ON THE DROP.

OK tho 14th of August, 1577, Sir Jnnu-s Fielding, Bart, of f-'tonelcigli, shire, was found murdered in his library, and after the detectives had investigated tho matter, I, Johu llolliss, his private secre tary, was arrested for the crini°,

I was stunned, bewildered. When tho seifean', drawing me on one side, in'imated that he was about lo arrest 1110, I lookfld at dazedly, and then was ready to laugh at the absurdity of the thing Hut I soon found that it was "no laughing matter. Thero is do nood to recapitulate the circum stantial evidence that poiuted so conclu sively lo mo as tho mu'dercr. My object is to give you some, idea of my Bcnsations after my trial.

Suflico it then to say that a chain of cvid once was collected which threatened to hang me, and such had been my positiou towards the deceased birouot, who had lifted me out of poverty, educated me. and placed me in a Dosition of tlic greatest trust, that tho public mind, firmly believins m« to bo the murderer, assumed on attitude of the greatest hostility towards mo, and whon I descended from the police van to cuter the court the mab made Mich a tierce rush at me that it whs ouly with tho utmost d'Hi culty that tho police could drive them back.

The trial procaedcd, and dcpita the fact that I had a most oncrgetic and clever young lawyer, it wa9 Been that I should bo convicted, and when at last the Judge summed up strongly against me all hope died out of my heart. Thou I graspod at tho idea that tha jury would didagroil, and I funcied that one of them had looked pitingly at me. How long tho tima seomod, and yet how short, and how the people were whispering and looking at 1110 Then an odd idea struck me. I thought I was looking undignified in standing as I was with. Lent knees, aud hand grasping the rails, and I straightened myself up, folded my arras, and leant against the back of the dock ; but presently I caught myself relaps ing iato ray old attitude of HalL-ssidejoction. Now tho old clock at the top of tho Guild hill, in wbicu we are, booms out tho hour of 9, and just after there Is a rustle among the people, and looking up I see tho jury coming it>.

I have no hope, r>nd yot I listen eagerly for 'the reply, us the foreman is asked if they have agreed upon their verdict; how still paople are as ho replio*, " Guilty," and then I hear somo ono dashing thronph the pissago, and ' fiingiag open the films doors. I hear them swing to and fro a'tor him, I hear him shout "Guilty;" there is first a murrau'i and thon a terrible, a univ ersal roar. The Judge asks mo if I have anything to say why sentence of death should not bo passed upon me. In a stupor I mutter that I am innocent, and the next day's papers comment upon my defiant and hardened attitude. The Judgo asamnos the black cap, and passes sentence in a choking voice ; and I speculate curiously on'his crying while my eyes ore dry, and then I wake up to heir him say " to be hauged by the neck until you are deod, any may the Lord havo mercy upon your soul." Then I am led aw.iy. Outside in the lobby, the police wait a moment. I a«k, Wby! "Fonrof us could never got you through that," says the sorgo nt, pointing to the mob that are surging round the door, "1 am not afraid ; lot us go on," 1 soy. I have a feebla hops that they^may kill mo. Now a line of police Is and I am hurried quickly through, but not before a stono has cut my cheek open.

I was taken iuto a cell in which two warders were sitting, and I know it is the condemned coll, which I shall occupy for 10 day*, until I am led out iuto that dread ful yard to die, and as the thought struck me I flung myself upon the bed and for tbe first time burst into a passion of tears. Presently the warder asked me if I would have some supper. I shook my heid, but ho said kindly, " You had batter try to ea' a little, sir," "Bring mo what you like," and in a few moments be brought in some ham cut up, and some coffee. 1 begin to cat, snd find my appetite to I c better than I had expected. After sapper t am seized with a sudden gaiety. 1 have been think ing, and I canot believe that Ilraven will doom an innocent man to a foloa's death. I propose a game otcirdsto too warders ; and we sic down to one, but I notice that they eye me sharpy. la the midst of the game, when I am laughing loudly it some joke of my own, the grating in tho door is opened, then the bolts are drawn back, and the chaplain enters. Ho looks with but prise on the scene, and appears rather dis concerted, as I met him with a smiling face. Then he ssys : " Can yoa spare me a few moments, Mr Holliss, please!" "Yes, sir," 1 reply, g'ily. "aa soon as I finish the game." Ino roverend gentle reverend gentleman s-ts dowu with a puz zled expression, and after a while enters into conversation with me, and warns me that I muat preparo myself for eternity, as thcro wai not the slightest chance of my sentence b ing commuted. He soon mci, however, that I a not in a mood to listen to him, and withdraws. Soon after this I turn into a heavy stupor rather than s'oop. I was aroused by ; the warder next morning about 8, and although at tho moment of waking I realised that something had happened, it was some tini-: before I re membired what 'lh>-n a most profound depression tonk pace in my spirit". I was unable to [eat my breakfast, and sat for several hours with my ho wl buried in my hands. About no n the chap am paid mo another visit, and we had a lone; and ear nest conversation, In which I s ilcmnly ex pressed my innocence as to rather shake bia preconceived opinion. He left me after soothing me considerably, and I even began to contemplate my fate with fortitude if not with resignation. So day »fter day want by, and when the sun of the list Sunday went down, by the efforts of the excellent minister, I had mads my peace with Heaven, and resolved to meet my death becomingly, and trust to time to clear my name. 1 bad received nany letters and moie tracts from the outtide public, some of them of a novel character. Tho majority of tbe tracts smelt strongly of brimstone, and the number of avenurs to Heaven offered for my selection certainly afforded a wide and varied choice.

jNuinborless were the applications for my autograph, and while those fir l'cks of my hair were fewor, >et I thouliihave required a dozen bushy realps as well as a wig or two to gratifil them all. Of course I an swered none, Bui tho mist curiouf appli cation of all was one from a well-known patent medicine proprietor, who ofiered to present £150 to any oho I chose to mention, it I would announc >, while on the sc .Hold, that Jackson's Liver pills were tbe best. This, too, did not receive the formality of an answer. Gn the Sunday night the Rood old chaplain stayed with me until 11 and then left, promising to return ca.ly ia the morning- I got into b'd, and lay there tumbling about; for though I wai drowsy, it seemed to me to he wasting my life to sleep. From tho Guildhall close by 1 beard ths quarters at ike with frightful rapidity and -»s I listened to the ticking of tho warder's wa'cb, unnaturally loud, it seemed to ma that every stroke was the loss of a drop of blood,

Then another idea had cnteiod my had. I laid my hand upon my heart and counted its beats until I bad recltODed {100; then every sensation in my body seemed centred in niv heart, f had no need to place my hand to feel it bea'incr. My whole attention wns absorbed in it, It seemed to me as if it had just awoke to it* p-ospect of speedy idlenecs, and to be trying i;o compensate for it by an iucrooscd violence of motion. _ 1 was most unnaturally conscious of its cvory movement. I could ihink of nothing el?o ; and at last my straugoly acuto senso of its existence roso into perfect agony; and f jumped from my bed and paced tho cell until it gradually died away ; tben I jumped iuto bed, and other thoughts cimc. To-mor'ow, at that time, where, what should Ibo ? The Great Secret, which the wisest of living philosophers cannot fathom, but which tho rudest of doad clowns Ins read ; that I should havo discovered. My hody would not be far from iU present abode ; but my boul, spirit, or intellect, mv consciousness, 1 myself, Jehn Hollies, where would it bo t Elead ! oxtioct! or warning iv fullest consciousness somewhere in spue ? I could not believe it. I under utood no ex'steiicc apart from the body. My ideas upon the subject were peculiar. I believed iha soul to diio with tlio body until the resurrection of the latter promised us in Hely Writ took place. In the midst of these thought* T fell Into a deep sleep until I was aroused by the warder. I sprang up haitily, and saw tho grey cold dawn through the jbars, and I knew that my last day on earth had bc auu. After partaking of a cup of coflee, I was joined by the clorgyman. I may mention hero that I possessed no near rotations, and that none had visited mo; yet thero was one—l was engaged to tho daughter of Sir James. So tho time rolled on, as it seemed to mo, very slowly I was morbidly anxious for the hour to arrive. The anticipation was bo terrible that I wi'hod my execution was over, or that it had taken; place be tore. Seven strikes I htivo another hour, Chnsrgo the bolts; surely they have not como to pinion me already. A lady to see me! Who is this? Ida Fielding, by Heaven I ,

"J-ck," says the, with' outstretched hands, pallid face, and trembling lips, "Jack, my poor fellow, I am come to tell you that I believe in your innocence, and to wish you good-by. O Jack, Jack!" she continued, breaking do»n, "Ida," said I, passionately, "if hia spirit can hear us he knows that I am guiltless, yes, guiltless before God. But," I con tinued, "that will not save mo. Htcollec', Miss Fielding, that I am a condemned folon, and leave mo. Pray try to avoid any con nection with au oxocutcid murderer."

She looked at me with a curious ax precßion, and seemed on the eve of saying something, but checked herself; then, as an official walked in and whispered to hor, she turned to me and paid, hurriedly, "I mast leavo yon now. Jack, hut remember, this has not changed my love. 1 boliove you are innocent. Go id bye." I cannot describe that pitting.

As the clock strikes 8 I haar footsteps in the corridor, and I know who approacb, The dnor opens again j and the governor, somo officials, and one whoio office v appa rent, enter. Then as a hand is laid upon my shoulder, and the process of pinioning Ivgit.s, I feel on almost uncontrolUblo impulse to rush away, to defend myself, to die in action ; nut tied, and standing still. But I am quickly pinioned, and just before we start I, in as calm a tone an I can aoume, ask for a cup of e.ifleo ; this is brought, and I drink it eagerly, for I om parched with thirst. Thon we set out. Ou the way I a«k the governor why the authorities do not introduce death by eleotricity instead of erecting all the ghastly paraphernalia:of ft scaffold, &c ? I point out, a« a disinterested visitor might, tho greater ex pensa and trouble of the present system and had time p»rmi>-ted, should, probably, have b<«» en gaged iv a tou>(h argument.

Now we turn a corner, and I ace our hideous destimtionj tho clergyman begins to read, and wo arrive at the foot of the scaffold. Theie, for some reason or other, a halt is made, and it sterns to me that the governor is unnoce«arily delaying the ex ecution. 1, therefore, beg him to proceed with it at once, ad not keep me waiting. He answers sharply that whatovcr delay takes place is necessary, but as a quarter past 8 strikes, I fancy the grim old fellow actually niiha aa (am told to ascend. Ud the top, looking down on the other side, I sec a small knot of men, whom I premium to be the report-fa. I ask the governor if I may Bpcak with them. He answers with a surprising do;ree of alacrity that I cortainly may. Stepping to the font with a warder on each side of me, 1 solemnly declaro my inurtcuu:-, standing a.s I do with my hind on the gates of eternity. Then I turn to the little trapdoor which was to be that gate to me. As I at.p on it a wardor ap proachea with the cap. I cast one look round ths yard on tbe enrinm gaze of tho "gentlemen of the1 Press," and one look at my old Mend the chaplain ; but my la«t glance w.is on the blight ulue of heavun. Then lam in d-irkness. Standing there alter feeling the executioner* finger* on my neck (li«teu. Ail twins still. 1 have not heard him approach the bolt; perhaps he in there now with his hand on it. .No; he is moving past me What are they whisper ing about? And who has entered at the big gatos which shut just then ? Cue of the prison purveyors I expect. Ah Ihe vat the bolt. I give ono long deep breath, my kneei unconsciously bend as I wait expect ing cv.-ry instaot that the drop will give. Then there is a rush of hurrying footsteps, a hoarse cry of " Stop I stop I For God's sake stop !" I am lifted off that horrible door, the rope and th.c cap are t»ken off. and weak and fainting I lean hill scnsoloaa in a warder's arm*.

The governor comes up—"Take him bick to the cell;" and lam curried into the gaol, whose portals I never expected to cross again alive. Id the cell a tumbler of brandy and water i.s handed to me and I am in formed that a respite b»« arrived for me, but it is particularly .iinpre»scd upon me that it i« a respite and not a reprieve It seemed that some fre-h evidonce^ had ap peared (of what nature I was not informed) and the governor bad been expecting it si'ice Sunday moroiau, which accounted, t><r the various delays ho bad contrive^. He declared af-erwards that it arrived only in the nick of time; bit I do not believe tbe old Mlow.would have proceeded with tlia execution, but would have stayed it on his own responsibility ; for the freßh facts which had come to light were a matter of common report on Sunday afternoon, and although I was not aware of it a crowd of persons were anxiously inquiring on the Monday tnoroiDg if a reprlove had airived. Toe worthy governor bad taken it on himielf to tele graph for instructions, but redUpe'soi hud almost fatally delayed thain. My story is ijtooiit over. At an official investigation held nu Tiiosdiiy.evidencs Was brought to light which pioved boyond the nhadow of a doubt that I was guiltless, tbe account f gavo of myself at the trial tally ing in every particular with tho newly dis covered facts, and although I was not offi cially " pardoned" for some weeks, I was set at liberty on Wednesday.

The news came down that evening, and the governer politely offered me his hospi tality for that night, 1 assured him, laugh iuply, that I had experienced quite enough of it a'ready, and did not ac'iully crave for any more. Tbcn shaking hands with the line old fellow, and thanking him for his kindno-s, I stopped out into the upon uir— a f'ce man.

For nnura I wandered through the gas lit streets in tho very ecstacy of delight. I took no heed of the fact that I was the owner of a magnificent property. I was co heir with Ida of Sir James's estate. This was the fact that had told so ranch against me. Even the near prospect of a reunion with Ida faded before the absorbing thought —I was free.

Free! I {jazed up into God's star-lit sky, and tho feelings of my heart ovoi(lowed into my eyes. Lying for days with the black shadow of a disgraceful death hovering over me, 1 could hardly rcall«e t!ia now feeling several times, 1 i.nred 1 should wake up and find rayscif ag«in in the gloomy cell, the warders oye< upon me. I do not pre tend tos»y I did not fear death. I did : but the bitteivsl part of it all was that I wan to dio as a common felon. Had 1 suffered as a martyr to my principles, 1 could have faced my fate with a tolerable amount of equanimity, but as a convicted murderer • — The next day I rejoined Ida, and two years later wo wera married. I met with universal expressions of symyathy with my unju»t incarceration. My life hns pissed smoothly and comfortably niuee. and, although beyond a severe shook to my nervout system, I have not tuliVred much fiom it, yet I can hardly think without a shudder of that awful moment when I stood '•On thoD'op."—Ckcil W. Poout

The Story of a Famous Picture

Tub be'fry clock was just striking ten ono hot August evening in the year 1534 when a little boy stopped, panting for breath, at the door of a curious little houso which stood on the road between Qarraa and Correggio.

" Who is there?'1 oried a loud voice with'

111," answerod tho boy; "it is I, Ludo vico, the son of the painter, Antonio Alte gri. Pk-a-e opon the door, dear Brother ThaddfU*."

At tbe first sound tin boy's vole j, and the name ot Antonio All-gri, tho hermit sprang up and opened the door. " What brings you here, my child at this late; hour!' he kindly asked, drawing the weeping boy to his side " My father is sick, very sick," answered Ludovico, between hi* sobs, "and my mother wants you to coma to him." "Your dear father sick; That id tad news indeed 1 I will go to him at once," said Thaddeus, taking hit walking ttick from the corner.

Thaddous was kind and gentle as he was brave and strong, lio was always tho friend of the poor »nd needy, and his her mit's cell was hardly ever free from the visits ot old men and beggnri, who eamo f om far and near to find hero help, com fort, or rtst. '1 ho hermit and child walked along for a while without saying a wotd. At hat, fall of Anxiety (or his friend, TtiailJem atked Ludovico whon bia father was taken sick. "Day beforo yesterday,-" Bald tbe boy. " Ho had not a bit of bij»*d ia the cup board. The baker would Dot leavo n« tiuy unlets we pud him Uiu nosey .light dow» for it.aud wo h*d noac. ttvta tk« milkman, who is uiually so kind aid ready to wail for hi« pay, would not leave any milk for my two little Bitten, Tho children cried, and my mothar cried too. 'It just breaks my heart to hear them,' said my father, ' when 1 can do «o little to liolp them,' You know, Brother Thaddeus," broke in the child inipaLively, " bow . hard my dear father does work, and bow litth the people pay him for his pictures T' " Indeed I do," said Thaddeus ; " and game day, my poor boy, the world wilt acknowledge your father's genius." " But why do people ti cat him so now ?" asked the child ;"' wby don't they give him what they ought for his beautiful,paint ings* La<t week that cruel Jew, Isaac Levi, fioni Paima, took one of hia best pic tures to pay a debt of only four thalerg my father owed him ?'

" Four tlmlors ?'' exclaimed Thaddeus, " Wny the pain.ing wag worch fjur hun dred times four thalcra!"

"But uob-idy will trust us now 1" sobbed the child t " my father's creditors will not wait."

" Why did ho not come to me I" said Tlmddeiu, greatlymoved. "He mutt know how gladly I would have holpcd him;" 14 But my father could uot bear to ask help from you who have help d us so often." said the V<y. "Ho gave v- chil dren the last bit of broad theio wan in the house, and for two whole day* 1 know he had not eaten a uio.-sel of anything. The next meriting be started before it was light tor Parma, wiice a rich nobleman o*od him two hundre i tbalers. The man did not want to pay him, and told bim he had no money iv the houio but those heavy quutrini. My father, however, would not bo put off again, and said ho would take his pay in quatrini if lie cjuUl uot have it iv thalttrs. It was a very hat day, and tbe coins were so heavy that my fattier | .lmost fainted »hen be reached homo. He drank two glosses of old wa'er, whioli my mo.her said was very bad fur him when no wa« so heated. It was only a few minutes after when ho had a dicadful chill, and then came a burning fever. This evening, when bo teemed to be sieaping, my toother told me to name for you." By this time Tbaddeus a*d Lu'lori o had reached the paiuter's bouse. As noon a* tho hermit saw his friend, he knew that be could not live many houis " Ah ! Hrotuer Thadneus," laid the wide man feebly, "is it you?" •■ Yes, Antonio; but why did you not let me know sooner of this illness? Did you furget our long friendship ?" " Ah no ! But it is the bright thing* of life, not the sorrowful ones, I would share with my friend*." The paintm'h wife, Monica, stood weeping by hi» b- dside, and the two b >> s, Ludovico and Antonia, wore sn either side. Upon a Btruv mat in one corner of tbe r-iom tho two lit'le gi'l-, Ayuet and Feronica, w«re quietly si oping. Suddenly little Agnci awoke. She rubbed her eyos and looked around. What could it all mean? Why was her dear mother crying? What was the matter? Half asleep she folded her little hands to gether, knelt down on the straw mat, and begaa to say her prayers "Give me my brushes, my palelte !" ex exclaimed the paintor suddenly. w Hit dyiue energy he seized his brush, and painted the little Agnes as, she knelt there-her soft btown hair floa.iui' over her Bhouldars, and her lovely eye* lifted to heaven. " It is the last angel I shall ever paint 1 exclaimed the artist "What name shall I write in the corner ? Some of my picture! buvo the name of my father's family, An tonio Allegri, and some my mother's namo, Lieti ■ - ' v

"But let tbi« gem, this m.astcrpieoe," said Th&ddeufc, "mke the name of your native vllluge, Correggio"

It w»s a happy, thought, and the artist, taking his brush again, wrote in the corner of lii-i picture, "It Correggio in, limine ■mortis pitueit, 17 August, 1534." 1 lien, tv ning his face towards a picture of Christ that hung upon tho wall, he kis-ied his dear ones, and quietly pafscd away. '1 lie whole village of Correugio and all the great men of Parma came to «he funeral. They brgan to realise what a wonderful artist they had lost, although while living they had left him ti s'arva 1

Ludovico noticed with surprise that Thaddeu«, their kind friend, was not pre sent. It roomed very strange that he should desert them in this snd hour. .Not many weeks after a party of cunning, de signing mon, who knew (be destitute con dition of the artist's wife and children, camo to tho house and urged Monica to cell her husband's paintings at auction. They thought that in this way they could obtain the rare and beautiful pictures at a very lowprici. Just in tho midst of tho sale, when the "Last Angel" of Corregaio was about to be bidden oif at threo-and-thirty ducats (33 dollars), a knight suddenly entered the room Ho drew his sword over the beautiful picture, and exclaimed, "In the name of Francis 1., King of France, I olJoi twenty thoimml thalers(2o,ooodollar») for this gcim of germ, 'The Last Angel of Correggjo I'" Tho man who had bidden it off, as he sup posed, at 33 dollars was vory angry ; and ovcry ono looked at tho knight in blank astonishment. It was useless now to con ceal the real value of tho other paintings. The knight placed the 20,000 thaler in Mouica's hand, and then, taking off his helmet and masque, he stood before them in the woII known garb of good old lirottier Tbaddeus.

This " Last Angel of Corwggio" was Kivon by Fmnois 1. to his sister Margaret. It wa9 afterwards bought by Louis XV,; but during tha revolution ot 1789 itsuddooly disappeared from tho royal gallery. How it was lost, or by whom stolen, remains a myatory to this day,

FOR THE LADIES.

Ovid says that in his day girls were taught to smile gracefully.

When may me thipk a woman U past re. coAory J—When abo ia speechle-6.

What part o£ speech is killing f—lt is a conjunction.

What length should a young lady's dress bo worn ? —A little above two feet.

We are told that the ladies of Lesbos slept on roies whose perfumo had been artificially heightened. And iv tli.no times court maideim powdered their hair with gold.

Marc Antony's daughter did not change her dress half-a-dozm times a day, as do the Saratoga grace*, but she made the laruprcj a in her fishpond wear earrings,

Tho editor who saw a lady making for tbo only empty seat in the car found himself •'crowded out to make room lor aioro in tereiting matter,"

Why are ladies like Geneva watchej ?- They are very lovely and beautiful to look at, hut if once put out of order, it takes a great deal of time to regulate thorn.

Mamma—" Why are you always beating your doll? Tbati»n'tnice," JSlsa—"Yes, it is I mu*t be at my doll, becau«e I don't want pisa to tell mo a» be always tells you that I iMa spoiliug my «hildren.'' ' '■

Th«M U a youig Utty who la six feet four inclioi WJ, *ad she i» «ngae*4 tube married The nu vk« won her did it i» these words : "Thy luwity set my soul aglow I'd wad thoe ilxkl or wronj ; Man wants but little here below, Bat wuntj that little lon».''

Uistroaa (to new cook); "Now, Sarah, if you are strictly honest and economical in your marketing, I will gtvo you a few extra shillings per month." Row cook: "Thank yon, ma'am, I will think it o/or, and let you know in the evening," . .

The wcrmcaof the RomanEmpireiadulgcd in all sorts of luxuries and excesses, and these were revived under Napoleon the Fi> st in France. Mine. Taliien bathod herself in a wash of strawberries and raspberries, and had herself rubbed down with sponges dipped in milk and perfume.

"My Wifo," remarked a prominent manufacturer "never attends auctions. She want once, just before we were married, and seeing a friebd on the opposite side, noddid politely, whereupon tho auctioneer kuoctwd do*n a patent cradle, aud asked her where she wished it delivered."

Woman's work in Germany is on the in crease According lo the census of 1881, th re wore 315,753 women engaged iv the 93, 554 manufactories, which also gavo om (.1 -ymerit to 1,636,099 men. The ag<w of (hose females wete between 12 and 27 Time in no manufactory in which female woikers are not engaged.

Mm BtauK hud been telling of her first born. He died wben quite young, but he was a pattern of infantile perfection. "Mamma." mid lit.le Jsdith, after Mrs Blank had concluded, "uninutiiiio* I wish I wu dead." "For unic/* »ake, what are you talkin.' about, Kdilh ?' cried her mother in astonishment " JNofOo', minima, only I fought I might b<) a nice little ilirl if I was d«ad. Di-ud p»o, les v n!way< to dood, you know."

A lady who resides in Daroit recently vitited Niag.ru Kails, ucooinpiiuin.l by her little boy, an intolliaeut child of six yoiis. When they bad looked a' Jong time at the nighty volume of water hastening to its grand abyss, the mother turned to the boy and inquired : " What do you say to: tbat, Alfred?" The little fellow lilted his awe struck eyis and solemnly ana wo od; "Mammt, I feel like tiking off my hat to God."

An Albanian belle of to-day presents a rather striking appearance. She it, as a rule, ooifcd wit*» seed peula and coins, and enveloped in a black serge pelisse. She use* paint on her face prefusely, and hir taste ruus to cherry lips and etieeks, and jet-black eyebrow* n-ronyly dr.iwu. Ad < 1 banian bride discards paint for a whits, and, if wealthy, woum a suit something like this: Koso-colored uuder-robc-i, with an over-robe of dark-gioen velvet, the idea beint! taken fom a rosebud half opened in its lt-avcg. Thus arrived, the girl of baud notna (uaUiies i« said U look roully bewitch ing ■■'•'•

A vwy lovely but wilful girl went to her father, a celebrated lawjer, and said: " father, I want to marry —" (naming a handsome hut utterly worthless mi tor); "may If .''Well my ,dear," naid.be> father, with a sigh, " J can't say na, because Iknow you will havo your own way, whether t give my consent or not: but please give me leave to make one iviimk. Tuovj are two thing< which the wisest and mo<>t learned man can icver calculate upon—the verdict of a common jury, and the sort of mun a clever womaa will mairy,"

At a ilfeuiv party in London ther« wero two aistert proseu', oae n widow who bad just ftiatN^mi from bar weeds, the other not long married, whose husband had lately gout) out to ludia for a ah-n't term. A young UuristkT present was deputed to take the youag widow iato dinner. Unfortu nately tw wai under ths impression that his partner wsrs the marrii dlady wh»SB husband had j nit arrived io India. Xhe conversation

betwoenthem wan commenced by the lady remarking how ex'reinely hot it wni. 1 Yes,' it is very hot replied the barrister. Then a huppy thought suggested itself to him. and ho added, with a cheeiful smile — " But not so hot as the place to which your bu-band has gone.' Words are powerless to convey any idea of the sequel, but the look with which Hie lady answered this lively sally will haunt that unhappy youth till his death,

TIRED MOTHERS.

A little elbow rests upon your knee, Your tired knoo, that has so much to boar; A ehild'B dear oyes are looking lovingly From underneath a thatch of shining hair. Perhaps you do not hoed tho velvet touch Of warm, moist lingers, holding yours so tight; You do not prize this bloßSine; overmuch— You almost are too tired to pray to-night 1

But It is blessedness. A year ago I did not see it as I do today, Wo are so dull and thankless, and too slow To oatch tho sunshine as it slips away. ' And now it saoms surpassing strango to mo That whilo I wore tho badge of motherhood I did not kiss moro oft and tenderly Tho Uttlo child that brought mo only good!

And If some night when you Sit flown to rest, You miss this elbow from your tired knoe; This I't&tlesa, curling head from off your breast, This lisping tongue that chatters constantly; If from your own this dimpled hand had slipped, And no'or would noatle in your palm again; If tho white feet into tho grave had tripped, I oould not blamo you for your heartache th«a.

I wonder so that mothers oror fret At little children clinging to their gown; Or that the footsteps, when the days are wet, Are over black enough to mako them frown, If I could find a little mouldy boot, Or cap, or jacket, on my chamber floor; If I could kiBB a rosy, rostless foot, Aud hear its muslo on my home once more;

If I oauld mend a broken oart to day, To-morrow maYo a klto to reaoli tho sky, Thoro is no woman in God's world could say She was more hlisafully content than I. But, ohl tho dainty pillow noxt my own Ia nevor rumpled by a shining1 head; My singing uirdling from its neut has flown- Tke little boy I used to kias ia doad. Man Mley Smith.

THE TWO BIRTHDAYS.

A yoar ago a little yoar r sat, a lonely thing, Awaiting what might he tho cheer : My birthday morn should bring, Whon lo I I hoard a fluttering sound. And, looking up. behold A troop of forms that nocked around, Liko fairies out of old.

All beautoous wore they, ail winged with gold. And, as thoy danced in glee, Tho world no moro scorned dark and cold, But made for joy and mo. ' . • I askod not whonce thejs oauno or why ', I knew as well as they. Oft had thoy passed my threshold by, But now had come to stay.

LUco roso-buds garlanded ttioy spanned My room from roof to honrttt. They touched my lip 3, tlioy clasped my hand, I felt no child on earth

And fresh and sweet tfao song they sang I wopt for joy to hoar. "At last," the fairy chorus rang, M Wo brlug a blissful yeail."

A year ago—a little year 1— I keep-my quiet room. No radiant forms with wings are here: No fairy troop has come, And all tho happy thoughts they left liavo faded liko a dream. Sometimes I fool as one bereft, And sometimes richer seem.

Yet I do sit alone no moro, One gnest steals to my side; Ofttinio I've heard her at ray door,

At last I open wide. H»Jf-nuii, hnlf-ant'ol scorns this guest, And ponsivo ia her Bniila. Vat doth she «toor mr biri:hd»y best, lud solitude beguilu. Vftboro'or shp goes aha brings an air <X twilight oaittn and oaiio. Her voicu is on the sooth wind fail, ■ That stills tie troubled iioas. Bho uimnot brine hack banished hours, Nor thoso (air uopos I waep: Bat she can cover them with flowers. Whore in their gravos they sloep. tJK Botham-E&warda in Good Words,

LASCA.

Losca used to rido On a mouao-gray mustang close to my sido. With blue seraoeand bright-boiled spur; I laughod with joy as I looked at her] Her eyo was brown—a deep, ,deep brown; Her hair was darker than her eye ; And somothing in her smilo and frown, Curled crimson lip and instep high, Showed that there ran, in each blue vein, Mixed with tho milder Aztoo strain, Tho rigorous vintage of Old Spain.

The air was hoavy, the'night was hot, I sat by her aldo and forgot— forgot; Forgot tho herd that wore taking thoir rest, Forgot that tho air was close opprest, That tho Texas norther comas sudden and sb'on, In the dead of night or tho blaze of noon; That once let tho herd at its breath take fright, Tkat nothing on oartn can stop the flight, A»d woe to the ridtr and woo to tho steed, Who falls in front of their mad stampede! Was that thunder ? No, by tho Lord! I spring to my saddle without c, word. • :; , One foot on mine, and she clung behind. Away I on a hot cliaso down tho wind 1 Hat never was fox-hunt half so hard, Aud novor was steed bo littlo spared, i . For wo rode for oar lives. You shall hear how

wofarod In Texas, down by the Rio Orando,

Tho mustang flow, and wo urged him on; There'was one ohanco left, and you havo but

one: Halt, jump to ground and shoot your horse; Crouch under his carcass, and take, your ohonco i And if tho steora iv their frantic course '• ' ' Dont batter you both to pieces at onco, You may Ihunk your star; if not, good-by To tho quickening kiss and the long-drawn sigh, And tho open air and the open sky, In Texas, down by tho Rio Grande! •

Tho cattle gained on us, and, just as I felt For my old six-Bhpotor behind in my bolt,. • Down cftmo the mustang, and down came we, Clinging togathor, and—what was the rest? A body that spread itself-on my broast, „ Tiro arms that shioldodiny dizzy head, " ' Two lips that hard on my .lips wore pecat; Thon canio thunder in my cars, As over us surged tho soa of steers,1 ■ Blows that heat blood into my eyos, i And when I could rise,; !,, Losoa was dead. .. (

I (fQujjrßd out a grave a fo w, feet deep, And there in Earth's arms11 laid her to sleep. And there sho is lying, and no one knows. And the summer shines and the winter snows; For many a day the flowers hare spread A pall of potals ovsr her head: - And the little gray hawk hangs aloft in tho air, And tho sly coyote trots here and there. | And tho black snake glides and glitters and slides ' " " Intoariftinaoottonwoodl.roa; • i ■ And tho buzzard sails on, ; And comes and is gono, . ' Stately and still, liliu a ship at sea; And I wonder why I do not care For tho things that are liko the things that wore. Dom half my heart Ife buried thore. In Texas, down by tho Hio Grundpi —Frank Vespres. '

A KISS FOR MAMMA.

Tho car was all ready, the isronaut saying A few last words ore ho sailed away To the far, blue sky, where the sunbeams straying ' ! - Mado perfect the gloriouu summer day; While thousands and thousands were gather-

ing nigh, ' , ' .. ' To wish him good journey, and bid Mm good by.

A wee little maid, with her sunny hair falling Baok from her beautiful ohildish brow, Sprang away from her nurae, her baby voice calling: " An' p'oase. Mr Man, may I do now ? I Huil to do up wiv 'oo In 'c sky. Ik> *s4 my own mamma an' tiss er dood by."

H» kfcwod tho sweat face, while the tear-drops were shinine ; <fc Qa many a check haidonad with care: Be unihispod tho arms round hi) neck fondly twining And sailed from the little ono standing there; BW o uwoot voloc rose to him. clear and free, " *»11 mamma I'a a dood dirl, an' tiss he* to" me I" _

-RoaaH, Thorn in Wide Awake.

RAMBLES ROUND THE WORLD.-VI.

The proity little town, or village, of .Mat's burgh, is situated at the mouth of the Saranac I.Uver, on the borders of Lake Charaplai;!, aDd contains abaitt 5,000 in habitants. The chief industry is connected with the saw mills, worked by the water power fu'niahed by the liver. The window of my room in tho hotd looked out upon tbe Lak«, Macdonough's Point being in full view,. Residents are fond of reminding vis-itors -especially if they be Eaßlish—that it is so-called after tho C >mm jdore, who, in the year 1814 "licked the Britisher* and compelled them to surrender to tbe 'Staw aod Stripes'" £nalishmeo of the presdnt day may well affjrd to listen with asumed humility—and nothing I better pleases an A mencan -while they boast of their prowess and ultimata success in tbe revolutionary war, b. cause we must .acknowledge they had light on. their ride, lln, the light of modern■ liberalism; we are ready to marvel that an English 6tatesman could bti so infatuated as to attempt, by force, to rivet fetters upon a people who were determined, and who deserved to be free. Happily the feeling of animoaity en gendered by the conflicts of former days is, dying out, and Englishmen and Americans can now converse about the struggle with out bitterness. And I believe, there is generally a reciprocal desire that nothing may occur hereafter, to place the two nations-BO olos ly allied by nature, and so similar in character —in a position of hostility.

A Fairy Scene,

it was pleasaut steaming down Lake Cbamplain, crossing and ic-crossmg from sido to side to touch at various settlements. It would bo tedious to name them all; let it suffice to say that at each pluce we stopped a', I discerned signs of activity, presperity, and progress, a t Ticondetotja .wo left ihe eteaaier, a d were conveyed by train across the neck of land that separates Lake Cbamplain from Lake George. This short run presented nothing worthy, of special notice. Another steamer awaited us on the watTJ of Lake :Georg.\ How sh*ll I describe the beauties of thia enchant ing resi >n ? It is scarcely an exaggeiation to call it fairy land. Auckland harbour is very pretty, aod pople are wont to cay that t;he scenery of Sydney harbour is scarcely equalltd in any other part of the world. Bui all the porti and places I have seen, must yield the palm to Lake G<O'ge. It area i* small a> compared with the other lakes of America, but it is lar^e enoogh to present a great variety of picturesque view*. Numerous' i.lands— some small, others la'go-diversify the surface of the lake -most of them clothed with verdure. Almost every CJtnmandinsj site On either shore is crowned by handsome villas or spacious hotels. la the:bjckgrouad are hilly ranges, at certain points reaching an altitude thu entitles them to be described as mountainous. Sloping plateaus run down to the water's edge; with hers ana there jutting promontories forming shady nooks and bays and tiny sheltered harbours. The vivid green an d various character of the foliagu is in bright contrast with the aoiubrß hue of the everlasting gnm tree of the_ Aus tralian landscape. Altogether, I. think'l may say tint-the trip down juake George furnished more delightful scenerythan any I bad seea during previous jouraeyßj in America. Ihe Attractions of Saratoga. . At Baldwin we bade farewell 'to the beautiful lake. A train was waiting for iis, aud after somewhat over an hour's run we reached, the fashioaaoie wsiteting-place, Saratoga — She focus of the fashionable society of the United States, it was* the height of the season when we arrived-the hotels and public places were thronged. It would be difficult to convey an adequate idea by mere Verbal description of th« Bize and magnificence of any of the hotels at Saratoga, Une or two particulars must suffice. Congre-s Hall Hotel has b fiontage of 413 feet on Broadway with two wing, extending back, each 300 feet. The United States Hotel contains 917 rooms; the dinioig-room is 212 fret long, and .propor tionally bioid; and the ball ro mi is 112 fot-louir, 53 feet wide, and 26 feet from floor to ceiling, and v decorated in lavish and olaborate ityle. 'ihere_ are many o -her hotels on a similar scale, indeed Saratoga may be called a City of Hotels, for when the-e; places, of public entertainmeht are clo8£:d dming'the winter season, the city is a comparative solitude* Bui the chief attractions of Saratoga are the mineral springs which abound in the: immediate vicinity."' I am not going-to in flict upon your readers a list of the techni-. cil terms by whxh the waters of -ika differ ent springs are c;us'-iried. I will only say, that the cognoscente distinguish them as • 'cha'ybeate" and "acidurus saline;'' oc cording 'to their component' propoities. Some of the waters are palatable, others are nauceoui in the extreme. But- all of them are said to be -efficacious remedies on cortain. diaeaaea. Each spring has'its local rising, and the bottled waters now fotm an impor tanli ai tide of commerce. i -

IwaJarnnseii by the crowds of loungers on 'rocKi'ig -chairs oil th& balconies and broad verandah* of tho hotels; and parti cnlfirly by the novelty of seeing manywell dreiisud ladies promenading the marble-'pavc meiiti of the city witlvmt their bonne's..;lt is quitii coininon'to teo ladies walking thte streets in parlourl co.-tnme with nothing on their hoids bur. their own or somebody'else's hair, many of them not etfe-n -'carryikig a: parasol. From June to September Saratoga is fall; aid as t» natural consequence great varieties of cbarac er are to be'met with.! Thi) be>t and the worst of society are to be found mingling, not necessarily in com munion, but 'thrown together aa occupants of the same hotel. It is not safe to leave n pair of shoes outside the door of your room, or an umbrtLa in the hall. If you do, in all: probabiliiy you may never see your property agaiD. One gentleman mi niy hetiiiiig complained at the office ot Asling ton Hou«e th nt a good pair of boots he had leti; outside his bedroom to be cleaned, had disappeared.' The only consolation ihe got fofin the clerk was :— '■ Oh, sir, all good boots and shoes are sure t-> go by the fir*t traiin that leaves early i» the momiriu." ■■

' Congress Hall Park is a favourie resort. It is a large enclosure laid out in lnwua and flower-beds, with statues; pavilion?, and fouutai»s, at.d iswellp'Ovid-'d Vtitb chair*. Concerts and other amusements are carried on. During the afternoon I was there, a large balloon was inflated, and \vhtn suffi ciently bioyunt, a lady, all alone, s.eppad into the Cjr; amid thel plaudits of the crowd of upcctatois. Jt went up veiy steadily and gracefully to a considerable height, aud was th'-n CJiried away horizontally until'inter vening trees hid her from view. How high she ascended, or how far she went, I cannot any I was told that she had previously made several serial voyages, on one occas ion rmrowly escaping destruction. She was caught in decending by the upper branches of a tree, waich had to be felled befote she could be released, and brought in siafely to terra firtna. For these fool hardy ventures she received the paltry sain of £50.

(To Jc Continved )

Pxjrjted and Published by General PrinUng Offloe,/JJ^Si W& the Provlnoo ot Auckland, N*^.jSSpM , FBBBUABT- 111' 18*. :.

SIAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 1883.



JTTITCHENS'S BLOOD RESTq|j^ IFOR CLEANSING, PURIFONg im INVIGORATING THE BL-jW 5 I Seven Years' Test in Auckland •; ''. rpHIS Medicine differs from otdiij'aw,*} 1 iJL prietary preparations, inasmail W I was the product of, yeais of BtndtfS I investigation by an eminent ph?ii<>L\i' I the Army Medical Staff, witfr $$££ !* iHitcheos served during the Nw'Z&iy tWar, as Assistant Dispenser WlSpo' perial Forces.' ■ ■- !* ---f On its introduction to the; public« Specific for the cure of ' RheniilliSit Kbeumatic trout, Scrofula, Skin DMgi Blood Impurities,' and General Dibßf' quickly attained great celebrity, .VoJI'&S1 Svas sought after from every pflrt^fiJi Zealand. ' ■ ■ uf '- 1U curative and depurative propsifei have been fully testified by 'the wS!i testimonials received bjr fjthe" |ronfci from patients who had long suflttej-ta the above distressing maladies, who hajjj plied in vain to physicians for relief;))*! whose cases, Turkish Batbs):Hot. Splffi jftdd other popular remedies .aij Uoh sorted to without effect.' ."_■ ■ : This celebrated medicine is "compel.; from products of the vegetablei ktijjjdcmii palatable and easily talcep'*.liiild.'.batfl*l tual, in its action upon the animal^ omy. It is, iv eooih, a verluWa Bum Restoeue, cleansing it, and Ussit2t* Ing diminished vitality."" It pte«e&tj. g. questionably, a. purer, safer, better,' ij more reliable alterative niedicinj JEffi'S. that kashiiheito been ayailifl^tfili people. ' ' ( ". MURE TESTIMONY! I': •■-„ ; Not a;, "I SURPRISING CURS To those who know what U ITQHENS'jBLOQD.iIESIOiiB ; HAS DONE. I In.the Auckland KWNINO STAI elm 27th April last, appeared -the follwfy local, which explains itself 1— ■ ■ ', The brig Bella Mary, from Melbourne ballast,, bound for Kaipara, -put isß l» boar yesterday morning to obtain ua& aid for Captain Owens, masteroftttinri who has been very uoweil dating tbtfattt; Eart of the voyage. •■ t'aptain;<O|Bl|| as followed the1 seafaring profenlm B many ,ye«r», ani had never until tin) Melbourne on Apiil 10th hut, sufftref fr« illness of any severe nature, wtumjty seized on that -■ date ■•■ witS ;:ttjal' pains io the bick. ' Eindt ties a has been swung Up iin;; A^SioWi in the.- cabin quite helpless, >Tii;K win off Kaipara at noon on- Thuridij y, but the weath»r beicg thick hi frjgjj was deemed advisable to tsoineon to»i laud for medical assistance; 'Jhobant-i arrived 'early yesterday momkg, bcjD'.. Moore haviDg b<en' sent for, viilte(lft(l|i Owens,, and gave instruction) to the (if < of the vessel ieg&v£iiiotreitmetiti>Wk invalid, is fiuffcringl'fioniiXa kptdfi'jpf rheumatism of v severe riatnre, atMr*'1' doctor considers ifiifadviiable to .eßidf^! partial; recovery before BUeaptip^lltr^ moval of his- patiknt4o mote;-HidtatA^ quaiters on shore. Capt, :Owtns j»«k .'.' knowntiir Aueklaud, 'and ronny-rtiitartt' •'< will be sorry to 1> am of his affliction," Referring to 'above, iCaptain:o«il»;-§; this day (Ist' December};- stated \ ■"*'*" being treated for1 about five veebityrtß';./; medical men successively-, with v.jjli'i alteration in my condition, except M h pain in my hands ahdibiik wumsi somewhat easier through the tffeet oi it [ galvanic'battery,' I 1 felt & gradnal'tWaji;' that told me the dread end' ffWtttß|B| and on«of tny! viiitibg JrieiiiidilWaWiJs| that' I should tryiwhit'Hi(«htt»^wH Ro.tcrer "would' do', 'as it!»ai W«t»"''" talked about Jar and- whle, Wltliuu! ■ faith in it,•! conseated-to tr^!it,»''« '■'-■"'" not no dee any'gobd effect'until I Imitiu about the third or fourtti'lfotlle,-wtn* : appetite i decidedly rq!uickencd,»il H th -t .my.'at':ength was conndjJiiiclE» *', . 1 then ceaßnaUo tak^'ttie'ißcdlii^B;;.. allowed, nature to; take Us' conis^ » (lading my 'appetite, going,'l siijnllltili^i* by nuall doses of the l','*[gi| other nicdicine,'hut applying-^WHS freely.' i Byi degrefli'my (Jwholi!iiß*ng seemed, to >bi invig j. and notS jW(fc^ treatment of six montbs.l Bm':aWet»»= -sume charge of vefseli-'asi ut-^ waitiiig her arrival in easily walk four'mile's a day ''''^y,, slightest inconyenienco;l ■'t cau*''^.}?.1 friend's1 suggestion saved my hi*,:i1 ;', , it is a duty that I should Pa^c^ffflt tbe oxtrao.-dinary pjwerotflWun^fc,,! Restorer over the sovefestcasesc I^-'- The ageDti *i!Il'l»!">Pll^|iSi original manuscripts of '''"JSffiSßffil lished testimonials anent 'hf?™S&^B Bcorea of others not' r yet puDlisbw. 4^,'E HAVE ,TOlS\(|Ep!p^W AND FAVOURITE W^: J BASS'S ALE & GUINNMSS^M Always in STOCK.', ;