was not broken-hearted at theturn affairs had taken. He carried his romantic daughter back to Philadelphia, where slic married a stout, respectable iron-monger, and has doubtiess forgotten all about that startting little epi- sode at the Devil’s Canyon. et Oe ORGANIZING A GRANGE. BY THE “FAT CONTRIBUTOR.” The epidemic has at length reached our quiet litte vil- lage here in Ceutral New York, aud the people are crazy to become grangers. A hardy farmer from the neighber- ing city of Utica came up the other night and made a stir- ring speech regarding the Patrons of Husbandry, as the order is called, of which he claimed to be @ prominent officer, and after the speech steps were taken toward the organization of a grange. Only one jarmer was present, others who came not being able to obtain admission, as the hall was crowded before they arrived. But that isu’t very material in a grange, Iam told. The horny-haucded farmer from Utica was made chair- man of the meeting, and after several stirring speeches had been made on subjects more or less remote from agri- culture,persons who desired to enroll themselves as gran- gers were invited to step forward. There was a great rush for the stand, when a womau’s shrill voice Cried, “Hold! Bibowing her way to the front she claimed the right Lo be enrolled first, “What have you done?” asked the chairman, somewhat sternly, ‘entitling you to be eurolled amoug the ‘Patrons of Husbandry?” . “Raised ‘leven danghters,’? was the proud reply. ‘All got husbands, and if I ain't a ‘patron of husbandry’ | should like to know who is?) She was received at ouce with cheers. A carpenter claimed to be something of a farmer. Said he had worked around a farin a good deal—buill fences around it. He had gotin a good deal of hay, too—got in out of the rain, He added that if there was no special objection to his joining the grange he would like to be- come their carpenter, und joer. He was allowed to join. A A lawyer jumped upon a chair and exclaimed, vocifer- ously: “Mr. Chairman, I claim admission iute this noble order—I, Loo, have held the plov——" 1 “Held it on an attachment,” put in the solitary farmer sitting by, aud tue lawyer subsided amid the laugtter of the crowd, “IT am one of you,” said a strollingactor. “My lot was cast in a garden.” “In what garden?’ asked the chair. “Enoch (g) Arden.’ i! He was immediately voted a benefit, and the village marshal, who had a new pair of cowhide boots on, treated him to a stoga. px] ‘ A retired printer wanted to get in because he had toiled for years With the hoe, but on its trauspiring that it was a Hoe press he was barred out. There was a commotion at the door, and the village aka ee a very energetic woman, forced her way into the hall. “Put me down as a grangeress!’’ she cried, “for I am the champion mower.”? ‘Mower!’ shouted the assembly in one breath. — “Yes, mower. Don’t my customers admit that I have mode aliead of anybody ??? ‘ She was admitted, but the chair decided they could stand no mower of that sort. She was elected Flora, aud is ready to Fiora man who denies her right to the houor. One of the most extraordinary applications for mem- bership came froma man who has made himself insane over the construction of a fying machine. He said some men had swung more scythes thau ie had bat he had worked mo’wing machines, j By the way, how singular it is that farmers are so eager to buy a reaper and mower, although it noturiously goes against the grain. It would seem as tough reaper was sufficient without buying any more, But ] once kuew a man to purchase @ washer aud wringer for his wife, becaise, as lie profanely remarked, he not only wanted a line to washer, but to wring her d—— neck o cae A Wag asked the attention of the meeting while he read the moving poem, ‘Little Breeches,”’ “What has ‘Little Breeches‘ got todo with farming ?”” asked the boss granger rather lestily. “Didn't it make Hay ?” replied the wag. ‘ The wretch was let off, as it was evident he had the Hay ever. : A music teacher advised farmers desirous of prognosti- cating the weather to study the music of Strausg, as straws show which way the wind blows. The chairman remarked, sarcastically, that ifthey kept on at that rate they could easily transpose the grange into a first-class retreat for lunatics, and run the Utica Asy- lum clear out of the State. He added that he had organ- ized granges among farmers in our most populous cities, but never had he encountered such pitiful ignorance re- garding the farm as he found here. He hoped they would cae confine themselves strictly to the buSiness in and. A tailor wanted to join on the strength of his “sowing,” and an artist because he had drawn saw-logs—drawn them with a crayon. A father of a iurge family claimed distinction on account of the years he had devoted to ‘‘cradling,”? aud a preacher because of the effeciive mauner iu which he had handled the aw of the apostles, Enough names being at length enrolled, the question of the election of officers was uextin order. ‘The chairman, in looking about Jor a chief officer, asked who had raised the most during the past year, A mauin the poultry business said, when it Came to cuickens he guessed he had raised about as good “crops” as anybody. A rebei- lious schoolboy, who had thrashed his teacher recently, said he raised oid Linenduster clear out of lis punips, and a female crusader allowed the tavern keeper's wlusky bad raised more disturbances than anything else. The solitary farmer who tad had very little to say, re- marked very solemuly that the manu who was entitled, above all others, to be chief officer, so fur as raising was concerned, Was how, unfortunately, serving a term in State Prison, under the odious aud oppressive laws enact- ed to put down the farmer. “We'll change all that,’ said the horny-handed farmer from Utica; ‘tout what did he ratsef” “He raised a ten dollar nole from a one!" ‘uis nearly broke up the meeting, the crowd roaring and the boss granger flying into a lowering rage. He de- clared he didn’t believe there was a drop of agricultural blood iu the whole lot. He added, with biting sareasm, few agricultural edilors have exhibited such coutemptible ignorance With regard to the farm as they had shown at this iweeting. He doubled whether any hidividual pre- sent could explain the use of the straw cutter in sub-soil grafting, or calculate how many gridirons it was leces- sury to plant in order to raise an acre of buckwheat. With this he put on his overcoat and left the hall, and was seen ho more. ' We have Silice learned that he was’ a grauger atall, but a base fraud who goes abont imposing upon supple Villagers. But he didwt make much out of us, as the doorkeeper rau away with the box receipis, one dollar aud uo seuse.. Bul theu, there was uo sense iu the meeting. KEEP YOUR _ENGAGEMENTS. At no matter what cost, keep your engagements. Be careful what you promise, but when you have once committed, yourself, keep your promise, though the heavens do fail. A muititude of the difficulties of life arise from broken engagements. The man who cat be depended upon to keep his word, ulder ail circumstances, is the man who prospers. He is a strung pillar in society, and when he dies, und passes fo his reward, if is long before the void he leives behind him Closes, aud suffers him to pass into oblivion. Iu these days of fast, reckless, riotous living, the man who keeps his engagements is a jewel above price. His friends turn to lint as the shadow of the rock in the desert. He is something reliable—a landmark from which to reckon; a beacon whose light hever goes our, It is surprising, when we Come to think of it. carefully, how much disarrangement one broken engagement may cause in the world of business, The ramifications of trade, labor, aud business intercourse genera ly, are so minute, and yet so extensive, that the manu Who breaks his word digsorganizes Whole commnuities, without realizing it, And with this fact in view, we say to young men about commencing life, aud to old men about to leave life be- hind them—if you would be successful in the highest and nobiest seuse—here and hereafler—keep your engage- ments. Kate THORN. MISS SLIMMENS’S BOARDING HOUSE. BY MRS. MARK PEABODY. NO. VIII.—SHE CASTS HER BREAD UPON THE WATERS. Things are in excellent trim. and I trust that, for once, the fates will smile upon my prospects. Dve hadso much vanity and vexation of spirit, lately, that I don’t feel as if I could put up with much more, without giving up, once for all, I’m getting as yellow as an old Leghorn, aud Dl have to hang myself in a bleach barrel, and press myself out, if 1 keep on wrinkling up the way I have lately. Bat it won't do to talk about brimstun when there's ministers expected. It's time he was here, now, aud there is no- body in hearing to prevent my singing it as.soon as I hear him come into the parlor. I'm going to strike up as if entirely unaware of his proximity, the instance I detect his footsteps in the parlor; he’ll pause to listen; of course he'll not interrupt metill I'm through, and being sup- posed to never dream of his presence will render the el- fect much more powerful. If he’sas green as 1 think he is, it will bejust the thing. I’veset it tothe tune of “Greenland’s Icy Mountains,’ which is his peculiar fa- vorile, and my guitar accompanies it beautifully. Hark! that’s the hall-door; he’s coming in, and now’s the moment. “Strike while the iron is hot.” Huml (Sings.) From Pennyville to Boston, Which occan breezes fan, You will not come acrost one That equals this young Man, He poimts the road to ruin, A burning, shining light— His name is T. Bethuen, Or Timothy, by right. The world’s decei:ful pleasures. They bave no charms for him, He’s laying up his treasures Where motlis cannot get in. His grace it is amazing In one so very young; The Lord he’s ever praising With sweetness on his tongue. That heathen in the Ganges Their little children throw, is mind it near deranges To think it must be so; He shows so much: devotion It wouid not me surprise If oer the raging ocean To rescue them he flies. Oh, how can helpless wimmen j rt this noble youth? There’s one whose name is Slimmens Would fly with him, in truth, She’d give a million dollars For his aspiring wit She stitches all hus collars And shirts other things. She's sae to be permitted To do her mite in this; Perhaps the socks she’s knitted May lead the path to bliss! “Her bread upon the waters” She casts “from pole to pole’— Oh, that earth’s sinful daughters Would think about their soul! Instead of paints and ringlets . And fleeting female charms, Wouid sigh for angels’ winglets And saints’ protecting arms! Oh, had I fT. Bethuen To ever point the way, I'd shun the road to ruin, And join the church to-day—y—y{ For the land sakel Mr. Little! where did you come from? I thonughtas mucit as could be that it was Mr.— in fact, I hadn’t the least idea there was a living creetur nigh. I’ve just been singing “Greenland’s Icy Moun- tains’ lo keep Wp uly choir practice a little, Dia you hear me? Weill, words were little different in some parts. I found ‘ent here an the table in pencil-miark. Dora musi itive Composed “em; she seems to be dreadful fond of that Mill-looking, muuible-mouthed youngster. I shouldn’t be surprised if it made a match. A _ pretty couple they'll be to begin the. world—neither of them a pee IT suppose he'll preach, and she'll bleach, and the ord will take care of them. And, really, I don’t sup- pose Dora’ll ever do any better. A destitute orphan like her dou’t commonly have too many chances to throw away. I shall give hera bed andaset of dishes, and some pretty good clothes fur her wedding ouuit if I Oud out she’s really engaged, La, Mr. Little! how close you do set! Supposing some prying eyes should see intothis bodoor, with you a setting go close to my side and trying to take my hand, The ton- sorial world would immejetly say that if we wasn't en- gaged, we ought tobe. But you needn’t stir, upon that account. Don’t move—don't! Alvira Slimmens has a soul that scorns the voice of scandal; besides, there isn’t a living creature about to see or hear, or tell tales. You might get your arm about my waist in spite of all | could do, and there’d be nobody to fly to my rescue, You're glad of it, for you’ve got something very particular to tell me? Oh, Mr. Little, don’t say it Coo unexpectedly, or you'll flustrate me so thatI sha’n’t know what answer to make you. Of course I shall give my consent; but tL don’t want todo it without « litlue reflection. Though ve loug anticipated this moment, yet now it is here, l’m so— so happy—so delirium with emotion—dearest, may my head repose & moment upon your shoulder while 1 strive to recover ny perceptive facilities ? You are pleased to inform me that Mr. Bethuen is not the only cuance for dear little Dora to be settled in life? She’s confessed to you that she returned your love—stiel [ didn’t think she’d have the imimodesty—and you've thought it proper to announce the engagement to me, as her friend and guardian, and to say that you'd like the wedding to come off New Year’s day if Z (think proper! Weil, | must say, thavs rather hurrying up matiers, for two children like you. Three weeks’ engagement! Hf JZ promised to marry one of the masculiue sex, ’'d impel him to wait three years instead of three weeks. Dora did object; bub you was afraid she was overworking her- self, aud thought she might as well take you first as last, as you never expect to be worthy of herany how. You are a dreadful modest young man, Mr. Little, for a dry goods merchant, and te best looking person in Penny- ville. You knew Dora would jump at the chance; any- body would, But 1 cout lke your hinting about her be- ing overworked, Ive done a good part by that girl, and Tdon't bear her no il-will now. If you and she are a mind to get married, aud will promise to board wilh me the first year, and take that frout room and bedroom at tivelve dullars a week, why, as I can’t help it, Lshalt give my consent, and do ail} Ca to help Dora about her sew- iug, aud Countenauce the match by giving her a good wedding—and that’s the end of it. Of cuurse you'll pay all the expenses, and see that she is provided with all sire wWauts? Well, just as you please about that, LPve no doubt you're better able than a poor boarding-house fe- Inale todo what's handsome, and if you want to give a party, or anything, Pin willing to take the trouble of the arraugements, i've ever regurded you us an elder sisicr might a brother, and Ptrtust youll feel free to do as you please. Dora bade you’ say tow gratefil she felt tor ail my kindaess, aud that se hoped still to remain with me, if it was as a boarder instead ofa pi Ls a al lite (hing as ever ived=Dora is—and I-don't find With her, if.she tas desericdane rather unexpectediy, I Wish you both well., Going 40 tell : t iniefview? Go alotig, then, and don’ 1 There. snup went Chat siriigto my bow! one leit now, wiich is tie crookedest stick of al, — ag well abandon everything clse, and do whatT enamel Mr. Bethuen. Mr. Greyson’s gone, and Mr. Bar- ker I've recently heard was engaged to Philista Pod, where le spends so much of his evenings, and now Mr. Little has the audacity to come and tell me that he ts go- ing to harry Dora. ive Seen li—l’ve Seen it, these weeks aud weeks, that they were iu love With each Ootlier, but L trusted some chance would break tt up. Poor Doral I suppose | ought to be glad, on ier account, but LT can’t! ivs more than human nature is @ulpabie of, to rejuice in her good luck. I never thought sre‘ad make tue best match in Penuyville! iball comes of hier Curis, and pink cheeks, aud muocent, baby toeks. Heigh-hol There’s one Consolation; they?’ pay 2 geod pricedor their board, aud Will be goud Coupany., Ld better pub oma smihng face, and inake the best ol if, iu a pecuniary poiut of view, that’s all. h I wonder what kept Timothy Bethuen from coming in, this evening, ag he promised. If anything's wrong there, Milgive up and done withit. Pm giad that nobody but Mr. Littie heard me singing them verses. He won't dure tu make fun of ine how, since bes an object for keeping Me in good humor, . Besides, he’ ll likely forget all abont it, his mind was se full of wnether matter. L was coni- pietely taken aback, when Tsaw it was lim. The firss of January! heigh-bo! Didwt i say I'd give ail Twas worth to stand in Dura Adauis’s old shoes? —_——__>-9@~< ——____. ANY cowan may reb a dead lien of his beard. ‘ eroaven ty burst out leughing. ape f dar piie aes * She sed he was a small man, with a hooked nose and no ears worth speaking of. She sed he looked enuff lil onathan Per- Sint to have been his twin sister, and sense then can’t tech Jonathan with a ten toot pole, he is so tickled. A cat with two tails wouldn’t nto be so stuck up. — F mj TOE Piet ‘ ee eres d she mat ans 3 80 Bega or co iow me How was owing, she, begun for to s ; OW Betdeed cat i anes he imbled over the t oe corner of a rag, and fell, ataltuebhe went down I seed the blac! logs of some \ Be OU bid eel gt a en Ikno abe vas an jostor, png I went for her, and in of ti them | at. was with her could do, I ed her out of them wi *s weeds and ; u yan Boca bo vere she stood, looking as as ever you a boy of about eighteen with reddish cheer a a “dreadful freck ace! And one of Elder ones 8, too! the young repro ‘ Le srabbed bbed my aim brill and sot ott ose lay iGorer him with a w ut he deus o r so faithfu B spod y in futare eet tina ; ad sonal | sez he is positive e seed him with his thumb to his nose twirling his fingers at me after he got out door! And if I’d have knowed sartin he did so, ’d have trounced -him, if his ma and his pa, and all Holler besides, had been looking on. For I won’t stand no in- suits of them kind! «— bigs 3” I made a few verses on the occasion, and here they be: . The Flower Girl. When ieftinaton, whose name was George, Was in this vail of tears— Folks used to make a fuss o'er him— Thcraed th tae Regn and, thingss ey U ‘0 an 2 Sod fire off bouncing guns Whenever he rid through the town Follered by all the men, and boys, and dogs, and Liverty's proud sons! : They used to strew sweet ARG eT pas. id *LWas a grea! ay, I ex aie even ees of May! gon eee ot ys, And le went riding gayly on Ali dressed out in regimentals, on a hoss proud and One fiower girl had growed so old, Her hair was winte as snow— A It took two youngsters, and a eruteh, Atl for to make her go! She cum to Pigeon Hoiler shades Jerusliy for to see, Ties: But when she fell, them pantaloons Stuck out, and proved her sex just to a T. Oh! Elder Jones’ wicked son! You'd ort to be chastised when it's zero out of doors Afeabar uaten Wonou ton ng honest women fo! And telling awful lies! ; And your pa an ordained minister Angie an poner diy pyshowing folks the way | ' mansions in the 8 Yourn, ; J. R, PERKINS, Eatin’ Rabbits. _ ; Last summer Dr, K., a German physician of Toledo, O.—and a very popular one, too—advised one of his patients to “go to eatin’ rabbits,” . a? : “What!” said the astonished invalid, “go to eating rabbdits— diet ou rabbits? Thunder! doctor, rabbits are not good gee season of the year; besides it is against the law to Soer 1em,”? _“Hut, hut!” exclaimed the doctor, smiling at the misconstrac- tion of his impertect English; ‘I mean eatiu’ rabbits, dot blace viere the sbrings is!"’ . The doctor meant Eaton Rapids, Mich., now famous for its rings, which are said to contain medicinal properties that will cure (?) ail the ills that flesh is heir to. W. H.W. Tom Molloy’s Mistake. Tom Molloy was engaged to attend the horses of & Burlington geutleman. One day his master told him to “mix a buekettal of mush, and feed it to the fil-ies.” Now, the cook’s name was Phillis, and Tom and she were not very friendly, Thiuking of his master’s order, Tom said: “‘Begorra, Pil make her ate it if I have to force it duwn her gob.” Haif an hour afterwards the gentleman was startied to hear a volley of lcud yells proceeding from the kitchen. Rushing there he was greatly sarprised at the sight which met his gaze. There sat Toin in the middle of the floor, with the colored covk (Phillis) stretched across his Knees, while he was endeavoring to make her eat a large bucketfal of mush. “Blathershins!” says Tom, “the master tould me to make ye ate u bucket in muck ivery day, an’ be jabers! yees may as well ate it wid a smiling face, tur, be me sowkins! I'l! stuff ye wi? it, ye dirty black imp that ye are.” Holding her firmly with one hand, he commenced to feed her in real earnest, It wasa comical sight to see. Phrllis splattered and struggled, but in spite of all she could do, some of the “fodder” rau down her provision tuunel, nearly choking her to death, Her master s00n rescued the untortunate woman, and could not avoid laughing as he informed Pat of his mistake. Joun H. G. Getting Baptized. Joe Blank was a hardened sinuer, and during the late revivals Was earnestly beseeched by ali to mend his ways. Fiually he re- sulved to joi the Baptist church, and when it became Known that he was to be bapuzed, doacns that had never been to church betore went to see him. The services were concluded and two had been baptized when it was whispered that Jov’s turn had come, Stepping up tothe platform, beside the pool, he stood there while the minister asked ‘the usual questions, Stepping down and feeling the water with his hand, he iuterrupted the minister with this exclamation: “Thunder and uolassis! that water aint warmed te suic me! I guess Pl wai!” It is net necessary to say that Juve still tultows in the paths of the wicked, THOMAS NEAL. Cutting up Pranks. A German minister, whe uuderssood Bughish well enough, but spoke it very imperfectly, announced that ou the following Sab- bath he woul: preach iu English, A large crowd gathered to hear bin, and the congregatwn was fo amused at the way be sprinkied German words through his English discour-e that they The girls were particolarly eu- wened, and thinking they were making fun of him, be pointed his finger tuward-a group of tnem, intending tosay: “Giris if you dou’tstop cutting up your prauks, PH point you out to the cougregation.”? But this is the way he rebuked them: ‘‘Girls, if 4 you don’t siop kicking up your shanks,” 7 ete. This caused a gen- eral roar iibenug tue auditors, and he brought his sermon to au abrupt close. N. F, Moyer. A Financial Paradox. A well-Known cantributor, alter acknowledlgi ng the receipt o @ cueck, Closes with the appended neat epigram: Herein a patadex is found Por soine inquirens testing sieve: In that our means should inore aveand The ofteuer they a check receive. Stamped. A lady received a complimentary ticket toa chareh concert. She list it; but being anxious to bear the singing, she went to the church on the evening of the entertamment, and approach- ed tue doorkeeper, whom she knew. Ua asked for her tieket “My face must be my ticket on this occasion.” she answered, and explained ler loss. “Ah, yes.” spuke the doorkceper, “your fuce is your ticket, and @ very pretty one; but it is net slamp- ed.” He auducion-ly paced au arm about her neck and Kissed her. “Now your ticket is stumped. You may pass in.” BRIGHT EYES, To P. P. ConTRIBUTORS.—Sii Betbeze.—Too discursive. Select some leading incident, and having that always in view, curb your rambling pen, which requires a frequent check to Keep it in the straight path leading to tne denouement..... The following SS. are accepted: “Pulling Hair,” “Waterproof Watch,” *Speaking-Tuabe Story,” “sarcastic,” “Difficult Question,” “Home Sooner,” “Courtiog.”...... The following are respectfully de- clined: “EB H.J.,% “Old Anecdotes,” trom C. 8, “Dry nd Ducks,” “Crusade Deers,* “Queer Things Happen,” “‘Lamp- Hard,” “Snodgrass,” “Carlos,” ‘“Devil’s Visit,” “Sort of a Sa- inte,” “Pa Don’t Drink,” “Poisoning a Hoe-Handle,” “Waste . B.P.S. Not,” ‘Slingbone's boarding-House,” “FT. S. OQ,” ‘Some Hair,” “Biow Your Brains Out,” “Wondertul Sigut,”” “Hash.” |} Ohio. Gen. of the magnanimous act. ie RATS MADE USEFUL. These yermin have recemly been raised to the dignity of an article of commerce, In Europé, the fur of the rat is used by hatters, having been found to exceed in deli even that of the beaver; and the skin, more elastic a ladies’ gloves. An ingenious individual of Liskeard, Cornwall, England, has, for some time past, been exhibit- ing himself in a dress composed, from top to toe, of rat- skins, Which he has been collecting for three yearsand a half. The dress was made entirely by himself ; it consists of hat, neckerchief, coat, waistcoat, trousers, tippet, gaiters, and shoes. The number of rats required to com- plete the suit was 670; and the individual, when thus dressed, appears exacity like one of the uimaux de- scribed in the travels of Parry and Ross. The tippet or boa is composed of the pieces of skin inmmediately around the tail of the rats, and is a very curious part of the dress, containing about 600 tails; and those none of the shortest. According to the French Monitewr, there arein France upwards of 2,000,000,000 rats and other rodents, Suppos- ing each of these little quadrupeds to commit the damage of only one centime per annam, this loss would amount in the aggregate to 20,000,000 francs annually. Heuce it is most desirable to fiud some means of destroying this vermin in large numbers as expeditiously as possible. But it is about slaughter-liouses that they Go most congregate. At Monfaucon thé proprietor of a slaughter-house had a walled inclosure, where, one night he threw (he carcasses of two or three horses, and then went quietly with his workmen and stopped up al! the holes by which the rats had entered it, after which he went in with these same workmen, each armed with a stick. The rats thus en- trapped were slain by hundreds. In a single mouth he killed 16,050, and 2,650 in one night. There is a common pound in Paris covering some teu acres, surrounded by a stone wall, and to this all dead carcasses are brought. The bones of these animals are valuable, but then to be saleable they must be clean, divested of adherent and often putrid flesh. To perform this operation by hand is both expensive and tedious, and as rats were found to be fond of horse-flesh, the authorities have colonized this horse-pound with rats by thousands from the catacombs. of Paris, and they perform their work beautifully, so thas the carcass put in over night is found a neat and pobished skeleton in the morning. But, as may be supposed, rats so well provided for rapidly increase; hence they have to be Kept under. Every month a grand “‘battue’’ is n ‘ upon the colony. The manner of doing this is curious, Horizontal and cylindrical holes are bored all round, in and at the foot of the inclosing walls, the depth aud diameter being respectively the length and thickness of a ras body. Upon the morning cf the ‘baitue,’? men armed with tin pans, kettles, drums, etc., rush in at the peep of day, and ‘‘charivari’? the poor rats, who, fright ened to death, poke their heads into the first opening. Of course all those in the wall holes have tails sticking out. The rat collector, with bag over left shoulder, now makes the tour of the premises, and: the scientific and rapid manner in which the rats-are seized by the taii, and sately, (both to tne rats and the operato:) transferred to the bag, challenges admiration. The privilege of gathering rats on the “battue” days is farmed out by the authorities, anda profitable business it is. These rats, sleek and fat as they necessarily are, fetch a high reniunerative price; the fur, the skin, and the flesh meet with ready sales, --. > |PEMS OF INTEREST. thay * Sf fer? ‘ gaz An American, named Charles B: 8, recenily commi enickipsy Paris under the following tLancess: In 1867 he married at Washington a Miss Hawright. day he proposed adivoree. The lady took him at his word, and three mouths afterward became Mrs. Gunnel. Immediately after the separation the first husband regretted it. He made frequent at- ts to see Mrs. Gunnel to teil ner 9. but was indignantly re- He followed her about for five years, 4nd ultimate} ther to Paris. One Sunday night he had a scene w 1é1 at the door of Be Raadevit ¢, and four hours brains out, leaving a letter giving the foregoing partic- ¥ u Mf : "gg The orations pronounced in Boston on do- Meee ras enas the following ist of the ‘eminent mon who / ' - ‘service will show: Wasl Aue been called 10 bean: Daniel W r; Madison Mon- , John y A > the youn: “Ady award verett ; Jackson, Li ion, Rares "Ch te; Polk, Levi foodbury ; JO cy, Jr.; Lincoln, Charies'Sum- ner. § _ #a- An insane man, named William Miller, aged thirty-four, livi TMearow nea wed his neck with ne, eis had nded in : ne fashion, some f i Abo lock, upon hich ined his head. Sev- e pounds f old iron attac ‘tothe seythe, which was used o fall edge do de ing @ cord. Miller was suf- fering from softening of the ra Teg R : ‘Seite rile ’ tne wedi Mrs. P: pea ged. Meas Gaecach neta vente age ~ ‘These venerable Jovers were at an early age playmates in Germany. Hecame rried and asapneea & (or: é he left L e to America, ma’ citi andimacta ete U6 No Tor pose ue 8.2 sar A number of ex-Confederate soldiers in North Carolina ntly exhumed the bonesof two Union soldiers Par aera graded hmm te ree howe handsome 1s, and forwar 2 ) : gap A terrible fight with a bees. took place re- ‘ }; i Wisconsin, A man named Madden a near Lake Poygan, col one a fed for safety. I arrived, and the bear was off. — Ww. recover, thougi: he was fear- fully mangled. y fl ; ga While ing clams recently, at Willis Point, an employee of the New Bedford Railroad tound one of the bi valves wearing a geld finger ring on its snout, with a number of initials engraved on it. It ' had prebably by some one ot the many persons that have been baptized in that lo par Reuben Peterson and wife, of Duxbury, Mass., aged cighty-three and sev -nine © ttively, have lived to- gether over ern years, have had seven children, eleven grandchildren © three or four great-grandchildren, and the only, instauce of death in the whole family was an infant grand- child some two m old. gap If the present plans of the authorities in Bos- ton are ad out, Washington street will be extended from the Charles River bank at West Roxbury to the Charles River bridge = the north, and will make acontinuous avenue nine ong. ‘ ; ‘ga@- An enormous shark was recently caught off the railway wharf at Geelong, Australia, which, it is reported measured twelve feet in length, six feet in girth, and weighed eleyen hundred pounds. When opened the body of a Newfound- land dog was found iu its stomach. sa Twenty-one freshmen were lately suspended from an Engtish college because a professor did not know whe aceal a ten-ounce tack in bis chair; but allthat was worth nowing about it he knew when he sat down on it. ka- Asad mistake was made by Mr. Charles My- ers of Brooklyn, E, D., the other night. He gave his child, about five months old, two teaspoonfuls of croton oil, tustead of sooth- ing sirup, Causing almost instant death. rar The beauty of the Duchess of Ed h does not equal popular expectation, and she was severely criticised by the crowds through which sie passed on her reception in London, gas- A Louisville dog found four deserted kittens in a vacant blot the other duy, and at once carricd them to his kennel, where he has ever since tuken the best of care of them. gar One hundred and sixty clergymen in this city and neighborhood huve recently signed the preachers’ total abstinence pledge. gaz The women of Cleveland, Ohio, boast of one temperance victory. A wholesale grocery house advertise that no tore liquors will be sold by them. sae It is said that an English lady is going to ex- pend £25,00) on an aqacduct to supply Jerusaiem with water. “ONLY AN IRISH BOY,” A NEW STORY By Horatio Alger, jr. WILL BE COMMENCED NEXT WEEK. AN INSPRUCTIVE AND ENTERTAINING STORY ENTITLED Only an Irish Boy; Or, ANDY BURKES FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES. By Horatio Alger, Jr., Author of ABNER HOLDEN'S BOUND BOY, THE WESTERN BOY, TATTERED TOM, STRIVE AND SUCCEED, etc. ; This story, which will be commenced in the next nun ber of the New YORK WEEKLY, forcibly demonstrates that energy and manliness, aided by honesty and intelli- gence, may command success, and that prosperity can be achieved by every one who has the will to do and the pluck to dare. Poverty and humble birth were draw- baeks, but they coukl mot restrain the landabie ambition of him whom enemies taunted because he was “ONLY AN IRISH BOY ”’ tougher than kid, is employed to make the thumbs of» Mt e... SV oor adil 4 . ‘ & it ' 7 5 septic 4+- cans AP —-$ 4 -” Pee Tr ae s |= i it ro meen SS \ ee \ sacra sea “