SELECTED POETRY.

FAREWELL TO THE FLOWERS.

Now sink to dreams. O sweet wild forest flovj^. Whose lips have "lied with pcaco tuo (<n mor'a hroatli. ~ , - _. Wour fair eyes closo on all your rustling bo«rs, And fear not that tho secret kiss of dcatr. Shall pearl 'your tender brows with bl _Ju>K frost. , . ~ . Ye die, sweot flowers, but ye are not lost

Bow down your heads, you tender-tinted bljms. And sink to fearless dreams. 0 fair toon Soon will" too snowllakcs mark your ncly And bloak winds sigh your names till F""»g returns. , , Slecn, frcntlo things of peace I love BO wo] Ye shall not fall without my simple knoll

How fair, how brightshnll be your lowly £jcs. Where autumn's crystal dews fallhufCuaß Bwoet flowers, the good Lord loves you, id be

saves . Your spirits in the Feeds for other year By his own hand your lives again are so* lid each He guards and watches as His""'

"LET LOVE ABIDE."

fin the gardans atßramshiUan nnclon™dding ring was dug up. Tho posy engra V "Pen It is, " Let lore abide.

, T see tho houso In .weains and know- 0 charm that hauntseach silent room WTinrn Lelv'» beauties smilii and low, and triumph'»''"mortal bloom; aJI old Scad loves and joys of yore^'no back to l;t'° tnoir !'vos onco 'u°re.

ri(~P I" tho ivy on tho walls tho ptfock Binks his purple breast; . . The plaoo Is full of wild-bird calls, |d pigeons coo themselves to rest, while tunefully through rush aniurako tho streamlets trioklo to the lake.

Across tho long gray terrace swoo< the subtle scent ot orange flowers, . And through fhe stately portal oops a Bigh from hones suckle, bowers, To blend in chambers dim ancTast, with faintor sweets of summers pit.

Do shadows of tho days of old stillfnger in tho garden ways? __._,__. Lone hid on deep beneath fhtmould they found a ring of other days. And faith and hope and niemor cling about that simple wedding ring.

It'boars a posy quaint tad sweet vnd woll tho ' graven letters wean*, •'Let lovoabido "-the fords arehcet fo. thoso who pray love's endless prny.r; T_e old hoart lnnguage.Bung orighod, for over speaks," Lotiovo aßce."

Oh noble mansion, pro»i and od. and beautiful "inshadeorßhino. ,{.,,„., Age after age your wall tnfold the treasures of an ancient line! And yot-lot time tako U tho rest, If love abide, for lovo is beat. Sarah Doudnby.

THE UNCEASING MELODY.

Ltko some pink sbl. that will not cease Its murmur of tJsca, My hoart sings ondhout release This anthem f ulnd free; " TAoh wilt keep >' in perfect peace Whose mind is«l/cd on I'hec."

The music of tho'dody Haa floated dovthe years, A soul-subduing I'mony; It elevates and cere, _nd. like tho volof Deity, It dissipates allars.

Beyond the soun&t earthly strifo, Beyond tho fro and sigh. Beyond the worlf ith discord nfo, It lifts the con! high. To find a calm ajrestCul life. By faith in Chi brought nigh.

Thore perfect pal surrounds the soul Whose trust omd is stayed, While pressing oard to tho goal. It hears, all undiaycd. Tho deep notos ota music roll Through sunliglmd through shade.

And this is why, *out roloose. My heart sings 1 and free The anthom that i nover ceaao Through all Etoiy: IViou wilt keep h in perfect peace XVhose mind is tied on Thee." -Helen Chaunxey.

UNKNOWN

Yes, I know thafem dying. That this life is nly o'er ; But tho bright ablessed spirits Wait me on thatppy shore.

Soon shall Ihavenc with sorrow, Soon my soul wit at rest; Then forme the tld'3 tomorrow Will bo changed xealms moro bleat.

Live a life of uso I goodness. Teach mankind bust and lovs; Live tho life youth to others ; lieave the rest torn above.

For the Great and ving Father Cures not for yowfcf, my brother, Are you helpful, 0, and manly 1 Do you feel for ontothcrl

Have you fed the Oian homeless 1 Have you dried tluidow's tears f Havo you cheerod ; sick and weary 1 Have you done yousst through years?

Thus tho loved ono_e bef oro ub Wait for us their jo_ share. Oh! what pleasure.! what rapture To embrace ourdeaics there.

True it is, this carthjarting Is to us full hard to V. This is nought to joyrnal, Which we all may hi to share.

Very soon you'll folliaficr. When Life's fitful joey's past; Thon our spirits thusxed - We'll have found truist at last. W.E.H.

THEN, THEN'S THE TIME.

When Jones observes, y mincing smile, That he's brought out Jittlo poem," And, if indulgence youil show him, You'ro morning's leisurejl beguile. With Canto I, " The W o f Pain ": Then, then's the time: _teh the train. When builders show thftmtry seat, Old, picturesque of efticoess, Of lowest rent, and tr% taxes, And point its prospect, fimd swoet. O'er fertile meads and ling plains: Then, thon'a the lime tol: for " drains." When all your country Vj charm Has been enjoyed by frfo from elty. With raptured thanks aipccches pretty; And, in your turn, a welofe warm You reck in drawing rot and clubs: Thon, then'c tho time tort for snube. When wifle dear with soft-csa And kisses froti hei twt g rosy. And hissing urn and ari^tr co*y. Welcomes you home frointm and stress: Thon. as tho fragrant cvj 0 fills. Then, then'stho time to. t lor ••bills." —" Lon Society."

1.-THE COSTER'S DRY.

A Short, rough man, lean, huy, worn and pale, Stands by a doorway in a din. court; And to the parson tells his gruC| o tale, The while the ragged child round them sport.

-OB're the parson \ I heerd you, BO mln'; But haven't you called ralhetg; My little giri's buried, you sco, si And the neighbours arelayimt Kate. Whit! "Gospel," and cc,rt," and " patience," And " bear it as well as I can; God took 'em T Oh, no, but he d( • They were both of 'cm murderec man \

Bow was that, sir 1 It's easy to tel Ui You gee that place over the wa With the boarding all round it! S croß That only till just t'other day | Was covered with houses, where >folk Were crowding tonethev for lift And I lived in one of thsni places. With tho moke and my child any -wife,

VTe wasn'tas well ofFas you, sir. Maybe as wo couldn't dress fine But wed always enough for to live t An'l did very well in my line. ' To-day it was ft-h, and to-morrow 11 P'raps cab'baee, or melons, or poo An' the house, it was werry conweni With the moke stowed under theirs,

Woll, one day a bloko brought a papi A-givin' us notice to ouit; " From tho Board," says he ; "the ,'i. moan ing l; To improve up your dwellings a bi Improvement"; tlia'ta what they W a fi cr j Twasn't much that the houses woC-th • But look over there at that hoarding-^ They're improved oltthe face of; t Ear t, n

" You ahould go and liv-i out in the col. •• Said a bloke as come round to cxpl. And he riled me so much that I struck] And, I tell you. I'd strike him agafij' They gave me a fortnight in quod, sir;. An' remarked on my merciful fates. An' when I come back from the prison I found that thcj'd bundle 1 out KB

She was living up hrre in the garret. |! Where 3hc'a now lying dead in the <_ Littlo Sally was down with die fever, 1

And my good little moke had been so "Hard," did you say? I believe you I I How was a covey to live ? I'd no money to furnish my barrow, And tho neighbours bad nothing to _i

I did what I could; hut there ble*s you,-.; You'll guess at the rest of the talc— $ How hunger kept watch on the heart.hstoi

And our traps were put up at a sile. J Cold, and starvation, and fever.

We had 'em all three at a time; 1 Not brought by our fault, but all sont us ;| And that's what I'm calling a crime. ;;

I heerd how them folks as are clever Has boon miking a deal of a fuss A-writin' of hooks and of papers Just brimful ot pity for us Whit, comes of it { 'Stroyin' of nous- s, With nowhere for poor folks to go, *nu> words ain't a varnish for that, sir Itiicruel, and shameful, and low.

Someday -when you're up In your pulpit, In one of their, Sermons you give, Say it s beßt they should mind f heir own bisni . Or at least leave us somewhere to live. Itathat sort of preachin' that's wanted: . Not stulf'bout the homes of the poor That touches folks' hearts so they help us By turning us out of door.

THE NEW YEAR.

BY KATE THORN,

The trade in diaries is active Everybody makes good resolutions, and | notes them down in a diary, in their very , best hand-writing, with the pauses all ' properly put in. "Jan. Ist, ISS-1.-Afino day. Resolved not to smoke, drink, or chew for the space | of ono year. Not to speak cross to Mary Ann, though Mary Ann is dreadfully aggravating at times. Must pay back that . money I cheated out of Sam Smith in the horso trade. Buy no nesv clothes until debts aro paid. Black own boots. Must reduce expenses. No soda this year. Try to keep temper when wifo asks for monoy. Not stay out at clubs later than ten o'clock. Lodge night get homo at eleven. Not to swear if the steak is underdone. Not to look butcher-knives and daggors if tho coll'eo is too sweet. Not to kick wife's cat when she makes her bed in best coat. Not to throw bootjack at Simpson's clog. To give CI to missons," ote., etc. At tho ond of the year tho individual who has made and recorded all these good re solutions will be amused to look over the list, and he can count on the lingers of ono hand those ho has kept, and not make uso of his thumb in computation. Tho now year holds out flattering pro mises. What glorious possibilities may lie hidden within the next twelve months! What wonderful thinge may happen beforo another first of January shall roll round ! We all look for "something better than wo ! have known." "Next year," says tho busy merchant, as he lifts his aching eyes from the long rows of figures, which represent to him tho profit and loss of his business—" next year I will take a longer vacation. Next year I shall bo better situated to en joy life than I am at present. Next year I shall have nioro time for pleasure." Tho now year seos the world in gala Iress. The cities put thoir best foot for ward and the shop windows glow and glitter with holiday goods. Tho remote recesses of the earth aro ransacked for novelties to please the 030 of man and tempt the money out of his pocket. The animal, and vegetablo, and mineral king dom all contribute, It is a treat to walk tho streets of a largo town and look at the display. Everybody likes to do it, from tho wifo of tho millionaire who has but to sign her name to a cheque to secure anything out of the stock sho may fancy, to the poor sew ing girl who counts hor money by pennies, and who could not afford to buy tho vory meanest thing in all thoso splendid win dows without economising in tho broad, which constitutes her daily food. The new year brings in bills. A good many of them, too. And thoy aro always larger than you expoct. And you always go over thorn carefully, thinking the trades man must have made a mistake. _nd you always find, to your sorrow, that ovory ; duUiil is painfully correct. Your wife wants a new cloak. Bridget wants an incronso of wagos. All your boys want slods, and skatos, and comforters. All your grown-up girls want pianos, or to take lessons in painting. Your grocer tolls you that applos aro dreadfully scarce, and eggs impossible to 1 get. Tho milkman's well gives out, and consequently milk is higher. The women hunt tho stores for bargains I on the things "marked down." 1 You button your new diary securely 1 within your breast-pockot, and go forth to 1 wrestle with tho world, and keep your good resolutions, and if you succoed in keeping 1 half of them, you are a braver mail than I the average. 1

A GLAD NEW YEAR.

[By Miss Julia Edwakds.]

Palk, toil-worn, and sad, Widow Dulu Walker sat at hor hired machine, making fine shirts at 5s a dozen, earning barely enough to pay tho rent of her ono littlo room, for the machine, and bread for her sickly child, with a pint of watered milk once in a long while for her poor little thing —only six years old and never well from its birth.

Hor own diot was bread and Croton water, for every cent above tho calls we have named had to go for oil for tho lamp which sho bin-nod at her toil till long after midnight. Meat sho nover tasted, a fresh egg was beyond hor reach-she had no strengthening food, and it was no wonder she grow even more thin and pale day by day.

When sho married Stephen Walker against the will of her wealthy father, tho former was a dashing young broker—hand some and ambitious, but rash in specula tion and careless in expenditure. Her father disowned and disinherited her, but for one year she was unutterably happy. Then reverses camo suddenly upon her husband—loss after loss drove him to desperation, and within two weoks after a girl baby was born to hor, Dulu Walker was the widow of a suicide. Hor hut band took his life, and did not lcavo enough for his burial expenses. In her wild agony tho poor widow, not thon eighteen years of ago, wrote to hor father for help. His answer was prompt and briof. These were his words :

" You made your own fato—abido it. I have not a penny for an inqrate." Sho sold her jewels, all but her wedding ring, and buried her poor husband as well as she could. She gavo up the elegant flat they had occupied, took a small room, looked for work, got it after long waiting, small as it was, and for five years just existi d.

"Isn't it almost Christmastime, mamma';'1 asked her wan littlo daughter one day, when the poor widow let the machino stop a moment, for sho was so tired sho could hardly move the treadle. "Yes, Jossie, Christmas comes to-morrow, and I shall buy a nice pie for you and all the sweet milk yon can drink. I havo saved a shilling on purpose." "Dear, good mamma—you shall have half of it !"

And tho little girl brightened at tho thought. " Ours will be a dreary Christmas, dear, and a sad New Yebi", for I dare not stop my •work a single hour. Even on Sundays— God forgive me, I cannot help it—l have to work, or we'd perish." " Poor mamma ! And you are hungry now—l know it—you gave me the last bread in my milk." "Never mind, my darling, I am on tho last shirt of four dozen —I will take them to the store, get money, and buy more bread and pay the rent. It is due lonight. I have to pay it every week or wo would havo no homo."

" 1 know, mamma. That cross old man is always here after it when tho tinio comes. I hate him, ho is so ugly !" " You must not hate any one, dear Jessio. God made him so,"

" I wish he had made a bettor man while He was about it!" said the child, whose very misery had mado her wise and old for her years. Tho widow smiled. Sho was used to such quaint sayings from thoso littlo white lips.

A weok went by. Jessio had hor pio and milk on Christmas, and oven a (id doll, dressed by hor weary mother, added to tho littlo girl's joy, but threo days later exhausted nature gave way, and for threo days the machine had been idle, whilo tho hapless widow lay helpless on hor wretched bed attended only by her littlo child. When the miserly landlord camo for his rent, there was no" money to pay him. " You've gotto bundle right out of here I" he said, in his usual gruff tono. "I keep none but paying tenants " "Bo merciful for my child's sake!" moaned the widow. "In all these yoars I have paid up without fail; I am sick now —at least let me stay here to-day. It is the 'New Year.' I am very sick and weak."

" Yes, and liko to get worse—maybe to die here. That would hurt the rent of the room. Tenants are afraid o' ghosts, though lam not. You've got lo go ! " " Merciful Father in Heaven, is there no help for tho widow and the orphan?" sobbed the wretched widow. "Go 'way, bad man—go way I You make my sick mamma cry ! " screamed little Jessie. "Shc'il cry in the poor-house before the buii sets I" growled the sordid wretch. ■ "Brute! Beast! She will rest within an hour in as fine a house as all New York can boast of I" cried a voice fierco with ani'er, as an old man of noble look strode forward. " Father—my on-n father !" gasped the widow, striving to rise. " Your once cruel but now repentant father !" he sobbed, as he knelt by her i bedside and drew her thin form to his :'bo*om, while he kissed away the fast Ifalling tears. "I have looked for you and for you these three years in all Sthe papers !" he added.

"1 was too poor to buy papers," she said.

" Is tln3 my dear gran'pa?" asked Jessie, approaching him timidly. " _ es, darling—what is your namo ?" "Jessie, gran'pa I Please mako that bad man go—lie made mamma cry !" and she pointed to the landlord.

" Your bill !" stornly demanded tho father.

"Ten shillings, and cheap enough at that," growled the|man. "Take it and go. In less than an hour my daughter will be in comfort, and hor child will find a new home whence she never can bo ejected. Now leave mo nlono with my child."

The miser left, and Mr Fuller., a mil lionaire, who had found at last ho had a heart, summoned his groom and footman and had his daughter carefully carried to his carriage.

Thus if was a " Glad New Year " after all her sorrow.

HIS BROKEN PROMISE.

A Neiv Year Sketch

[By Mrs E. Bukke Collins,]

" You will promise mo, Richard'!"

Lillian Danforth's brown eyes woro lifted pleadingly to tho handsomo face of tho man at hor sido, and sho laid one whito hand up, on his arm, as though in entreaty. Richard Ashlcigh's dark face Hushed, and his eyes for a moment did not meet hors.

" 1 don't see how an occasional drink can

hurt a man, Lilly dear," ho said, a trillo im<

patiently ; "but " " You will promise ?" pleaded the girl, eagerly. " Oh, Richard, remombor how you nearly broke my hoart last Now Year's Day ! I cannot understand how ladies—relined, gentle women—can deliberately oti'or to their gentlemen friends that which they know may occasion grout misery. Richard, 1 beliove that you love 1110, and "

Ho caught hor in his arms and strained hor to his heart.

"Love you, Lilly!" ho cried, fervently. " I would lay down my lifo for your sake, ny darling !"

And ho spoko truly ; ho would indeed have imperilled his existence and his own welfaro — prcsont and future — for tho woman whom ho loved ; yet ho Wuuld not willingly relinquish tho singlo bad habit which he possessed—that of "taking a social glass" with ill-judged friends. Thoy woro standing in tho great, old fashioned garden which surrounded Lillian Danforth's homo in tho city of New Orloans. Tho goldon lances of sunsot woro quivering upon tho green grass ; the birds woro sing ing like mad in the tall magnolias ; tho flowers bloomed as lovoly and fragrant as though it woro July instead of Deccmbor. But a strange shadow crept through tho sunshine and rested heavily upon Lillian Danforth's hoart; somo premonition of coming sorrow ; and sho shuddered us sho hid hor faco upon hor lover's shoulder, " Oh, Richard," sho whispered, " 1 would

sacrifice much for your sake, and in return I ask you but one favour. I beg you not to touch intoxicating liquor upon New Year's Day ; for|[ fool that the events of

hat day will decide my wholo future"

" Superstitious child I" laughed tho young man, stooping to press his lips to her bright hair. " Woll, Lily, sinco nothing else will satisfy you, I promise. I will not drink a drop of any intoxicating bevorago on Now Year's Day."

"Thank you I" the girl answered, simply, as she lifted her lips to his. But her head had grown light at last, and the burden had dropped from her shoulders. For sho bclioved in him ; ho had nover broken a promiso onco mndo to her, and tho possi bility of such a disaster did not troublo her.

Now Year's Day came—bright, cloar. beautiful, Lillian Danforth's friends and admirers calling at the Danforth mansion as usual, found that sho had instituted a

"now departure;" for, although hor friends were most hospitably received and ler collation was recherche, there were no

wines or liquors. Richard was the first to call, and when ho left his betrothed sho whispered, swiftly :

" Don't forgot your promise !"

He gave her a loving glance,

"Asif I could I" ho returned. Then ho ran lightly down the stops, entered his carriage, and was driven rapidly away.

Hnlf on hour later ho stood in the elegant drawing-room of a fashionable up-town belle. Three quarters of an hour later ho

had taken from her white, jewelled hand a glass of champagne while hor red lips showered badinage upon him for his un accountable refusal. Sho urged him to ac cept —she insisted upon it. " Only one glass," she cried, seductively. It was

humiliating to that proud, high-spirited young man to know that this gay loader of fashion, this pretty butterfly, was laughing at him for his total abstinence as sho gaily offered to fasten a bltio ribbon in his button hole. And ho never knew exactly how it came about; tho temptation was toostrcng for hin:—'ie drank tho champagne, and his doom was scaled.

" Only ono glass !" you cry, in contempt; "how can so small a matter work so much evil ."

Alas ! upon such small pivots turns the destiny of tho human race. Ono glass im-

bibed, it was not easy to rcfuso tho second ; and a fow moments later Richard Ashleigh left tlio aristocratic mansion Hushed and oxciled. He refused no more the wine and othor liquors proffered him on all sides from his various "friends." Tho hours passed, and ere tho shades of night came down tho story was circulated about tho great city wherever ho was known —the shameful story of beastly intoxication. But tho rumour had not reached Lillian's ears, and when the carriago paused onco more before the Danforth mansion, she thought that he, having concluded his round of calls, had stopped for a moment that sho might know how woll he had kept his promise.

But, alas ! he entered her presence with unsteady gait, flushed face, and disordered apparel. She shrank back with a low cry. "My God !" shojjftiled, in bitter anguish. Ho tried to look into hor face, but his own gaze wavered and sank before her clear eyes. Koproachos were useless sho woll know, and sho stood trembling before him in utter silence which had no words to ox press itself. Something of his own bnsenoss must havo penetrated his clouded intellect. Ho came to hor side with unsteady, rcoling steps. She was standing boforo tho fire which burned in a capacious grate; one small hand had clutched tho marble mantel for support, and she was shaking liken leaf. " Lilly," ho cried, in a hoarse, unnatural tone, "IVo—broken my promise— you sco I Can you—forgive me ?" Sho mado no answer. How could she speak when sho saw before her tho complete ruin of all her hopes, hor dream of happi ness broken - hor wholo life wrecked ? Ah, me ! this is the darkest hour that can come into a woman's life ! Worse than death, worse than any other loss, is tho loss of con fidence and trust in our follow creatures. Lilian Danforth's life was wrecked and broken—utterly; and she knew it. And still she stood thero before him, poworless to speak. The silonco goaded tho.infoxicatcd man to insane fury, ilo wheeled suddenly about, and drew from his pocket a tiny revolver. " I am not (it to live !" he panted wildly. " I loathe myself -iot me die I"

Before the terrified girl could utter a word, he held the revolver to his tomplo and deliberately pulled the trigger. But at this very instant Lillian dartod forward like a mad creature, and caught his up lifted arm in both her frail hands, and pulled it toward her with all tho strength born of despair. And then ! Ah, Heaven, it was hornblo ! Tho weapon was discharged and the con tents entered tho poor girl's breast. With a low cry—no more—she sank upon the floor at his feet, the crimson life-blood dye ing the marble tiles of the hearth.

Wandering about tlio world, a very Pariah, heart-broken, desolate alono, Kichard Ashleigh reaps tho reward of his own wrong-doing. But from the moment when he saw his betrothed wife, (he woman he loved, lying dead at his feet—murdered by his owii hand, through his insane folly, he was a changed man. From that day to this not a drop of intoxicating liquor has ever passed his lips, or ever will. But all his remorse is unavailing, and his repent ance cannot bring back to life the beautiful girl who had loved him so. He is a wanderer upon the face of the earth to-day, homeless, loveless, with the brand of Cain upon his brow. Earthly punishment did not reach him, but he carries his own punishment ever with him, and the worm remorse gnaws at his heart. And all, all his utter ruin' and desolation were the re sult of that broken promise. Can the gay leaders of fashion, .vho throw . open their hospitable doors to "receive "on New Year's Day, read no lesson, no warning in this simple story? For, alas! it is no fanny, sketch, but "an ower true tale."

ONLY TWO BEECHNUTS.

A Revolutionary Lovo Story,

An old brown farm-house has stood ior years on tho highway between Ridgefield and South Salem in Connecticut. It was so near tho New York and Connecticut bound ary lino that a stone could bo thrown twenty yards or more from tlio doorsteps into either State. It had sheltered genera tion after generation of llio samo family for more than a hundred years. A fow days ago it became necessary to toar down this old building, and in removing the discarded furniture that had grown shaky with years of solitude in the musty garret, a small cheat was found. Nothing was in it but a package no lirger than a spool. On open ing the tattered, faded paper covering, two beechnuts wore disclosed exactly alike, per-

fectly preserved, and whoso shells wore as hard as glass. An examination of the crumbling inclosure rovcaled somo writing that was scarcely legible. Tho almost vanished sentence was deciphered as fol lows :

These are the beechnuts that Philip and Mar garet exchanged October lUth, 1778.

Tho littlo nuts that had lain for a hun dred years untouched aro now lo bo caro iully presorved, especially as associated with thorn is a family tradition. Tho his tory which the discovery of these beechnuts has revived is as follows : A hugo boulder frowns upon tho old Salem turnpiko, per haps a milo from tho Now York Stato line. It conceals tho highway towa-d tho west by rouson of tho sharp turn that is made around it. Loaning against this boulder ono mild afternoon in Octobor, 1778, was a young man. His eyes woro resting on tho vista of buff, brown and scarlet foliage that stretched far away, and through which patches of bluo water of the lake boyond could bo scon.

" Beautiful," ho said. "Ah, if I only— if I had not this business in hand; and thoir outposts aro just beyond."

Evon as ho spoke ho started, listened, and in an instutit so changed his manner that ho soctned a tired and listless soldior, with no care lor the landscape that had charmed him.

As the footsteps that had caused tho change of manner approached, and scorned about to round tho boulder, ho still kept his eyes half-closed with the expression of weariness, nor did ho lift them until tho stops stopped in front of bira. Then look ing up ho saw a child, a girl of ten or twelve, maybo. Tho littlo ono spoko.

" Where is your musket?" sho nskod

" Aro you thon so usod to seeing soldiers with guns, my maid, that you wondor 1 haven't any ?"

" Not always, but now. Why, my fathor and my brothor John havo gone away with thoir muskets, and so has overyono." "Mayhap thoy havo gone shooting tho gamo."

"Oh, no ; for thoy put on thoir three cornorcd hats, like yours, and I did hoar my brothor say surely thoro'd bo a battlo to-morrow,"

Tho young soldier no longer assumod the look of woaried indifference. His manner, however, did not suggest to tho child that ho burned within.

"My littlo maid," ho said, "I havo some thing bettor than a Hint-lock. I will show it to you."

From tho inner folds of his hoinospun coat ho drow forth a small portfolio, and then, sitting on a shelf of tho rock, opened tho caso, placod it upon his kneo, and then sharpened a crayon. " Your littlo faco, my maid, is sot so charmingly by tho bright leaves on the bank, back of you, that if you will lot mo I will sketch it, and you may havo tho portrait."

The child's eyes sparkled, but sho said, "You were tired and almost asleep as I came."

A slight, quick smile, though tempored with sadness, flitted over tho young man's faco, and ho said, " Yes, but you have awakoned mo. Now stand still as you can."

With quick vigorous strokos tho young man plied his crayon, now and thon glanc ing up at the child's face. Both woro silent some moments. At length he said, "And so your brothor docs predict a battle to morrow ?"

" Yes. Ho did say so, and did ask Sister Martha to make cartridges for him.''

"And now ho hasgono—thoro, there, my maid," for ho saw her chin quiver. Ho will como back. Mayhap there'll bo no battle." ':

Thoy woro silent a few minutes longer; then ho said: " Which way did your lather and brother go, my child ?" " Hy the turnpike to the White Plains." " Oh, ho ! oh, yes, of course, to tho White Plains. Thore," holding up tho portrait, ''thore, I havo foreshortened tho noso a littlo too much. When I havo fixed that it wi'l bo done" Thon with a few rapid strokes ho finished the sketch and gavo it to tho child. " It's my faco ! it's my fnco !" cried the child. " Now, what is your nnmo, that I may writo it beneath tho portrait ?" Sho told him, and ho wrote : Ituth Phillips by Philip. " Thoro," ho said, " my first name is tho same as your last one. That is nico, isn't it?"

As sho stood gazing at tho portrait tho young soldier quickly took a small map from his portfolio and traced with his finger a highway until it stopped at a point marked White Plains. Thon ho studied it n moment, and was about to turn nwuy when tho clatter of horse's hoofs startled him. Tho ridor, by tho sound, was pressing his steed to his best mottle. Almost abruptly tho young soldior seized tho child and led hor to tho scat on tho rock. Thon, with such fluency as caused her to raise hor oyes in some surprise ho spoko of the picture, and was thus cngngod, as he in tended to be,whon tho horseman dashed by. Tho horso was checked as suddenly as though shot dead, and tho young man thereupon lifted his tall figure that had boen bending over the child, turned slowly, and when ho looked up the weary, caroworn expression was again on his faco. It was changed, however, to a look of surprise that was not counterfeited as his eyes fell on a young woman. Though tho soldier stedfastly roceivod tho look that tho girl gavo him from eyes that wore rounded with astonishment as they were luminous and searching, yet ho did not fail to noto tho oxquisito picture that sho made. Tho high and jauntily-poised riding hat that tho nurning leaves of a maplo almost touched as with a fiory plume ; the thick coil of hair, tho complexion that was brighter than that of a leaf that almost rested on the check ; the figure, seated as though horse aud rider were moulded to gether ; the coal-black animal gontly paw inf tho oarth, all backed by tho brilliancy of°the forest—this picturo gladdonod his artistic ©ye. Yet his active mind was busy with queries as to her identity. But the littlo girl solved the question, Sho said: " Oh, Patty, see tho picture of mo the man did draw."

The older sister put out her unoccupiod hand and received the portrait, not yet tak ing her oyes from tho soldier. At last she glanced at tho portrait, thon scrutinised it more closely, till it seemed to the young man that many minutes had passed. At length she turned to him and said. " You did this !"

The soldier bowed, and tho young woman mado a mental noteof tho grace with which this common soldier mado courtesy.

" What for ?" sho asked, though her tones woro not so abrupt as tho words.

" Tho little maid pleased me."

" It is almost perfect."

" I am as well aware as you that it is not

"Who aro you ?" Ho smiled slightly, for ho could not help it, at tho imperious manner of tho girl, but ho said, quietly, "a Continental soldier." " You were ill, mayhap, and fell behind." The soldier bowed. "Don't you know you are on dangerous ground ? You are within the British lines." "I hope soon to be safe." The young woman gathored up her reins, saying as sho did so : "Ruth, you should not stray so far from homo. Come with me." Then she seemed to hesitate, and at length said to the young soldier, who had not stirred : " How long time needed you to draw this ?" " But a few minutes."

" They are precious. Dare you draw mine ?"

" It would bo a pleasure.'1

"Will you?" "Remain, then, as you are." Again drawing forth his portfolio, and fixing one long, searching glance on the girl, he began his work. As ho went on she had both desiro and opportunity to observe him. Sho saw that he was tall, sinewy, young, and, as he looked up with the inquiring glance of the artist, it was impressed upon her that he was handsome and strong be yond all men she had ever seen. She saw the quick, sometimes strong, sometimes delicate strokes of tho crayon, and saw grace in both. He ventured not a word. At length the girl said : " Who is your commander ?'

He seemed not to hoar, and she asked again. Without pausing in his work he said : " Col. Tyler.of tho Seventh Connecti cut." " You are from below';" "I was." " That is what I mean. You wore a portrait sketcher ?" " Yes, in New York, before the war." Suddenly sho said : "Do you know you may be killed to-morrow ?" '.' Perhaps." " I meant that a great battle is ex pected." The young man made a most vigorous stroke but without looking up said quietly : " You ure better informed than I. I shall reach my command to-night." " I havo been doing my part, too," she said.

" I myself rode to Danbury this morning i bearing the commission to tho commanding olliccr that the British troops woro gather i ing at tho White Plains, and that he and , his command must march at once and con centrate at Bedford before daylight. I toll you," sho added, "because by taking the short cut you might fall in tho sooner with tho army." Here the young man snapped a crayon, and, whilo sharpening it, said: "Thank you for tho suggestion, it must bo ten miles to Danbury ?" " Yes." " You must have pushed your horse?'' "Indeed I did." Whon next ho looked up the portrait was dono. He gave it to hor with a graceful bow, and tho manner of indillorcnco, but sho saw that his face was as white as the paper itsolf. For some moments she studied tho picture Then she said :" It is a marvel. It must be my very truthful portrait. I thank you, sir," and sho ex tended her hand. As ho took it, she added : "I wish I had something that I might give you in return for this. I fear now that 1 was far too presumptuous to ask you to do this." " You honoured me, and have repaid me." " Wc may meot again, sir, when I can hotter repay you." Ho sail: "Wo may; who knows?" Then as his eyos foil on tho ground he espied a number of beechnuts that had fallen from tho tree overhead. lie picked up two of thorn, "See," ho said, these nuts aro exactly alike. You said wo might meet again. J will givo you this one and keep tho othor. If wo meet again wo will put them side by sido as thoy aro now. You can repay mo by doing this. It is only a whim of mine." She luokod at him curiously for a moment and thou said. "Why, that is a playful thing to do ; but if you wish itl will, ' and sho thrust the beachnut under hor glovo. Whon sho looked back aftor she had gone do ,v n tho road a piece, ho still stood thoro with head uncovered as when she quitted him. Had sho looked later sho would lmvo soon tho young soldier rushing with mighty strides in tho direction opposite to what ho had all day boon talking, and if sho had read his thoughts she would have known that ho was thanking God ho had met hor. Ono ovening in midwinter, more than a i year later, there were gathered about tho open firoplaco in the living room of tho Phillips mansion, tho young woman, Martha, hor littlo sister Ruth and an elderly woman, who was plainly tho mother. A tap at tho door did not fail to cause all three to start a little, Troublous times again had come on this part of tho country. Rumours of an advance prevailed. Father and brother had again .set out with the contingent troops to ropol a threatened invasion. However, Mistress Martha did not besitato to open tho door. So far, at least their homo had boon respected by both armies. There stood on tlio steps a tall man, 'whoso great coat was slightly sprinkled with tho snow that was begin ning to fall. He did not offer to enter un til bidden ; but, he said with gicat courtesy that ho was a belated traveller, compelled to ask shelter and food, if so bo tho inmates folt safo in extending such hospitalities," " Bid tho gentleman in, Martha," said tho mother, and whon ho had with oxquisito grace, bowed and thanked her, ho assorted that nothing but tho direst necessity would havo compelled him to intrude himself. " These aro, indeed, sad times, sir," said the mother. "Twice beforo my husband and son havo been called away to defend the country. 1 know not whero they may bo to-night, but tho good Lord will protect ..them and us." "Is (here, then, disturbance in these parts?" asked the stranger. "Have you not heard and seen, sir, and

you n t.niv<,ll«," "Iliad supposed tho operations were to tho west, else 1 might not havo ventured on my journey." Tho old lady glanced quickly at him for a moment, as though wishing to scan so strange a person as this, who did not know what was going on about him, but neither by hint or word or action did sho betray any surprise. The stranger was young and noatly drossed in a heavy, close-fitting surtont that reached to his top boots. His hair, which fell in curly locks almost to his shoulder, and it was of a yollow tinge, al most approaching whiteness. The old ludy at ence perceived that whoovor her guest was ho was a gentleman, and as ho ad dressed himself onliroly to her she soon found herself interested in him. Though sho frequently referred to the topic that was uppermost in hor mind, ho seemed to care littlo about tho war. Tho old lady decided that ho must bo a merchant from below, who hud ventured thus far toward tho British outposts—which then included the Phillips homestead—for purposes of business. Meanwhile Martha had herself prepared a repast, of which sho at length invited (ho stranger lo partake. Then for tho first time ho took note of tho girl. 11 Wo have simplofaro now," sho said. "Tho simplest faro has always been my choico and habit," ho said, and then added : 11 This must, be a lonely life for you, though perhaps an oxciting one." " Not lonely when fnthor and brother ar horc and when there is no war." "Your father and brother aro in tho field ?"

" Yes, sir."

" It is a piliablo lot for you indeed !"

"No, sir ! no, indeed ! Wo are glad lo havo a father and brothor to fight for our country." The stranger looked at her for a momont with such admiration as could give no offence. Then ho said : " That is indeed true patriotism."

Sho was silent for so long a time that he stopped for a moment as ho ate and said : " Is thcro, then to bo fighting near by?"

"Father did say to us as ho wont away: 1 There will bo no general battle, but wc aro going with tho contingent and regulars to cut oil' tho approach of tlio British.' They do expect by night of to-morrow to havo thrown up such forts or defences as will head off the British, and as it is but twelve miles away whcro thoy do so at tho Carmol Cross Roads, maybo father and brothor will bo home on Saturday." Here the stranger soemed much occupied with his meal, nor did he pause in tho eat ing of it until, seemingly conscious that some one was gazing fixedly at him, he lookod up and encountered the steady eye of littlo Ruth. He smiled pleasantly and said : "How, thon, littlo maid, do you, too, miss your father?" "Youdomakomo think of my picture man,"tho child said. " Have you a picture-man ?" " Tho man who drew my picture. Shall I show it to you?" " Yes, indocd." Tho child brought not only hor own, but tho crayon of her sister. " They aro well dono ; woll dono, littlo maid, but you have grown older since this was made." ." Yes, more than a year." " A yoar. indeed," said ho, half medita tively. " My sister Patty looks every day at hors, and sometimes I do hear hor say, ' I won der if I shall over sec him again.' " " Hush, Ruth, tho gentleman cares for nothing of that sort," said Martha. "But I am intorcsto 1." As thoy sat by the fire later, dialling, and whilo Martha was meditating upon which of the two spare rooms to put the sfrangor into for the night, thore was hoard without a sound that rose above the moan ing of the wind. "What is that?" asked Martha, The stranger hastened to the window, and even as ho did so the sound grow louder and more significant. It was tho yell of madoned men, and now, as the cur tains were tossed aside, they saw a yellow light through and beyond the thick-falling snow-flakes. Tho light grew brighter and brighter. "It is the army," said Martha.

" Which one?" asked the mother

"The British, I think. Look, thoy aro burning neighbour Heeler's house. They will come hero. Thoy have threatened be fore. They will burn the house and they may kill us. See thero, over the hill ; they are coming. Thore, they have sot fire to the hay-rick. Mother bo calm. They shall not hurt you. I will not let them," and tho girl turned with flashing eyes and flushed cheeks, and seemed to be going to seek for

a weapon. - But sho was staied. The stranger, whom they had forgotten, had gently restrained her. She looked at him inquiringly, and, he said : "Thoy will do you no harm." The madmen rushed on down the hill, and there were two big fellows in the front. They woro the uniform of the British army. They were, indeed, on a tour of devastation and ruin. Just as they reached tho stone fence that enclosed the yard before the house, and were about to surmount it, the strangor went out, and stood with the snow whitehing his bare head. He lifted his arm, and the two big men stopped, as did thoso behind them, and after the stranger had said a word or two to them thoy turned and wont their way. When he returned to the houso his manner was as calm as it had been an hour before. To thoir thanks ho simply replied : " You de served protection. You have oarned it." Then ho bade them farewell, though they exptessed much astonishment thoreat, and pleaded with him to stay. I must on my journey," he said. "Before Igo how over, I would ask if Mistress Martha can produce tho counterpart of this!" and, thrusting his hand into his bosom, he drew forth a beechnut.

"I know it. I did know it," said the littlo Ruth ; but Martha made no response, only turned for a moment so that her faco and bosom were turned from him, and when she again faced him she too held in her hand a beechnut.

"I am vory glad," ho said. "When we meet again you may not know me except by this samo token." lie said this somewhat sadly, and before another word was said, departed. A mo ment later he mounted a horso that had beer, held in waiting for him in the high way, and galloped forth into the snow and darkness.

When tho buds wore bursting into blos som some five months later, and when Martha was reaching hor dimpled arms up among the lilac flowers one day, she turned suddenly, and there behind hor stood a tall young man, in the uniform of an American officer. His hair was black, his face palo and unshaven, and ho was plainly labouring with excitement or trouble. Ho said nothing until sho had first spoken. "You havo come again," she said, with tono half-tremulous, half-cold.

'' This time a suppliant. I see ysu know me now ; I am my n tural self but for these clothes. Protect mo, mistross, I beseech you !"

" Protect you I"

"Yes, for unless you do in an hour I shall be captured. I can escapo no further."

"Why should I? You saved us that night; you—you —no. I will not. You betrayed my girlish, foolish confidence twice, and may thereby havo cost us our country's cause. From my words tho day you drew my picture you learned enough to enable your army to defeat us at White Plains. From my foolish Bpoech the night you rescued us you gathered enough to foil tho plans of our people, and caused thereby my brother to bo brought homo dead. I trusted you then for what you assumed to bo. They havo told me whom I did then harbour." "Thon you know my name ?" " Yes." " Woll, tell mo."

Sho leaned forward, and hor face was white as her nock as sho whispored. " Yes," ho said, " I am he.

" Then you must go your way." " You forget. I only did my duty, and I never asked you for tho words you spoke." "And I must do my duty now." "My pursuors will bo after mo in a moment."

"Do not ask mo to do this. I cannot."

He turned and saw the cavalry coming over tho hill, and then he turned again and looked at hor with unspeakable sadness. She saw tho horsemen too, and knew that ho hud given up hope, Ho tore open his vest and drow somo papers therefrom that ho rapidly destroyed. Reserving ono, he held it to her und said in tho saddest tones she had over heard :

"To-morrow will you read this?" She would neither tako it nor speak, but tho paper was taken from his hand by little Ruth, who had come there unob served.

" I will, Mr Picture Man."

"Thank you, and God bless you, my child ! You keep it, and give it to your sister by noon of to-morrow."

The cavalry had now spied him, and were putting tho horses to their best. He held his hand out to Martha. In it was the beechnut. Without taking hor eyes from hii, tL» thrust lior hand ltiui lier bosom, and when sho withdrew it there was within it the other beechnut. When the Soldiers a moment later seized him he bade Martha farewell and kissed littlo Ruth. Then ho took Martha's limp hand and placod there in the beechnut. Thon they led him away. At evening two soldiers delivered to Martha a crayon likeness of herself that they said their commander had instructed them to bring, Thoy said it.had been taken from the man who was captured there that morning. It had been drawn from memory, according to the noto at tho bottom. " Whcro is ho now ?" she asked.

Tho soldiors seemed confused. At last one pointed to the ground, and thon they both rode rapidly away.

" Deid," she said. "I did not think it meant that. I let them kill him," and an hour later they found her there under the lilac trees. When, a year later, just after they roturned from tho old burying-ground whcro they had laid Martha's body, they found among hor other treasures tho two beechnuts wrapped together. Thoy put them away in the old chest.

NEW GUINEA.

[Special Cokrestondent Auckland Star.]

Food, Cooking, Plantations, Draining, Trading, Fishing, Smoking, Kava Drinking and Dross.

Tut. nativos aro mostly vegotarinns ; oc casionally they got some fish, kangaroos, or human flesh, but this is raro. except at a few fishing villagos on tho coast. Thoir food consists of yams, taro, bananas, cocoanuts, sugarcane, and sago, the last named article being cultivated chiolly in tho Papuan Gulf, and whcro thoro is plenty of fresh water. It is the chief oxportfrom the Gulf, being exchanged with the tribes about Port Moresby for pottery. We also purchased a good deal from tho natives of the Fly Rivor for food for our Papuan In stitute. This vory useful palm has a creeping stem-root liko a nipa palm. When it is fifteen yoars old it sends up an immense terminal spiko of flowors, after which it dies, It is not so tall as a cocoann't trco, but is thickor and larger. Tho mid-ribs of its iminonso leaves are twolvo or fifteon foot long, and sometimes tho lower part is as thick as a man's leg. Thoy arc vory light, consisting of a firm pith, covered with a hard rind. The pith in tho upper part is of snowy whiteness, and of tho consistency of a hardish pear, with woody fibres running through it, a quarter of an inch from each other. Tho pith is pounded by a club while still in the trunk. It is then washed in a kind of trough formed of tho large sheathing bases of the leaves. A not-liko strainer is mado from tho fibrous covering from the leaf-stalks of the cocoa nuts. The trough being deep at tho centra and shallow at the ends, the starch which is dissolved sinks down to the bottom of the trough, while tho water runs away from the upper part. It is then mado into bundles of 00 or SOlbs. each, encased in tho sheathing bases of tho leaves, and kept for use or barter. It has a reddish tinge, and being mado up wet soon spoils. Rewashcd and thoroughly dried, it makes good sago, and keeps a long time.

The natives have also abundance of wild fruits and edible roots, among which may bo mentioned the breadfruit, mango, wild date, rose apple, and nativo plum. Nature bountifully supplies them with the necessaries of life. For plates they use wooden platters, plaited cocoanut leaves, and tho beautiful banana leaf. Knives and forks aro easily made from bamboos, and spoons from pearl and cocoanut shells. Some cook in earthenware pots, others on hot stones. Their plantations are carefully cultivated, and woll fenced in. I have seen miles of them, looking like well-kopt gardens. The soil is turned over with pointed sticks by the men, the women following breaking it up and throwing out the weeds. The yams, bananas, etc., are planted in straight rows, for which purpose they use a line, and the bunches of bananas are carefully pre served from tho birds by being neatly encased in dried banana leaves. In the vicinity of tho Fly River they drain the land hy means of deep trenches, which reveal to the stranger tho great depth of the rich alluvial soil. These trenches are well made | and carefully kept, and bridged over by planks or trees wherever there is a road. In visiting a village off one of the arms of I the Fly River, about thirty miles from the

coast, I was surprised to find such ■ luxu riant vegetation, well cultivated planta tions, numerous deeply-dug trenches, and apparently abundance of food everywhere. Some of these inland tribes trade with thoso on the coast, bartering vegetables, paradise birds' feathers, etc., in exchange for fish and salt. The womengenerally do the bartering, and aro very noisy and acute in the tran saction. In Hood Lagoon there i 3 a village of agriculturists close to one of fishermen, where there is a regular market for the almost daily oxchango of their fish and vegetables. It is a regular Billingsgate. To see the women exhibiting their fish to the best advantage is really amusing. The chief articles of barter amongst the natives, however, are pottery, sago, peorshells, and canoes. The last-named are generally obtained in exchange for armlets and pearl shell, one large sizo armlet being the price of a fully equippod canoe, or equivalent to a man i.e., if a person is killed an armlet will generally atone for tho offence and prevent a war Tho armlets aro made from tho heads of conical shells found in Torros Straits, and off the oast end of New Guinea.

Modes of Fishing.-Catching a Turtle

Fish aro mostly caught by nots. though often by line and hook, and sometimes by spear. I havo seen them catching sardines in a vory ingenious way. Those small fish move about on the reef in immenso shoals. Thoy keep close together, and move on very slowly in a compact body. The natives havo a hand basket, which is Btrongly, neatly, and lightly mado in tho shape of an extin guisher, Tho fishorman stands with this in his hand opposite the shoals, which aro near the beach. On each side of him stands a man with a long bamboo, on the end of which is fixed a light ball. When all aro ready, these two men rapidly push their poles into the shoal at an angle, allowing them to meet at the ends, which, of course, causes the sardines to retreat suddenly from the pole heads, and as they dart towards the beach, the man with tho basket at the samo instant plunges in and scoops them out. This is repeated along the beaoh following the sardines until thoy havo got as many as they want. Dugong are speared from a platform erected on the reef. Turtle are very clevercly caught at sea. On our way to and from the Fly River, wo often catch them. When seen lying listlessly on the surface, the boat is steered towards it, a native fastens a small rope to his arm, others stand by ready to haul in, and there is perfect silence whilst the boat glides up to tho monster. It generally gets close up to tho turtle before it is aware, the moment it dives, the man with the ropo fastened to his arm plunges in, and as he can dive quicker than the turtle he soon catches it, and seizes the shell firmly with both arms, giving the signal to pull. Now the excitement on deck becomes in tense as the nativcß haul in the rope. Presently there is a most ludicrous scene : man and turtle both appear, the one on the top of the other, holding on as for dear life, both turning over and over like a patent log, as thoy are dragged along by the boat. Another native jumps in and fastens a rope to tho arm of the turtle, by which those on board haul him on deck. Green turtles weigh from three to six hundred pounds each. Tho studonts in the Papuan Semin ary caught sixteen last year fo> the Christ mas feast. The eggs are considered a great delicacy by tho natives. Sandbanks and uninhabited islands are the most likely places to find them. When ever we anchor for the night at such places, tho natives go ashore with pointed sticks or small iron bars, with which thoy probe the sand in likely places, examining the points carefully to see _ they are wet. As soon as they see any indica tion of having probed an egg, they quickly remove the sand, and often find as many as a hundred and fifty or two hundred eggs in a nest. It is at these places where the turtles aro most easily and plentifully caught. Tho natives remain on shore during tho night, and when the turtles come up on the beach beyond high-water mark to lay their eggs, tho natives go quietly and turn them ovor on their backs, which renders them helpless. They some times get half a dozen in a night in this way.

Hunting.-Scarcity of Animals.

Their hunting is confined to the kangaroo, wild pig, and cassowiry, being the only animals there are to hunt in New Guinea. Kangaroos are caught with strong nets, into which they aro driven by setting lire to tho long grass in front of the nets, the natives guarding the sides to prevent their escape, and so driving them into the semicircle formed by the not. The ends are then drawn together, and tho circle gradu ally lessened, surrounded by the natives, who, when the circle becomes small enough, comraenco a general slaughter. They catch as many as forty at once in this way. The cassowiriesaremoro difficult to obtain. To securo them the natives use spears and bows and arrows. The wild boar hunt is tho most dangerous and exciting, in which spears are almost exclusively used. This animal often turns upon his pursuers, and is not unfrequently victorious in the en counter. I know of two instances where the struggle proved fatal to both hunted and hunted. Isot long ago a war party were proceeding to an inland near the Fly River on a skull-hunting expedition. Their road lay through a forest of tall trees, where wild pigs abound. They had not gone far when one crossed their path. Spears and arrows instantly flew after it, but missed. Some of the men pursued, but, being intent on the business of war, soon returned. One man, however, continued the chase, whom they found on their return lying at tho root of a tree, gored to death, and the boar also lying dead not far off. Tho condition of both showed that there must have been a fearful struggle for life. Smoking a Nowly Acquired Habit, The smoking practised by tho natives is worthy of remark, When it was introduced wo cannot say. In IS7I wo lound the natives at Saibai and Katau smoking irom bamboo pipes, and on our voyages up the Baxter and Fly Rivers we found tobacco plantations far in tho interior. On the S E. poninsula, however, it is a recently-acquired habit. They did not know the use of tobacco when we first met them. They have learat to smoko from foreigners. It is also very probable that the natives of tho Fly River district acquired the habit from the Torres Straits natives, who most likely were taught by the early beche-de-mer fishers. Wherever it came from, the habit is now universal amongst all the tribes with which wo aro acquainted. Men, women, and children, old and young, all smoke; and tobacco is the most eagerly sought article of trado. They use bamboo pipes from two to four feet in length, which are ornamented with fanciful designs burnt in. All the sections of the bamboo aro opened except tho end one, near which a small holo is made, giving it the appearanco of a flute. On the poninsula in the vicinity of Port Moresby, tho tobacco is rolled in a loaf and inserted in the small hole, and the smoke inhaled from the end of the bamboo. In the gulf thoy place tho tobacco in a small bamboo about four inches long and throe-quarters of an inch in diameter, in appearanco like a largo cigar ; this they insert in the small holo of tho pipe, and placing tho lighted end in their mouth, as boys place a lighted candle, they blow the large bamboo full of smoko, then tako out the small bamboo and inhale the smoke from the small hole, taking one pull and handing it on. Whon empty, it is handed back to the young man who iB manipulating, and he repeats the perfor mance. Kava Drinking and Tattoo. The well-known Fijian custom of kava drinking is not practised on the S.E. penin sula at all, so far as we know, but I find that it exists amongst the nativos of tho great body of the island near tho Fly River, although thore is a difference, if no improve ment, in tho way in which it is prepared. In the South Sea Islands it is the girls who make it; here it is the boys who chew the root.

Tho gulf tribes also tatoo differently from those on tho peninsula. The latter do it in the ordinary way by painting and pricking tho skin like the New Zealanders, whilst the former do it by cutting and inserting into the wound powdered shell, which gives it, when healed, a swollen, rib-like appear anco. Thi3 custom is practised also amongst the aborigines ot Australia. The cuts vary in length according to the part of tho body where they are made. The natives of both sexes are as fond of ornamenting their bodies as tho belles and swells in our own country. They do not wear much clothing in their heathen state, nor do they require it in such a hot climate, but they use a profusion of ornaments and paint. The hair is frizzed out carefully and cut in fantastic shapes. Soire'imes it is done up in scores of small curls like whipcords, from which are suspended portions of human bones I have a segment of the backbone that I cut from the back hair of a young cannibal. They uso a variety of head-dress, made chiefly from paradise birds' plumes and cassowiry feathers. Their necklaces are made of white and red coral beads of their

own manufacture, which involve an immense amount of labour, and are greatly prized. Some are made of dogs' and kangaroos' teeth. A large pearlshell cut in the form of a crescent, and ornamented, is worn on tho breast susponded from the neck. Ear rings are made from turtle-shell. I have got as many as twenty-five small rings from the lobe of one oar. They have many ways of decorating their ears. The lobe is gene rally pierced, and the hole greatly distended by inserting bits of wood and a piece of the strong 'part of the cocoanut leaf, which acts like a spring. When the orifice has become large and set it is filled with earrings. In some cases it is severed, and a weight attached to the end, which is worn till the elongated lobe hangs like a tassel from the ear. This 13 then pierced with small holes, which extend all round the edge of the ear, and coral beads are laced along both sides, which they consider looks very handsome, The middle part of tho noso is also

pierced and a neatly prepared piece of shell like a clay pipe-stem slightly curved, from four to eight inches long, inserted. The arms are decorated with bracelets and shell armlets, and white cowries are tied to the

legs just under the knee. Add to all this a painted face, flowers, and gay crotons fastened to the arms and legs, and you will form an idea of a Now Guinea native in full dress, ready for the dance, of which they seem never to get tired. Night after night you hear the drums beating, which often continues till daybreak.

Government of the Tribes,

Wo have not yet found any chiefs in New Guinea worthy the name. Those repre sented ns such are simply leaders in time of war—head men who, compared with the chiefs of the South Sea Islands with which I am acquainted, are powerless in time of peace. They cannot impose a tax of any kind, and have no control over the people beyond their own family. I was particu larly impressed with this fact when we established a mission station at the village lof one of these head men, who had been represented to us as the biggest chief in New Guinea, and who has been exhibited as such in Queensland to the wondering community of Cooktown. Tho fact is that he, like the rest, has no authority except as a war leader. Physically, he is a big man, certainly ono of the most powerful looking men I have seen in New Guinea, and he greatly boasts of his strength and exploits, and is feared as the bully of a village is feared.. Bis name is Kuapino. When we arrived at his village, according to arrangement, with two South Sea Island teachers and their boxes, ho met us on the beach with a crowd of natives. To see the man and hear him talk, ono would suppose that he was a powerful and despotic chief— indeed, this was our first impression ; but when it came to carrying the teachers' luggage up to his houso, his true position became ludicrously evident, We begged him to ask some of his men to carry the goods, and wo would pay them. He spoke to them, he entreated, he stormed, but they only laughed at him, and told him to carry them himself. Finally, in a rage, he and his own sons shouldered the boxes and walked off with them amidst the laughter of the ciowd. When in his house we were crowded almost tosuffocation, and begged him to send some of the people out that we might get a little fresh air. Here again he seemed utterly powerless even to send the boys out of his own house; and, to. complete his humiliation in our es timation, wnen we made him a present, those around snatched the things out of his hand and bore them away in triumph, not withstanding his protestations. It was quite evident that this great man, of whom we had heard so much, was r.o chief at all, but simply a noted warrior, who, by physical strength and daring, had forced himself to the front.

These head men live and dress just like their neighbours. They have to make their own plantations and build their own houses, also fish and hunt for themselves. It is only when thero is a council of war"jor an actual engagement that they come to the front and speak with authority. If cannibals, they superintend the cutting up and dividing of the victims. Amongst most of the tribes the head-man-ship is hereditary ; sometimes, however, the tribes become dissatisfied with his leadership, and he is deposed and another appointed in his place, though this seldom happens. His badge and source of authority is really his club, which is generally a very superior one made of atone.

The absence of powerful chiefs, as amongst :he South Sea Islands, has boen seriously

felt by ua in ofttabliehinpr raieoion stations amongst the people. The interest and protection of a powerful chief (which it is not difficult to secure by presents and kindness) is not only a source of security, but of advancement for the mission. Whereas thero is little advantage in having a New Guinea chief for your friond, his influence being'so small that he can neither protect your life nor pro perty. You may be attacked by any man in the village without his asking the sanction or fearing the frown of the head man, or anybody else, except the party at tacked and his friends. Still, these head men may be descendants of chiefs who were as powerful and despotic as those now reigning in the South Seas, for not only do the eons succeed to the office, but- they generally succeed also to the name. Query thereforo : Is democracy a sign of advance ment or retrogression ? In their Government, the natives of New Guinea, so far as we know them, are patriarchal and democratic. All important matters are decided in a general council of tho village, at which the head men and sacred men, or priests, have most to say, and whose advice is geherally followed. I mean by head men the heads of families, a family being a combined group of sons, daughters, uncles, coußins, nieces, etc. The sacred men are the doctors and sorcer ers of the village. Land Tenure and Social Usages. All land, both cultivated and uncultivated, is owned by the heads of families. Having no written language, they, of course, had no written laws. The boundaries of their lands are, however, well defined, and their land laws strictly observed. Any disputes ' about land boundaries (which rarely occur) aro settled, like all our grievances, by public opinion in a general council of tho people. Crimes, such as stealing, adultery, _c, are dealt with very summarily, the offender being punished by. the person in jured. Club law prevails, sustained by public opinion. Death is tho usual punish ment formurder, and often for adultery, the injured party being at liberty to seek revenge on the brother, son, or any mem ber of the family to which the guilty party belonged. Sometimes the culprit and his family seek refuge in another village, which proves a city of refuge. It is seldom anyone dares pursue them and risk hostilities with tho village that pro tects them. The revenge then takes the form of burning do\vn_ their houses and plundering their plantations. Wars and Weapons. Wars generally originate about women, or in somo private quarrel between two in dividuals, which the village takes up. Their weapons are clubs, spears, bows and arrows, stones, and wooden swords, which are generally made of ebony and artistically carved. Some of their short spears are also well carved. Their bows are mostly made from bamboos, and are very powerful, their arrows being made from reeds and pointed with bono, which is often a human bone saturated with poison. In war they never stand up in orderly ranks and shoot at each other. According to their notions, that would be the height of folly. Their favourite tactics are rather of the surprise and skirmishing order. I remember one of the chiefs questioning me about our modo of warfare, and his look of amazement when I described tho rows of men placed opposite oacli other and firing at ono another with guns. He eagerly inquired whetherthe men were within range, and whon I replied in the affirmative, he exclaimed, "Then you are great fools ! We thought you were wise men, but it seems you are fools." Then he askod whore the chief stood. " Oh," I said, "he remains at homo, and sends his men to fight." At which thero was a burst of laughter, the chief remarking proudly that New Guinea chiefs not only accom panied the fighting men, but kept in front, and it occurred to me that if we were to adopt a similar custom our wars would proj bably be less sanguinary. The heroes are those who obtain the greatest number of human heads. They are often, liko Achilles, swift of foot, who dash t.wards tie enemy and hurl a spear with great pre cision. Their great ambition is to signal- ; ise themselves by the number of heads \ •hanging in their houses._JThe hero in the Grecian games rejoiced more over his chap let than does the young Papuan glory in the distinction of having cut off a man's head. I remember the pride with which the young chief of Saibai pointed out to me five skulls hanging in front of his house. His bravery was the subject of a village song. He is now a devoted and leading member of the church there.

Their wars are not very sanguinary. They have not yet learnt the art of killing by hundreds and thousands, . A dozen

slain at a battle is a large number. It •, usually two or three on each side, and a few wounded, both sides claiming the vlc-

i tory. The women sometimes accompany i the warriors, and whilst tho men are fight ing or skirmishing the women aro plunder t ing the plantations of the enemy, and when 1 hey return t\\ ift their husbands with sheer wunt of success, pointing to tho baskets full of yams, and asking them where the skulls are which they have brought. A Tribe of Pirates. Of all the tribes with which I am ac quainted in New Guinea, there are nono equal, either in bravery or cruelty, to the Tugarians — a piratical tribe of cannibals near the Baxter River, who mako periodical voyages along the coast in a fleet of swift canoes, attacking villages and robbing plantations as they go. These savages practise tho horriblo custom of breaking the arms and legs of their victims as soon a3 taken, jso as .to prevent their resistance or escape", and then cook them by ono or two at a time as required. I have_ in my possession a battle-axe from this tribe, tho only iron weapon I havo seen amongst tho savages of New Guinea along the six hun- 3 dred miles of coast lino with which I am acquainted.- It is evidently made from o, piece of iron from some wreck, and is more j like a small pickaxe than an ordinary axe. So far as we know, the natives of Now Guinea have no idea of working the minerals with which their country abounds, so that the absence of gold ornaments by no means indicates tho absence of gold, any more than it did in Australia. They j value iron of any kind vory highly, especi ally thick hoop iron, which they sharpen j and use as axes. Long knives aro greatly prized, being usod for clearing the scrub for i their plantations, and as swords in war. Carving and Canoe-buildlng. j They possess very few and very' in ferior tools, which are made from stones, ~."; flint, and bones; yet their carving is sur- : prisingly well done, Bhowing considerable artistic skill, both in the design and in the execution. They carve images of birds, • fish, and men, and ornament their canoes, : paddles, houses, drut_3, clubs, &c, with 5 tolerably well executed drawings and carv- §3 ings, A large nail is to them quite a ~ 1 treasure. They sharpen it and use it as a |g| small chisel. I have seen a cannibal native ,;; execute some very good work on his canoe '■■./ with a pike nail that I gave him. . M

There is a good deal of ingenuity dis- \| played by the natives in the constructions | and ornamentation of thoir canoes. Any- ;-| one can tie a bundle of bamboos together _ ba nd form a raft as the natives in the interior do for crossing rivers. Nor does it require j'i much skill to fell a tree, cut off the 1- ,1 branches, and hollow out the log, as many , 9 of the inland tribes do, who live on the Wk banks and creeks and arms of the large,-' | rivers. But to construct a war canoe, with .'" j its single or double outrigger, and its j artistically carved stem and stern posts.ite carved images, and handsome steering 1 paddle, and well executed drawings of fish, ~ ■'; etc., on its sides, is the work of a distinct and not very numerous class of professional carpenters and painters. The lakatoi, or ■';:! large trading canoe, used by the natives in the barren district of Port Moresby for Ob- ,j taming food from the fertile Papuan Gulf, J is a kind of raft, made by lashing six or eight canoes together, upon which a plat form is raised, made from pieces of old __j canoes, the sides being made in the same* "^ i. way as their houses, of leaves Sewn together, J and the whole propelled by an immense mat sail. Of course, they can only go with a 'M fair wind, and so leave for the gulf at the end of the S.E. monsoon, and return with S the first of the N.W. The best canoes I ",.{; have seen in New Guinea are those at the i east end, which are really well built boabira||j consisting of two or three planks sewn to -'■ ffi the sides of a log neatly hollowed out. |3 Timbers and thwarts are fitted and the i«j»|| whole ornamented with carved work, draw-' |fl ings, shells, streamers, &c. They have an agß outrigger, and are propelled by a large mat |Bh sail, which they handle most dexterously- S9 in beating to windward. These canoes will outsail an ordinary whaleboat and go | S to windward of it, *. tn ?'

Their sails, like their canoes, differ widely, from a plaited cocoanut leaf to ai well-made mat sail, like an immense kite, the top being concave instead of convex. The canoe paddles of ftie cannibals at the eastern end of the S.E. Peninsula aro the best I have ever seen. They are generally made of cedar, smaller than an ordinary paddle, prettily shaped, and regularly cut, the top of the handle being neatly carved.

Dwellings. _, - Native houses, like native canoes, dilier"'SZ; very much amongst different tribes. Some are like gigantic bee-hives, others are like a row of cottages without any ' partitions, I have walked through and m measured one of this kind at an inland " village thirty miles up the Fly River, and : found it to be 512 feet in length. Some are built on posts, all sizes and all shapes, | often like a boat turned bottom upwards. I noticed amongst the inland tribes in the W& Papuan Gulf near the Fly River that the y ! houses were enclosed with bark, instead of if grass or leaves, as is generally the case. ". = Still, like thoso of the inland tribes on the peninsula, they aro inferior to the houses on | i the coast. The hill tribes often build their is houses, for safety, in the forks of trees. :A They first make a platform, which not only | bears the house, but also a quantity of . ' ■ stones which aro always kept handy to defend it from tho enemy. They live on A the ridges of the hills, which are some- j'A times very narrow. I remember spending ;' a night at one of these places. We had . ■ moro than one reason for preferring camping || out to sleep in one of thoir houses. My A hammock was slung between two posts, '■'/, but it seemed so dangerous as I lay and mm looked down the steep sides of the moun- |H tain, which was over a thousand feet Mgh7—*S that I got out and lay on the ground. !§|t The most peculiar and interesting are '"• tho villages built on posts in the lagoo is, A and on some parts of the coast, varying in distance up to a mile from the beach, re- :--."A minding one of the old Lake dwellings. ~-.■ These houses aro much like large rickety" 'A pigeon cots, along the floors and platforms A of which you thread your way with fear and trembling, expecting every moment to .;,. drop through into tho sea. The interior of -..-_' | many of the native houses is both clean and comfortable. The better class consist- ■■■;':: of a platform or portico, thon the large-IS living room, and above a sleeping apart;.'. A ment. They are well thatched and enclosed rif i by leaves neatly sewn together, and stand gl upon strong posts 6 or 8 feet high.

OUTRAGES ON CHRISTIANS IN CHINA.

Proachors and Converts Floejjfidr^and Thoir Housos Pillaged.—Churches DcHtroyoil.

Hong Kong, October 14.—Chinese mobs' v' have been committing fearful outrages ou?:::' persons and places of Christian wo'r„v ship -in Canton and interior points! >, In the provinces of Kwang • Tung ;".' alone four Roman Catholic and five Pro- "

testant churches have been destroyed, 120 .-'.. houses of resident Christiana looted, and their occupants driven away. In Nam-hoi threo '1 j Catholic chapels were pillaged, as were also :' the houses of converts. The priests and the ..' converts were beaten and, the women outraged. In Shi-hung the Church of ;;" England chapel was destroyed. The 1 Chinese tore tho clothing from thev;;; preacher's wife and treated her shame fully. In the Chang-sung the Wesleyan- 9 chapel was destroyed. Christians are: -'_\\ fleeing from the province to Hong Kong. * Tho Chinese gavo them the alternative of '*. sacrificing to the idols or teaving^their' . A homes. Thoy preferred the lattOr{c v b^t while leaving many of the women wiw-ffig caught and outraged. Jp^s The authorities of twelve Cantonese v _§3| B lages have issued notices that all Christians ' i must leave. Fifteen churches in thoso's^! villages have already been destroyed, arid|§|p several stores looted. Many persons' arSSll homeless. Iv Kite-Yung a mob destroyed ' all the Roman Catholic and English \,t* churches. In Swatow the Catholic priests were ordered to leave, and, after they haoll^ left, Chinese eoldiers broke into the houses"*" and ravished the female converts. Al- m

though the attention of the Chinese Go vernment has been called to these barbarous acts, no action has been taken to prevent them or punish the perpetrators.

THE AUCKLAND EVENINI* STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3. 18b5

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Good Words—From Good AuTHOßrnr.—\ • • • We confess that we are perfectly amassed \ at the run of your Hop' Bitters. We never had anything like it, and never heard of the like. The writer (Benton) has been selling drugs here nearly thirty years, any has reen the rise of Hoatetter's Vinegar and all other bitters and patent medicines, but never did any of them, in their best days, begin to have the run that Hop Bitters have. • • we can't get enough of them. iAVe are out of them half the time. ■ ■ Kxtract from letter,to Hop Bitters Co., August 22, '78, from Bknton, M^ers & Co., Wholesale Drug gists, Cleveland, 0. Be sure and see. ,



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