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 .JJ^l.,, IIIS^MI.."J'"W^,^WJI ,IJ I J.. -i'J.J m Port and every • to Liverpool, and] tnrday to LiverpooL mails and pasee- io from Baltimore Liverpool fortmit e ateamera of the •ml from Halifax,! nd during stumner ekly, Glasgow aad :hn-3N.'F., Wni.Tto-;?;| "-n Co., Chicago;^! rher, Toronto -AliMR*! ?ftie, Philadelphia: H. il ontrea! • "• «.! ANOE COMPANY Pe«erboro% Oit I s'D AT ONCE FOB LIST t Second-Hand Macbinea, roiu igis UpTratds. 'itr.Jog-ue Ready 1st April â-  LANE MONTREAL E., TORONTO. "Ifrs cf Printers' Lea* Send for prices- -it â- ; si: cf IcnjT itsndliif *1: ..ST is Uly faith In M lU'VTLES FREE. las«tlMr n on ci.M disasa* (o aS L-KNOWN lso PEERLESS Horse Poweia. « 1 rt CHAPTER Vn. » little after ^ve mi the following ^* ""^n that Sir Geoffrey walked from hii ift«"'?^° the square. He seemed, by his boos* i»V: ^if be was afraid of having his '"'**' nta watched, for he stopped, hesi- kTtnd finally walked away quietly in • ^^.'-J^tion of Upper Brook Street. Call. tbe ^^^^ja he was driven to one of the |i»?»°proachj8, half town, half country, qniei »»s j jjjjgton, where he dismissed his T Tben he walked quietly on till he hpd his destinationâ€" a well-appointed ^1 sombre -looking establishment and after some hesitation, he knocked. ST^om he was shown -into was laid out h Preparations for dmner and just as fc little clock over the mantle struck the 2f.hour after six, Le Gautier entered. He 1 ?!«.ted his guest quietly, almost coldly, and ^ff the bell to order the meal. It was a I^et little dinner, really irreproachable in 3, wavâ€" the appropriate wines being per- tet for Le Gautier by no means despised Ihe pleasures oi the table, and, moreover, ^iotthe man to spare where he had a '*«^ell, Sir Geoflfrey," he said, toying -ith his glass, when the meal had concluded it was past eight now, and the light was teginning t« failâ€" "do yon feel equal to the coming trial?" «0 yes," the baronet replied eagerly, 4K)neh his face was perturbed and the glass his hand shook. " Let us get it over; this suspense is killing me. Sometimes I fuicy you are playing some devilish art on Be. 1 doubt the evidence of my senses." "Yen do not doubt," Le Gautier answered jternly. "Listen!" The light in the room was fading, and nothing distinctly could be seen save the gliminer of the waning day upon glass and Jlrer! At the moment, the strains of music »8re heard, low and soft at first, then swell- ing louder, but always melancholy. It was ioite impossible to tell whence it came â€" it seemed to strike the ear as if the earth was fall of the sweet sounds. Suddenly it ceased, jgid a sigh like a mournful wind broke the stillness. "It might be my dead brother himself playing," Sir Geoffrey said, in great agita- tion. " The organ was his favourite instru- sent. Strange that the music should be so familiar to me " " Do you doubt now " Le Gautier asked. I "Does your unbelieving mind still run upon I lickery or mechanism, or are you convinc- "I must believe," the weak old man re- ]*ed "I have no alternative. I put my- I lelf in your hands. Tell me what I am to dfc" "Your own conscience must guide you, iud wnat the spirits will to-night must be obeyed. It is no question for me to decide I am merely the humble instrument the medium between one world and another. I dure not advise you. When your nerves are sufficiently braced to meet the dead, I will reitore thecommunication. â€" Are you afraid " "No, no " cried the baronet "I am not afraid." A cold, icy hand touched him on the aheek, and a low voice whispered in his ear tke words " You are " Trembling, frightened, he- rose from his chair and liien snddenly the room was filled with a light, showing the baronet's set face, and le Gautier's pallid features wearine a sar- donic smile. Hardly had the light appear- ed, when it was gone, leaving the room in double darkness at the change. A yell of Mush, discordant laughter rang out, dying away to a moan. "What is that, Le Gautier?" Sir Geof- frey asked. " Is this all real, or am I â- erely dreaming?' " The spirits laugh at your audacity. You Coasted you were not afraid whilst you are trembling in every limb. You dare not say it again!" "I am alarmed, mystified," he said "but I am not afraid." A mo;;king shout of laughter followed this ^ieech, and the words, " You lie " as if ut- teed m chorus, were distinctly heard. A lold hand clutched Sir Geoffrey by the *roat, holding him till he could hardly weathe. In his intense agitation, he snatch- fi at a shadowy arm, and suddenly the »nd relaxed its grip. Le Gautier struck a â- atch and lighted the candles. I^Are you afraid now " he asked quietly, ' ves, yes anything to save me from •tet horrid grasp My throat is aching Wh the pressure. " 1* Gautier looked at the finger-marks '*â„¢ly. He was acting splendidly, not werdoing the affair in the slighted, and, on «e other hand, not appearing altogether in- "aerent. He was playing for a high stake, ttd It required all his cunning, all his cool wMcity, to win. To the casual observer, « m'ght hive been au enthusiastic believer. iou have seen enough," he commenced ^eUy, but with an au: of the most profound ft rii?'°°~" ^°^ ^*^'® ^^^ enough to know („, .® "^e for delay is. past, and the hour f action has arrived. The spirits to-night jreincensed with you they are furious at delay and unless you solemnly promise J»r^y out my proposals, I shall not risk "\vf ' ^°y manifestation to night." liteon 1 ' ^? *° *^° •" ^^" Geoffrey cried Wads T n^ put myself entirely in your ••flow" it ' â„¢^ "" ^^ty, and I promise to "So much the better for you," quoth Le "tter sternly. "Listen! You know I the firTf* °^ g'^^^* Secret Society. In »eteU/ "' y°^ must join that and let Xd tont tu \°^^ latabrotber was a member, WOK the keenesMnterest in its move- «• ^ou must join " iiBne«!!T, â„¢y brotber was embroUed in ^iZ!f«y ^ialist plots," said Sir Geof- ^J 'owutiously «' but I really do not see **eino1^^f .**PPP^1 *t)ruptly, for tiie *l%ereH^."8" was heard, and a voice •ea4d !-!?* *^'"' " Beware " With in- »« of ^°°' ^e continued " If that is »isontbp%S*°*'®' m'18* do so; though " It is 7 ^^^ understanding that I" '«iertbL°.° "^derstanding at all!" Le 5?«*1, h^ "**: "Who Sre yon, poor 'ait ha/*"!,*""^^ "«*e stipulations? *»Teitj"*^«allor nothing. Take it, or t^* looked p4 »*â-  liia e^. V 8.^*«"88 into the other's L*»'«'omenfT^"fe^*l» *eir intensity. S^. TV. a? *** *a8. striving for the ""quSed ^^^^ylool^ed away. •VLetitliie80liisa» "Toorwfflhas Wnered nune. Proosed, for I see yoa nave something man yet to say " Ag^in the sigh was hisrd, ind a voice SMd distinctly "ItiswelL" The music burst oat again trinmphaDtthistime. When tiie hst pealing strains died away, Le l»autier contmued: "Your brother died at New York, as yon know; but at that tune, he was on business of the Society. No man had his heart ao firmly set upon the cause as he, no man has been so missed. You would never be able to take his place but you can help us indirectly yon can aid ns with what we most need, and that is money. 1 on shall see the shade of Sir Ughtred pres- ently, and hold converse with hun but, on the perQ of your life, do not move from the spot where I shall place you.^' "^* as go now," Sir Geoffrey cried TOgerly. " Why should we waste any more time talking here " " Because things are not prepared. The shades from another world do not come forth at a moment's bidding to show them- selves to mortal eyes, though the air is full of them now." Sir Geoffrey looked uneasily around for any traces of these ghostly visitors, though he could see nothing nevertheless, the idea of a chamber full of supernatural bodies was by no means pleasant: " Then our pact is complete," Le Gautier continued. " Briefly, it stands thus I am to show you such thu^ as you wish to see and in return you become a member of our Brotherhood, swearing to promote its wel- fare by all the means in your power. Quick say the word, for I feel the unseen influence upon me. " " Yes, yes â€" agreed only show me my brother." As Sir Geoflfrey spoke a change came over Le Gautier's face; the baronet watching him, perfectly fascinated. The medium's eyes grew larger and more luminous, his features became rigid, and he moved like a man who walks in a dream. His gaze was fixed upon the other, but there was no sense of recognition there â€" all was blank aiid mo- tionless. He rose from, his chair, moving towards the door, his hands groping for it like the action of the blind, and he beckon- ed to Sir Geoffrey to follow him out along the dark passage. " Come I" he said in a strange hollow voice â€" "come with me 1 The spirits are abroad, and have need of me I" The room they entered was situated at the back of the house, having a large old- fashioned bay window of the shape and form One sees in the banqueting-room of old country-houses â€" a long narrow room, drap- ed entirely in black and the only light in the place proceeded from two smaU oil- lamps held by white Parian statues. As the twain entered, the draperies were vio- lently agitated, as if by a sudden wind an icy current seemed to strike them full in the face. A chair, impelled forward by an unseen hand, was pushed across the bare floor, and Sir Geoffrey, at a motion from his companion, seated himself therein. Le Gautier stepped forward toward the window, and lighted a flat brasier, sprinkling some sort of powder upon it, and immediately the room was filled with a dense violet mist, through which the oil-lamps shone dimly. The weird music commenced again, and as it died away, a loud report was heard, and the curtains across the window were wrenched apart, disclosing an open space. As Sir Geoflfrey gazed into it, a form began to appear, misty at first then getting gradu- ally clearer, till the watcher saw the figure of a girl, dim and slight, for he could see the woodwork of the window behind, but clear enough to %ee she was fair and young, with thick masses of long yellow hair hang- ing over her shoulders, and ha|f hiding her face from sight. There was a' look of sad- ness on the brow. " You may speak," the strange hollow tones of Le Gautier came through the mist. "If you Lave any questions to ask, put them but, at the peril of your life, do not attempt to move. " With the most reverent and holy belief in the reality of the scene before him, Sir Geoffrey gazed at the downcast features. To his diseased mind, he was on the borderland of another world, and the very thought of speaking to the bright vision was full of awe. " Who are you " he said at length in tremulous tones. " Let me know who it is with whom I speak." " I am your better self," the vision spoke and the voice sounded faint and distant, yet very sweet, like music on the waters. " I am your good spirit, your guardian angel. I stand by you night and day, the presiding deity of the honor of the House of Charteris." This artful stroke gave the listener confi- dence and flattered his family pride. " Has every man a spirit such as you " he asked. " Every man who is by nature noble â€" yes. To every one who has courage and genius, one of my sisters belongs. I am the guiding star of your House. I have stood by you and yours in the hour of need. I saw your father die. I saw your brother's deathbed. It is of him you would speak? " It is," the baronet cried boldly. 'What of him r* ^^ r " You owe him a heavy debt of rep^- tion," the vision continued sadly; ' In life, you were not always friends in death, you were not with him. He left a family. Are you aware of that, selfiA mortal Â¥' " I did not know I never knew. But it is not yet too late to atone. Tell me where they are, and I will go to them," "It was too late " the figure rephed in tones of deepest- sorrow. "They are dead â€"dead ot neglect; nay, more, starvation. They will not dispute 70^,'^*^ °?T' WhUe you had flattery and adulation, iriiile you Uved in luxury and splendour, your kith and kin lacked bread.' "But surely some atonom«it can De madef «• Too bkteâ€" too late Nothing can avail SiiJ lowB by toittrt*^:"tS9SI*^^ ?roW help tolii^ Ata »*«»^; y«» SThS? thSe »;? who, Po«r«i*T^ sow, fsraw^n.' '^^ "Bvtsti^uotiiarBiintta. F* uSH^J^"" w-repeatBd^coBmigtotbe UMenar's ean as from afar ofl^ fainter and nmtMT, as the violet ndat rose aoaia. filUng tte room ,rith dense, fragrant smok^ throng which the rigid figure of Le Grai^ could be dimly seen ereet and motionless. When the mist cleared away again the fig- tweofamangrewviuble. Perfect, yet intang- ible, he stood there, muffled in a long cloak, and his features partially hidden by a soft, broad-brimmed hat. At this spectacle. Sir Geoflfrey's agitation increased, and great drops stood upon his forehead, "It is heâ€" my brother 1" he groaned, starting from his feet but again the word " Beware t" seemed to be hissed in his ear. " My dear brother, do not look at me like At that. It was no fault of mine, I swear." The figure answered not, but looking the wretched man ia the face, pointed down to his feet, where two thin, emaciated children crouched, evidently in tiie last stage of dis- ease and starvation. " What atonement can yon make for this " was asked in the stern tones the listen- er knew so weU, " Man in theenjoyment of wliat should, imder happier auspices, have been mine, what do you say to this " He pointed down to the crouching children again, sternly yet sadly. "Anything," the baronet exclaimedâ€" ' anything, so that you do not torture me like this 1 It is no fault of mine, I did not know. But anything in my power I will do, and do gladly." " Well for yon that you have spoken thus. You shall complete the work I began in life, and the man called Hector le Gautier shall help you with his aid and counsel, â€" You have a daughter " • ' I have â€" your niece Enid. What do you know of her " Much perhaps more than yon.: â€" Listen 1 and interrupt me at your periL You may have views for her perhaps she has chosen for herself. Am I right? But this must not be Hector le Gautier must wed her. " But I have other views. There is al- ready" "Do you dare to cross me?" the vision sternly asked. " Have not I and mine suf- fered enough at your hands? Promise, or" He stopped abruptly, and again the sigh- ing voice whispered " Beware 1" In an agony of terror, the baronet looked round but the dark eyes never seemed to leave him. So frightened was he, so stricken by this cunningly devised display, that he dare not defy the figure standing there before him, " I promise," he shouted at last â€" "I pro- mise. "'Tis well," the vision said. "From this moment, you are free. You will see me no more but if you dare swerve a hair- breadth from our compact, then you shall find my vengeance swift and terrible, Geof- frey, farewell 1" " But, Ughtred one moment more-^ I" A deep shuddering sigh broke the silence, and the figure was gone. Almost distracted. Sir Geoffrey rushed forward to the curtains, which had again fallen, but nothing was there. The smoke cleared away, and once again the room was quiet. Le Gautier opened his eyes, and gradually life and motion came back to him, as he awoke like a man from a trance. " Are yon satisfied," he asked, " with what you have seen " " Wonderful " the trembling baronet re- plied. " It was my brother to the life â€" the very voice even. You heard the compact " " I, my dear Sir Geoffrey No, indeed," Le Gautier exclaimed in a voice of great surprise. " Recollect, I heord nothing my faculties were torpid they formed the me- dium through which sights and sounds were conveyed to you." " Aaid you heard absolutely nothing T" "Absolutely nothing. â€" But of course, if there happened to be anything which con- cerned me, you can tell me at your conven- ience. â€" ^And now, I think we have had enough of spirits for one night, unless you would like something to steady your nerves ,» Sir Geoflfrey declined the proffered re- freshment, pleading the lateness of the hour and his desire to eet home. Le Gautier did not detain him and after a few words, they parted the one to dwell upon the startling events of the evening, and the other to com- plete his plans. It was a neat stroke of Le Gautier's to disclaim any knowledge of the conversation, the rather that the delicate allusion to his relations with Enid were mentioned, and besides which, acquitted him from* any awkward confidence, " The game is in my hands," the schemer mused an hour later, as he sat over his last cigar, " Would any one believe that a man of education, I almost said sense, could be such a fool? â€" Hector, monami, you^will never starve bs long as there is a Charteris in the world. The opportunity has long been coming, but the prize is mine at last " and with these words, the virtuous young man went to bed, nothing in his dreams telling him that his destruction was only a question of time, and that his life was in the hands of two vengeful women. (to be oobtikubd.) To clean a white goat-skin rug Wash with warm (not hot) soap suds. The skin may not seem quite as soft after the wash- ing, but, if the washing is done quickly, the skin well rinsed in cold water, and dried with only moderate warmth, being frequent- ly turned and shaken, the difference will be hardly perceptible. Sometime ago Bud Truner, of Tahlequah, L T,, was shot with a 40-calibre revolver by an oflScer. The ball entered Bud's head above the teeth and just under the nose and lodged at the base td the brain, near the â- pinal c^omn. Physicians who attended the wounded man pronounced the shot fatal, and declared that probing for the ball would only hasten his death. Bud's mother was not convinced, however, and after the doctors had left she sent for an aged Chero- kee medicine man, who had great repute as a conjuror. The red man made a few my^- toious passes over the victim's head, chant- ed a weM incantation and, presto the ball was found to have reached the skin on the back of Bud's neck, where it stuck out like a nnan tumcHr. Th« Indian then cut tiie skin with his pocket-knife, and the ball fdl to the floor. Trainer is now oat of bed and almost wdL Brtw'bMwoh. »mh for a tiMnp Ouooi^a* wwa soTwIbr ni ttstaa to aSMi InUHWfllUde r And stm tkeir erfss wUfiaoMSMS loiir And stUa Hie OiMfflltB ttist ia OM ii» Wbm I baar ths bagfH^pitifal oriss. rn tread «n the toss el Hm iMutmlMitnnB, As ha paoMS to eeout his SMiiiiigs aoaat. And lani^ a manr, JOTiariangk. As I watoh him tama at mjr haaittaa Aaa. rU bniy tha iBnooeat maa la eilme And aoodc at tiia akaletaa kaad of Tloia And on. fowrer on I*H go. Till I've thransod tha Mions ct ain Mow. Nothing wOldar, nana wiU I haad. Tttl rva flOad tba land with my poison aaad. For under tlie banner of Satan bold ni lay my tnuN for th* poorand old. Ill beht myaeU to the wktwa' mite And plander the rich when they're out of algtat. And leave behind my guilty lMd, Ere I Join tiie throng on the ainnei'a road. Ill sink the ship aa she rides tha wave. And sing o'er the noble aailot'a grave. And choke the prayer be tain would breathe. And amother hia words before I leave. 111 Join the postman on hit beat. And turn his stepe to a quiet street. And there I'll atme bis angry about Aa I turn the letters inside out. I'll scratch from some their tone of grace And atufl them each in a different case And acme will wonder and many weep. Aa tbe puziles their anxious hopes wul greet. When tbe days are dull and the wind is Ueak, And my limbs from the cold are stiff and weak, I'll drop a.apark on a mansion fair And thaw my bones as I mount the stair. Ill tip from the track tbe hurrying train. And bind tbe brave aa they try in vain To lift the motionless mass from Uie ground. And rescue the wounded scattered round. I'll join the gossiping women's band. And stir their schemes with a crafty hand. And rousiDg their furv high as the lark, I'll vanish away in the mist and dark. I'll enter unseen tbe happy home, And drop on the shelf contentions bone. Then gleefully leave when I see they've found And are sweeping my friendly gift around. I'll robe myself as a traveller'^i guide. And up tbroui;h the rugged mountain side. With e frlendish laugh, and close behind ru follow the traveller old and blind, And claeping his trustful hand in mine. With feverish strength which gives no sign. I'll guide bis helpless stumbling feet Up through tbe paths untrod and steep. And BwUtdy adown the farther side I'll watch his feet unhindered slide. And only my laugh with it4 mocking ring. Too late shall a note of warning bring, I'll draw from the trusting maiden's side A heart with its love long true and tried, ' And low at her feet like a heap of dust I'll shatter the idols of faith and trust. And out from tbe world and its passing th'ong I must choose me subjects hale and strong Those who will help me hand in hand To wave my flag over every land. And far and near to crown with shame. And hurl those down from the heights of fame Who have struggled long in the pitiless tide Of merciless fate and a great world's pride. Silver Wedding Bells. With the eompliments of the Author to Mr. and Mra B. S, Cummer, London, Ont. saner Wedding Bells, to-ni«^t 1 Over all the vanished years, â€" With what measure of delight, â€" With what sorrow, with what tears. From the fast Receding past, Comes a vision of the way â€" Leading onward and above â€" Since that other " Wedding Day " With its mystic hope and love. Then, the skies were bright and clear, â€" Life in roseate colors drest, â€" " All the future seem'd so near. With its wealth and well-earned rest Not a cloud Did then enshroud Any hope or promised cheer Gifts and favors, every one, Everything that heart held dear, Seem'd so easy to be won. But in iill the years since then Mingled joy and pun have blent So I row oft returned again Weary hours, in watching spent. Brought to grief But slight relief Trusted friends did trust betray Blighted hopes â€" an iU-timed throng â€" Hade life bitter. All the way Right seem'd feebler far than Wrong. Nowâ€" this place of vantage gained â€" What a vision of surprise 1 Hindrances, that gall'd and chained. All were blessings in disguise And the losses. And the crosses. And the weary hours of pain â€" By the Qrace of God, above, â€" Are transmitted into gain In tb' alembic of His love. Not our way but His is beat All things done by Him are' right All His pathways lead to rest All His nights to clearer light. Far away A glorious Day Breaks upon the Hills of God Who, as Maker, Saviour, Friend, Makes the way, in weakness trod, In " Eternal Life " to end. Toronto, May 2nd, 1887, L. A. Horrisox. Sydney Smith described the future condi- tion of Croker f s "disputing with the record- ing angel about the date of his sins," The financial market here is often in a very chaotic state. Money is quoted scarce and tight, and when money is tight the banks are very full, as might be expected. The Cheyenne Indians are said to be eat- ing their ponies. Their ponies must differ materially from the pony of the white man. Here a man drinks a pony frequently with comparative ease. Higher education has made great advance- ment in Greece during recent years. The lyceum for girls has a staff of 76 teachers and 1,500 pupils. Illiteracy in the kingdom is rare, even in the out-of-the-way hill coun- tries. It is reported that a recent fire destroyed the ancestral home of Confucius, and, with it, all its art and literary treasures. The building was erected 600 B. C. and the di- rect male descendants of the great philosop- her have dwelt there for 2,000 years. It is said that a very ardent republican deputy, M. Baspail, who was banished from France by the third Napoleon' asked the privilege to smash up the monarch's crown with his own hands. An accident prevented bis doing so but the hammer with which the banue was broken up was presented to him. This is an amusing illnstration of the intense hatrid with which Napoleon is remembered by many of tiie French Repub- licans. A curious premonition of death occurred to Isaac Mushrush, a workman who was kill- ed by the explosion of a boiler, near Pitts- burg recuitiy. On Sunday, this day before the explonon, he was much depressed in spirits, and told his wife he feared some greait calamiW. At 2 o'clock Monday after- noon the ex]^odon occurred, and Mushrush was killed. At the same hoar, before It was possible for the news of the acddent to reach bis home, hislittie child left his play and rushed into ^e house to his nof£er, cry- ing, " Oh, mamma, papa is kUted, papa is ima noBisB on oau. aroaaed tmm.iHi^^ ottmr ni^t by tha loud oMwiag a Us ofit, im^ had ntsrad his slM|piiigr6ateii iioiMd oaliis bed and waadawingtkaefoOii^atafNatnae, Ha dashed tha aalmal to tin floor ud tumad over for another nap, but at Jthe same mo- ment be aotiead an odor of smoke and going iyto the hall discovered a vieorons blase in a back doset. He doesn't know how the fire started, but be feels snre that if it hadn't been for the cat he would have bem oemated alive, Tom is now in high favor in the house- hold and dines on the best at tiie table. During the mild weather of a couple of weeks ago a Dubuque man let the fire in his furnace go ont, but filled the furnace with kindling wood and coal, so that when the next cold snap came along he could start the fire without trouble. The snap appeared in due time, and he liehted the fire without opening the door. A few minutes after- wards an unearthly howling was heard at the register in the sitting-room, and the household cat was pulled out, looking like a wreck of her former self her hair singed off, whiskers gone and her body covered with bums. Tabby's present quarters are beneath the refrigerator. Some six months ago Mr. L. C. White, of Norfolk, Va., removed to Stanton. He brought his family by steamer up James River to Richmond and thence by rail to Stanton, a total distance of 276 miles. His wife brought with her a handsome Maltese cat, which disappeared shortly after the ar- rival of the family in Stanton and could not be found, although search was made for it everywhere. Later on Mrs. White received a letter from her sister, who resides in Nor- folk, informing her that the cat had walked into her house a few days before, Mrs, White is very anxious to find out how the animal accomplished the journey. The cats which are favorites with Toronto girls at present are jet black, pure white and Maltese. One young lady whose father is a well-known manipulator of pork, keeps an enormous maltese installed in luxm'ious quarters at Oconomone, where the sunmier residence of the family is situated. Tabby always shows the greatest pleasure when she sees her mistress in summer, and during the entire season always walks with her night and morning like a dog. The cat is unusual- ly intelligent and has been trained to per- form many tricks, one of which is to mount a piano stool, bow to the company and pat out a ^une on the key-board. Joseph Messenger, an Ontario farmer, has a cat which he always regarded as a ter- ror to rats and mice, but now he thinks dif- ferently. One day, some time ago, while out in the barn, he saw a big rat jump out from a barrel, and on looking in beheld a colony of young rats snugly installed there. As the quickest means of getting rid of the pests the farmer brought out his famous, mouser, but to his great astonishment the animal took the rats under her wing and be- gan to treat them as if they were her own offspring. After briuging in some of his friends to witness the curious spectacle Messenger slaughtered them without pity, whereat Grimalkin moaned dolefully. He Should Have Lied. " If I'd been little George Washington I'd have lied about cutting the cherry tree," he said as he laid down hi^s school-hiBtory. " You would " exclaimed the mother, "And why?" " Well, then it would have been laid to the hired man," "And then?' • " And then there'd have been the all fired- est fight between him and the old man Wash- ington anybody ever saw Little George was way off on that cherry tree business." All in the Family. A young man and his wife went house- hunting last week. " We want a flat," said the husband to the first landlord he encountered. " All right I have flats to rent. How many are there of you " asked the landlord. "Just two flats," was the serene answer. Misunderstood. " Do you like lambs 1" he asked her in a pastoral voice during a lull in the conversa- tion. They had been discussing the charms of country life. " No," she answered, " I don't like the meat, but I'm passionately fond of the gravy." Higher Education. "Yea, sir I'm in favor of this higher ed- ucation for weemin," said a progressive old farmer at a schoolboard meeting, " I think it's a good thing for 'em, and I'm goin' to have my gals put clean through compound fractions and the first part of gogerfy and I do' know but I'll let 'em tech a little grammer, I tell you, gintlemen, the world is a-pergrcssin' an' we've got to per- gress with it or git left." Letting the Gat Oat of the Bag. "Now, children," said a country mother who was goingout, "be real good while I'm awav, and be sure you don't go near the chum where I hid them nut-cakes." A Considerate Toath. Mother to way ward son â€" "I saw you kiss- ing the servant girl on the stairs." Wayward son â€" " That's just about the" size of it." Mother â€" " Well, ain't you ashamed of your conduct " Sonâ€"" No, that's the servant girl's privi- lege, and I don't propose to rob her of it." Fonnd in a Medicine Ohest. Oh, I oome with the roses and summer caloric. With scents from tbe woodland and sewer and sea I bring with me punkiller. pills paregoric, Turkidi rhubarb, quinine and the anemone I robe every valley and meadow in beau^. With remedies herby and medicines rooty. Whatever your trouble I've something to suit ye. For I am the summer time â€" carol with me. She Tests Her Ait. Dilby â€" " Help yomnelf to a few more of those mushrooms. Filtripâ€" " Thanks but how do I know tiimr're not toad-stools " tObyâ€" "Bless yoo, if they were, cook would already have been as dead as a door- nafl." Y.I I "â-  t m m f 11 It f ii Mi -iJ-: Ii « 'â- III â-  f 'V'n MaiUiiiMMl