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. '**> *A- : THE SWALLOW AT CBAIUENPTJTTOCH. BY MKS. CARLYLE. [CRrlyle’n wife, delicately reared, accom plished and much admired, was condemned to passed seven years, childless and in bitter poverty, with him, mi rose, uncompanion able, exacting, at Craigenputtoch, the dreari est, loneliest spot in Scotland. There she wrote and sent to Lord Jeffery these lines]: To a Swallmv building under our Eaves. Thou too hast traveled, little fluttering thing— Hast seen the world, and now thy weary wing Thou, too, must rest. But much, my little bird, could’st thou but tell, I’d give to know why here thou llk’st so well To build thy nest. For thou hast passed lair places in thy flight; A world lay all beneath thee where to light; And, strange thy taste, Of all the varied scenes that met thine eye- 01 all the spots for building ’neath the sky— To choose this waste. Did fortune try thee? was thy little purse Perchance run low, and thou, afraid ol worse, Felt here secure ? Ah, no I thou noed’st not gold, thou happy one 1 Thou know’st It not. Of all God’s creatures, man Alone is poor! What was it then? some mystic turn ol thought, ©aught under German eaves, and hither brought, Marring thine eye For the world’s lovliness, till thou art grown A sober thing that dost but mope and moan Not knowing why? iNay, If thy mind be sound, I need notask, iSinoe here I see thee working at thy task 1 With wing and beak, I A well-laid scheme doth that small head con tain, AAt which thou work’st, brave bird, with might and main, No more need’st seek. In truth, I rather take it thou hast got ply Instinct wise much sense about thy lot, And hast small ca* - e [Whether an Eden or a desert be |Thy home so thou remain’st alive, and free To skim the air. |> 'id speed thee, pretty bird ; may thy small nest Llittle ones *11 In good time be blest. "I love thee much; yell thou managest that life of thine, 11! Oh, ask not wnat I do with mine! Would I were suoh ! Mollie’s Match-Making. A dainty parlor with numerous easy ohairs—a glowing fire in the nickel trimmed heater—a pretty little wo man listening for the footsteps of the lord and master. This charming pic ture of domestic bliss John Acker man fully appreciated as he stepped into the room a few minutes later. “Well, Mollie, what’s the news?” “Oh, nothing, only supper has been waiting half an hour. Come, let us hurry and eat, I want to talk with you.” “I thought there was something on rour mind; didn’t know but I was >g«ket a lecture for being late.” deserve one, for this is the til^^^^^hall spend with you for o whole Mrs. John AckerBSHPfcied to frown, Put failed completely. In another half hour they were back kin the parlor, and Mollie began— “I think Tom is a fine fellow, and there were never two brothers more alike than you and he.” “Thank you, my dear, I honor your judgment.” “And John, I have th# most bril liant plan concerning him.” “Do tell!” said John, with a move ment toward his coat pocket, where the evening paper lay in uncut soli tude. - Mollie observed the motion, and promptly informed him that he should not read a word until she was through talking. “I am going away to-morrow, and then you may read the paper from the time you enter the house until mid- mifl^^vvith no one to bother you,” she said. Somehow, the vision of the little parlor without Mollie’s lively chatJ^r did not seem to strike favorably^#er- haps this was why he tossed^^Taper to the other^Ae ot and •remised ^ perched chair ai [Amy is com [long visit and LiK It would be splendid Id Tom WOQld lull in love with fer? They could get married set up housekeeping in a cottage te this one across the street — it F ould make me so happy 1” John laughed long and heartl “Match-making, by Jove!” h fct last, “Miserable yourself, aud else to be; Is that “Don’t laugh, John, for I am in earnest. I know they will like each other, and I have set my heart on the match : just think how nice it would be to have Amy here; and Tom is such a darling!” John was laughing again by this time, and it took considerable man agement to reduoe him to order. “I tell you what it is, Mollie, you don’t want me to say a word of this to Tom or Amy, or they will take a dis like to each other.” “I know it,” rejoined Mollie. ‘When I told Tom I was going to visit Aunt Hetty I did not mention Amy’s name and don’t think he knows of her existenoe ; as for Amy, I have been with her so little since I was married that I am sure I never spoke to her of Tom.” “Well, see that you don’t do so now,; you couldn’t mention his name with out praising him to the skies, and she would see through your plans at once.” Mollie departed the next morning, leaving directions enouiib to distract a man if he tried to remember half of them. “Don’t have Tom at the house when we return,” was Mollie’s last injunc tion. “Amy will be tired with her journey and I want her to have a chance to beautify a little before she meets him. When they reached the depot Mol lie’s courage began to fall. “I’m almost sorry to go, John,” she said, “Suppose something should hap pen to you while I am away ?” “Nonsense, darling ! Go and have a good time; and be sure to come back in two weeks and bring Amy with you.” Mollie’s heart was so thoroughly in her pet plan that she found it very hard to refrain from all mention of her adorable brother-in-law during the two weeks that followed ; once she did refer to the cozy party of four which they would make and then was obliged to turn it off on Jenny, the lit tle maid of-all-work, as making the fourth. The day before Mollie was to return, Aunt Hetty fell ill. Amy was obliged to postpone her visit for a few days at least. Mollie could go on as she had intended, and she would follow as soon as A mt Hetty could spare her. “Amy will certainly come up next week, she assured John ; “but I could not wait another day.” It was so pleasant to be at home once more, and mistress of all she surveyed; a note from Amy saying she would come on the following Saturday set her mind completely at rest. She was really sorry to hear John say one morning: “I think we had better take that run down to Camden’s to day. We must go sometime this month, and of course you won't want to go after your sister comes.” “John, you know we cannot stay away all night: I gave Jenny leave of absence until Friday and it won’t do to leave the house alone.” “I’ll get Tom to come and sleep here.” 4 “Ther^S^PRree keys,” said she, as they left the house. “You can give one to Tom, aud I will leave one with Mr. Gate’s next door. The house might get on fire, and then it would be better to have a key handy, so they could get in house and bring out the things.” “Yes,” said John, sarcastically ; “or I might hire a squad of policeman to watch the house day and night.” About eleven o’clock that evening Miss Amy Arden alighted from an express aud looked about the depot as if expecting some one. “They could not have received my second postal,” she concluded, after waiting nearly half an hour in the ladies^ room. “Well,I can very easily find flieir house.” A hack soon deposited her in front of the pretty cottage on Lake street; all was dark and Amy pulled the bell several times without hearing a sound from within. Where could Mollie and John have gone? Tuere was a light in the next house, and Amy re membered hearing her sister apeak of her kl>d neighbor, Mrs. Gates; perhaps ere spending the evying with at any rate, she mlunt kuow of hereabouts. Ami ran across 11 grass plot which separated o cottages and rang the bell. Mrs. Gates soon explained matters. “You do look a little like Mrs. Ack erman when you laugh,” she said in conclusion, “so I suppose it’s all right have the key ; but she wasn’t “Well, I’ll give you the key, of course ; but are you not afraid to stay alone in the house ?” “Oh, I’m not at all timid,” said Amy. “But there’s a gang of burglars about the city,” urged Mrs. Gates. “But you are welcome to come in and sleep on our parlor sofa if you are afraid.” “No, thank you,” said Amy. “I will risk it for one night.” She let herself into the deserted house, not without some thrills of fear, it must be confessed. How quiet everything was! Oh, if Mollie was only there! She took a survey of the rooms, the kitchen last of all, when she concluded to look for something to eat. Hark ! what was that ? Only the silver-toned clock striking the mid night hour. “That woman’s talk about burglars has made me nervous,” she thought, continuing her search for eatables. Hark, again I Surely that was a key turning in a lock ; then a door opened and shut quietly, and there was foot steps in the hall, Amy’s small stock of courage went down to zero. Instinc tively she grasped the poker lying on the range near her. The next instant the door opened, and a great broad- shouldered man with blackened face and hands stepped into the room. Amy felt herselt growing white with fear, but she raised her poker threaten ingly; for a moment they stared at each other in silence, then the man spoke. “Who the who are you ?” Amy tried to shriek for help, but the sound died away in her throat; she was too frightened to speak or move. Prosently he came toward her. “Will you please lower the poker, or else move away from the sink ? I would like to come tliere and wash my hand:),” he said looking very much inclined to laugh. Was ever such affrontery known be fore? Still speechless, Amy moved around toward what looked to be an outside door. “Don’t glare at me in that fright ful way,” he went on, with a glance into her terror-stricken eyes. Then came a hearty laugh which re assured Amy a very little. Certainly this was a most extraordinary burglar, or else there was some ridiculous mis take. She would flee to Mrs. Gate’s protection at all events, she thought, dropping her weapon and tugging away at the huge bolt with trembling fingers. By this time the young man had finished his ablutions, aud presented quite a different appearance. “I am Mr. Ackerman’s brother,” he said,politely ; “he asked me to remain in his house to night, as a means of protection in his absence.” “Mr. Ackerman has no brother,” contradicted Amy, stoutly. “Are you sure of that?” “Certamly I am. Mrs. Ackerman has just made me a visit; she would have mentioned him if such a person existed.” “Can it be that you are Aunt Hetty?” “Aunt Hetty, indeed.” Amy was finding courage and voice fast enough now. “I beg your pardon,” said Tom : “but Mollie told me she was going to visit her Aunt Hettj 7 , and you said she had been visiting you ; hence my mistake.” “I am Mrs. Ackerman’s sister.” “Strange I never heard her speak of you ! However, I am sorry I fright ened you, M'ss—Miss Arden, and if you will allow me I will explain mat ters. I am bookkeeper at Bolton’s hardware establishment—” “You looked more like a bootblack,” interrupted Amy. “Or a burglar,” added Tom. “Well, as I was saying, I am bookkeeper, but there was a press of work in the foundry to-night and as they happened to be short of hands I offered to stay and assist; this accounts for my late arrival, also for my blackened face and hands.” He looked very much like indulging in another hearty laugh, but restrained himself at the sight of Amy’s whits, distressed face. “I am afraid I was rude,” she said, ‘‘but it wus such a shock to me ; I am very tired and—” Tom sprung to her side, or she would have fallen from sheer exhaustion lie helped her into the parlor, brought wine and refreshments from M illie’s generous store room, and they were eflbn talking matters over quite calmly. It was after two o’clock when Tom proposed to go and ask Mrs. Gates to to’come over for the rest of tlio night; but Amy protested against this, saying she was not afraid if he would remain iu the house. Mollie was almost beside herself when she came home and found how affairs had gone in her abscence; cry ing oue minute over Amy’s fright, laughing the next over Tom’s graphic description of the fame, it was some time before they settled down into anything like quiet. As the days and weeks went by, Mollie could not determine whether certain plans of h-rs were to prosper or not. Tom spent all his evenings with them, out he and Anay were always on contrary slde3 ot every question and they tantalized each other so unmercifully that poor Mollie sometimes despaired of their being friends, not to mention a nearer rela tion. They were all together as usual, one evening, and Tom for the hundredth time was describing Amy’s appearance on that memorable evening when she so nearly brained him for a burglar. “And little did I suspect then,” he went on soberly, she would ever have the privilege of brandishing the poker over me for life.” “Wnat do you mean ?” cried Mollie, staring first at Tom’s solemn visage and then at Amy’s flushed cheeks. “Just what I said. Amy and I are going to set up housekeeping in the opposite cottage, where I suppose she will continue to flourish all sorts of murderous weapons at me.” “John, darling, it’s coming about exactly as we planned,” shouted Mol lie, springing up in excitement. Well, it did come about just as Mol lie desired. Mrs. Amy even made cardinal the predominating color in her parlor, aud it harmonizes charm ingly with the dark beauty of its mis tress. The sisters are inseparable, and as happy as two mortals can ever expect to be. Tom is something more than bookkeeper in the Bolton hardware business now, and he and John are talking of buying two handsome prop erties in the suburbs of the city. Mrs. Mollie declares she would rather re main in the little home ©n Lake street,but what woman was ever proof against a handsome establishment in an aristocratic neighborhood? Not our ambitious little Mollie, I am sure. Western Gleanings. The Jooose Side. “Recent facts lead to the conclusion that butter was invented by a Mr. Strong, of ancient Greece.” “Dwo vas shoost enough, budt dree vas too blenty,” remarked Hans, when his best girl asked him to take her mother along to a dance. “Why is a fool in high station like a man in a balloon ?” “Because everybody appears little to him, and he appears little to everybody.” Chio&go Poetry. Over the meadows so fresh and green Gallops the Lady Clarfi, Out on the breeze, like a silvery sheen, Floats her new back hair. Fast goes her steed over hill and dale, Wonderlul are his Jumps; Look out my lady, your horse looks pale, Soon he will have the thumps. / Little your’e thinking, my lady proud— Beautiful Lady Clare— That soon in grief will your head be bowed Bluffing on two small pair. Green grows the Ivy on churchyard wall, Soon will the flies be here; Then will Lord Ronald, thy love, thy all. Tackle the new bock beer. A young man who went to the cir cus, and stepped too near a monkey’s cage, had his arm seized aud savagely jerked by one of the monkeys. He would have escaped safely if he had not said: “It is merely a monkpy wrench.” A New Prophesy. When lawyers fall to take a lee, And Juries never disagree ; When politicians are content, And landlords don’t colleot their rent; When parties smash all the maohlnes, Aud Boston folks give up their beaus; When naughty children all die young, A ud girls are born without a tongue; When ladles don’t take time to hop, AmMbfflce-holders never flop; When preachers cut their sermons short; Aud all lolks to the churoh resort; When back subscribers all have paid. And editors have fortunes made; Such happiness will sure portend This world must soon come to an end, N. Y. Express. A skeptic at tv social party eugrossed general attention bv an effort to prove that human oeings have no souls Seeing the company staring at him in wonder and silence, be finally said to a lady: “What do you think of mv argument, madam?” She promptly replied, “It appears to me, sir, that you have been employing a good deal of talent to prove yourself a beast.” A lady who was singing last week at a charity concert and the audience insisted upon hearing her song the second time. Her daughter, a little child, was present and on being asked afterwards how her mamma had sung, replied: “Very badly, for they made her do i^&JJUver again.” Commercial. Wool Prospect*. The colonial wool sales in London were brought to a close on the first of April, and the cablegrams^Ry that all desirable descriptions of staple closed quite as bouyantly if not stronger than they opened. The demand ran chiefly on the finest wools. From the fact that although the sales opened at a time of considerable financial depres sion on the continent prices were fully maintained throughout, and that of an offering of 300,000 bales of wool American buyers only secured 1,200 bales, it seems a little strange that markets on this side fail to respond to the tone of the market across the At lantic. At Liverpool the finer wools exhibit much strength. Under the auspices of fine spring weather—so favorable to agricultural pursuits— confidence is reviving in business cir cles. In our leading American mar kets the feeling is evidently languid, if not depressed. Large sales were mado few days ago in Philadelphia of washed and unwashed quarter blood, mongrel, and territorial wools at some concession, but it is a little significant that some shrewd buyers of that city were in New York last week (accord ing to the Economist) paying full if not extreme prices for fine combing wools. Some Australian wool has been coming in, and one of the wool circulars (just at hand) says it is now offered on the Boston market at prices that render it preferable to American fleeces. Attention is called to the fact, for the benefit of American wool growers, that Australian wool is core- fully and properly prepared for mar ket, The fleeces are skirted and lightly tied up with thin twine. Complaint is made by Eastern wool houses that the fine wool—some of it at least—lately received from Ohio is not thoroughly washed, that it is heavily tied up with twine aud in many cases stuffed. Such practices will ruin the reputation of any section. We commend to all readers who are interested in wool, the following ex tracts from the Economist. “What is now wanted is good, well- made goods, such as the wearer will not be ashamed of after the first hard shower. To make good goods, re quires good wool. We therefore look for an ample demand from now to clip for all good, fine fleece, of which quality we do not believe this country can furnish any too much. We have a good, cordial regard for fine Oh o, Michigan and Wisconsin, not forget- New York and Pennsylvania by any means. In these States is grown a great quality of wool which is fit to make goods for kings’ garments— railroad kings or telepraph kings, or real estate kings, any sort of king. How the world does love that name king! That is why we use it here. “What we mean is that out of our best wools grown in our best States we can make goods of good enough finish lor anybody. It may be that Australian makes a softer finish, but not so strong, and even Australia now has a bur which must seriously affect the value of that sort of wool. No wool can be got up any where freer from objectionable things like burs, seeds, eto., than that of our older States, if we could only get it up in better condition. “We believe in getting up the wool well, having it cleaned—washed so that each year a man can sell his clip by its general reputation with buyers. Let buyers fight shy of heavy clips year after year, and that will be the best way to make that clip a lighter one in good time. “The wools most wanted for a few years at least are the long stapled fine wooi, half-blood to five-eighths blood, and of length to comb, and they comb shorter wool now than they once did fine wool generally. With coarse wool we fear demand will not be extra good for some time to come; the I coarser the worse the demand.” The Gulf Stream and SardinesJ At the French Academy of Sciences* tlie other day, M. Blav’er, mining engineer, called attention to the disap-( pearanceof the sardine from the coasj of Brlttauy, where it used to Irring the fisherman 15,00u,(JU0f. a year. H^ attributed this to a change in tl direction of the Gulf Stream, whk^ also accounted for the rntid wint and early spring. M. Blanchard marked that in England a committed of engineers aud kydrographera were studying the apparent change iu the^ Gulf Stream, and that Information might* be obtalued from them. Fi usually change their regular grounc howemr. owing to the absenoe abu^^^^pf foodo,