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A Night in the Bottomless Pit.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
How well I remember that golden day in June.
I was steeped in sunshine, intoxicated with the per
fume of dowel's; my dreamy senses quick to receive
the impressions of the passing hour ; vibrating, as
it were, between the real and unreal. Anything
more d*dieions than the gossamer dreams that
floated through my lira in on that summer morning
as I surrendered myself a willing captive to the
charming influences which surrounded me, it would
be impossible to conceive. The waving boughs,
the full throated songsters, the velvet carpet that
yielded like down beneath my feet, the unmeasured
cadence of the murmuring stream beside me, the
white flowers that shone like stars above its emer
ald lined banks, the golden brown pool that nestled
just a step Iteyond me, and whose translucent depths
mirrored and intensified the glories it reflected—all
these had their charms for me ; yet it was not these
alone that lifted me up. poising me midway between
earth and paradise. Something more than ihe
balmy surnmef air, sentient though it seemed, or
sky or earth, or water gave a rarer tinge to the
gilded fancies that swam through my brain,
Haines Dai gle was coming to Crownpoiut. The
fort night of deep drawn pleasure was to be capped
wiith a foretaste of paradise. The sweets I thought
it impossible to surpass were already eclipsed in
anticipation. All that I had enjoyed would be
doubled, aye augmented tenfold, when shared with
Haines. Haines Dargle was my future king. It
would have been easier to tell what he was not than
what he was. Haines was siuiply wonderful. He
knew everything, could do everything. When
Haines Dargle first came to Cloverside a provoking
mishap threatened to derange Mrs. Bouchesne’s
plans for her ball that was talked of years after
wards. The rarest stuffs, the costliest laces, the
finest hangings were piled up ready for the deft
fingers of the seamstresses, when, woeful to relate,
fate had nearly east a gloom over the entire com
munity through the untoward awkwardness of a
son of the Emerald Isle, whose stupid.ty rendered
useless, in an instant’s time, four sewing machines.
Door Mrs. Boucbesne was in the dept hs of despai
Three days would be consumed at least, perhaps
more, in forwarding new machines to Moose ( reek
and another day would he lost in hauling them up
to Cloverside. Her invitations were out for the
ninth, and here it was the third. In vain she sought
for aid among the gentlemen. There was Julius
Hector, of the firm of Hector & Blake, who made
locomotives for half the railways in the country
but although Mr. Hector was accounted a great
mechanical genius, he faiied to comfort Mrs.
Boucbesne. After examining the complicated rna
chines, he shook his head and said they should be
sent back to the shop. It was simply impossible
to repair them without tool
Haines Dargle dismounted from his horse at that
m<anent. He was a superb horseman, and when he
strode upon the porch among us, wh-re Mrs. Bou
chesne sat bewailing her situation, he seemed to
bear about with him the crisp, bracing air of the
mountain tops. It strengthened one to look at him
The moment he heard Mrs. Bouchesne’s story, he
condoled with her and desired to be shown the re
sult of the man’s stupidity. Then be hunted up
the village blacksmith, took off bis coat, and in
three hour's Mrs. Bouchesne was smiiing amid her
seamstresses. Borne of the gentlemen were heard
declaring Haines had learned the trade regularly,
and Julius Hector never was known to air his mar
velous knowledge of mechanics afterwards.
Then Judge Bouchesene came from Washington
where he had just achieved distinction as a debater,
and won fame as a champion of free trade. He
scattered Hie gentlemen with his arguments as
though they had ben hot shot, until he encountered
Haines Dargle one day before a large party and
got worsted. Haines went to the bottom of the
subject and proved even to us poor women, that
professional men as a rule were favorable to free
trade, and as long as they confined themselves to
abstract theories and refused to listen to the view
of practical men, their opinions were entitled to
about the same weight as ours. He talked astrono
my to Miss Mulchester, botany to Prof. Haitwell
ami defended Darwin from the attacks of Dr. Hope,
until the good man beat an ignominious retreat,
And the charm of it all lay in the succession of sur
prises he gave you. He was so unobtrusive, so
natural, and if anything, inclined to be reticent.
,4s 1 stood there looking down dreamily upon the
golden brown pool, balancing in fancy between
earih and heaven, a heavy heel crunched the grav
el road just beyond. 1 would not look ; I would
not anticipate fortune by so much as a fraction of
time.
“Mbs Howell, I have been commissioned to re
store you to your friends.”
That dtep voice dashed me to the dull earth and
shattered my dreams. Instantly'my feet were like
lead ; the velvet moss was tiresome ; a cloud came
over the golden brown pool.
“My friends are unduly anxious, Mr. Harper.”
“N<>, it is not that,” he replied, as he replaced his
hat with the courtly air that won for him the ad
miration of Mrs. Bouchesne’s : et, as if a trick of the
wr.-t made the man. “They are makingup a party
to visit Seudder’s Cave, and your friends would
not willingly deprive you of the opportunity, es
pecially as the chances are that it may not offer
soon again. ”
“Scudder’s Cave! I would not miss it for atiy-
th ng, Mr. Harper.”
“What a lovely, prospect.; and such a charming
nook as you have here. Why have I never discov
ered th s before, Miss Howell
"It is very well in its way,” I replied, carelessly,
I was vexed that he should enjoy it with me instead
< f Haines. But real y I was not so hypocritical
alter all. The instant his presence was felt the
gol len fancies took their flight; the white stars be
came plain flock, dryads' curtains limp water liilies,
the pool a dangerous locality, the moss provokingly
slippery, and even the birds absolutely wearisome.
1 know he set me down that moment as an arrant
little humbug. There we were even. I could be
sworn George Harper never said or did a sincere
thing in his life. The man was made up of shams,
and the greatest of all must have been the imposi
tion he practiced upon himself when he deliberately
pursued a course that could not fail in the end to
expose his real charact er.
The road to Scudder's Cave is romantic. Wierd
influences were at work when it was hewn out by
nature ; a susceptible spirit sees in it more than
overhang ng p’-ecipices, deep shadows, and shifting,
superstition feeding .onus. 1 think under any other
escort I would have b.tn overawed into s Inc.-; *
it was, I talkt d incessantly of nothing in particular.
Had Ha nes Dargle been there-
Were you ever underground ? If you have not
it would be impossible to convey to you any con
ception of the in definable yet fascinating dread that
over[K> vered me when 1 entered Scudder’s Cat e.
The swiftest change from noisy day to silent night.
Tlie effect was positively startling. The brilliant
sunlight falling back of us, Cimmerian darkness
bey on i. When one spoke it seemed as if the spirits
that guarded these m\ sterious realms iriuffl-. d sound
It was wholly unlike all fi rmer experiences. Mam
moth Cave was tame beside this.
“Strike a light, Jack,” said our volunteer guide in
tones that sounded sepulchral. Instantly we were
dazzled by the light reflected from innumerable
stalactites. We walked on diamonds. Had gnome
or fairy risen up before at that moment I would
have accepted it as part of the programr e. In
lieu of either, our party were content with t-b<
services of Maxwell B -uchesne, whose familiarity
with Scudder's Cave was a by word.
Treading tortuous passages, going from woade
to wonder, untd we were lo-t in speculation and
awe, time sped so swiftly that we were unable to
realize the fact that we had expended six morta
hours, instead of two, in explorations, until con
viuced by our time-pieces ; and even then oui
convictions and time-pieces contradicted each other.
With this knowledge sprung up a divis'on in oui
ranks. The cave was but half explored. The bot
tomless p t was is yet unvisited. The most strenu
ous stickler for this part of the programme was Mr
G r y Ha per, who, from bolstering up Maxwell
B mclmsne's proposition, soon became its foremos
advocate.
“But, Mrs. Bouchesne!” said iliss Mulchester.
whose cowardice got the better of her scienuflr
theories, -‘she will be in agony of apprehensiou.”
“Concerning the matter of light,” said Professo;
Haiwell, gravely.”
“A sen idle thought,” said Doctor Hope. “Shoul<
we depend upon chance to extricate us from thes<
laharyntbs 1 fear the risks are greater than a high
pressure life insurance company would assume.”
The doctor bowed, “Miss Howell, where beauty j “Pull steadily there, boys—steadily. She must j practice; and its ase will often aive the most i
leads—” be suffering the torments of the damned.” decided relief This is al Dr Uei^s re-'
••Spare us the remainder,” interrupted Maxwell) They lifted me from the ledge in the Bottomless j commends a teasnnnnfil ,f it j
Bouchesne. “I have only to say there is light Pit as cautiously as though their soul’s salvation ; in , P k powdered and
enough to-” I had been at stake. Happily for me I was uncon- R‘' en lB syrup or honey, every ten or fifteen
He stumbled and fell, extinguishing the light. A scious. Dr. Hope had taken advantage of a favor- 1 ™ lnat<: '8,patient vomits. The advan- :
merry chorus of laughter reverberated thoughout able opportunity to apply chloroform and his won- | ln mam emetic is the promptness of ils j
the aisles of Scudder’s Cave, gathering volume as derful skill with the happiest results. Yet I never j action, and the absence of the txtrema sickness
it rolled along ; now dying away, then pealing think of Scudder's Cave without a shudder, I en- | °f 6tomach and prostration arising from the
fi >rth in echoes until it ended in the ghost of a laugh.
“A punishment for your temerity', young man,”
said Doctor Hope.
“Come, good spirit of the cave,” I cried merrily,
“lead us on.”
“Jack, give me a match,” said Maxwell Bou
chesne.
Standing there in the darkness that was fast be
coming oppressive, we waited in silence, but the
expected fla-h was not forthcoming.
“Ho-o, Jack, where are you ? This is no time to
play practical jokes. We have no time to lose.”
Maxwell spoke crossly. No ope answered. Raising
his voice he called aloud, “Ho-o-o-o, Jack! and Jack
—Jack—Jack'' was echoed in a hundred varying
tones, until the sound sunk into a whisper. T1 en
it was discovered that no one had observed Jack
during the last half hour.
“M' rrV, Mr. Bouchesne,” said Annie Stover, his
fiancee, "what is to become of us.”
“Will one of you gentlemen give me a match,”
said Maxwell. His voice so nd dto solemn that it
struck a chill to my very umi row. That and the
impenetrable dar kness caused me to shiver.
“Heavens ! what is to become us ?” burst from
Bouchesne. “I have lost my match-s .fe.”
Then ihe silehce of the grave fell upon us for a
time until the pa nful throbbing of my heart led
me to count the pulsations of my neighbors’, as
doubtless, they measured mine.
“Let us not yield tamely,” said Prof. Hartwell.
“Do you ihink you dropped the match-safe when
you fell ?” said Dr. Hope, in an ordinary tone.
“I cannot tell,” an wered Bouchesne.
•‘Then wait. We will search for it carefully.”
The doctor’s intentions were excellent. The effect
produced by his apeech must have surprised him.
There was a cry of despair.
“Nonsense ! There is nothing to fear, ladies.”
Professor Hartwell’s voice re-as-ured me. Then
Maxwell Bouchesne recovered self-possession.
“Yes, the professor is right. Let us exercise
common sense. I will lead the way; you will fol
low. Keep within reach of each other, and then
i here can be no fear of separation.”
“An i we will talk. There is no need to stumble
over each other in the dark,”
Unfortunately, Mr. Harper’s advice produced
evd results. Conversation conducted under such
circumstances, as may be supposed, only added to
our dismal situation. The very sound of our
voices became oppressive. Conversation lagged.
At the end of a half hour, perhaps, we were silent.
We walked in couples, feeliug our way carefully,
for there were hideous pitfalls in the passage.
Suddenly my companion uttered an exclamation.
“Is it possible we are alone ?”
The thought overwhelmed me. Had the hand
that grasped mine at that moment been my mortal
enemy's, 1 would not have rejected it in that mo
ment of abject terror.
“Courage, Miss Howell. It is possible we have
diverged. They will hear me when I call.” Har
per shouted with all his strength. His voice seemed
to possess a metallic property; harsh, discordant,
grating. There was no echo. I sank down with a
moan.
"This is horrible, Miss Howell. We must, extri
cate ourselves from this dilemma at all hazards.
Give me your hand.”
I put forth a hand. It rested upon a smooth
wall. At that instant Harper uttered an objura
tion that sounded like an imprecation. He had re
ceived an injury. I knew from his movements that
he was endeavoring to staunch the blood as he said:
“I begin to despair.”
His words aroused all the combativeness my
friend attributed to me. i would not yield tamely.
I would perish in action, rather.
“Where are you going ?” demanded my compan
ion.
‘ Back the way we came. Somewhere until we
can make ourselves heard. Every moment is pre
cious now.”
He followed without a word. Clinging to each
other, we felt the w*lls, lest in our blindness we
should come in jtfoqftaet with an obstruction. In
my desperation 1 hurried on with a band—my left
—before me. How long we pursued our course I do
not know. ImpoSMMe to rnea-dto time under -such
circumstances when moments were ages. I still
remember, as distinctly as though it were but yes
terday, the shiver of apprehension that arrested
my footsteps when it was too late; premonition,
perhaps, or perhaps it was produced by the almost
preternatural tension of my faculties, for I uttered
a warning cry ere my foot plunged down that un-
fathomabie horror of horrors. I felt the hand that
clasped mine wrenching itself quickly away; heard
his sudden, loud gasp of terror as I fell down, down
the depths of oblivion. * * * My brain was
consumed as with burning fire. It seemed as
though it occupied immense space, through which
sharp pains shot incessantly, tearing for themselves
fresh pathways. My agony was so horrible that I
put up my hands helplessly. My tongue clove to
the roof of my mouth. My jaw—what had hap
pened ? It was dislocated. I could not even groan.
Yet I was aliye to the heritors of my situation. I
emeinbered all, down to the moment the hand that
should have helped me was withdrawn. By and
, when the truth would be apparent to the peo
ple of Cloverside, they would institute a search for
me. In a day, at most, they would find the re
mainder, while I * * * * O ! those shaf's of
fire burning my brain ! I put up a hand fearfuily,
t'midlv, and touched my head. Was that blood i
No ! It was blessed water. O ! ■ that I could but
quench my parched throat with it. I might pre
vent this faintness that overpowers me. * * * *
A vast gem lit dome swelled above me. Swelled
and expanded, holding my fascinated gaze as it as-
iumed fitful briiliant hues, now purple, now amber,
anon pink and crimson; shifting hues of wondrous
beauty, separated from me by a great void. Great
banns rs of light-like bars of silver shot up to the ze-
ni h of thedome; myriads of gems sparkled in heir
lath way, shone down on me where I lay helpless;
it up the walls of my tomb. Was it not a tomb?
What marvel was about to happen ? Was th.s
fancy the result of an overwrought brain ? Or was
it a premonition of approaching dissolution ? Deaih
in that awful pit ! The thought maddened me.
Hark ! What did that sound mean i Human
vo'ces. The rnys‘ery was explained. The rays of
ight came from their torches. Already the deep
hndows marked the statelier stalactites. They
were searching for me. For me ! Already their
ries echoed throughout the aisles of the cave.
The voices approached nearer, and yet nearer.
'Have a care. Ti e rocks are loose here.”
‘So I perceive.” That deep v. ice, how dear it
was to me. Now that he was near I was content to
die. To die ! No, no, no ! A thousand times no !
“Mr. Harper, try to collect your thoughts. Do
ou think the distance was greater than this ?”
“I could—I cannot say. ”
“Dr. Hope, does not that look like a fresh dis-
lodgment ?”
“1 think it is.”
“And I too. Gentlemen, before going further I
am resolved to explore this pit.”
“It is utterly impracticable, Mr. Dargle.”
“I agree with Professor Hartwell.”
“If Miss Howell fell down there she is beyond
mortal aid long ere this,” said tbe professor gravely.
•Nevertheless I shall determ ne that point for my
self. Gentlemen, I declare before you all that I
ould willingly sacrifice my life, if necessary,
rather than harm should befall Miss Howell. Now
no man among you will question my right to ex
plore this pit. How do I know that the woman I
ove may not be lying senseless beneath us ? For
uy part, I swear I will not leave this spot until I
know the truth. Let u.- employ every necessary
precaution. The rope: and be careful how you man
age the light. It the rope passes over this coat
bus there is no danger of the rope cutting. Now
lower gently.”
The silver light danced on the dome; purple, am
thyst, pink and amber shifted, mingled and blend
d together. My selfish human craving was satis
fied. He was coming swiftly to my aid.
Hullo-o oa there, Dargle ! You can’t go much
ariher. Do you see anything !"
How his voice startled, and at the same time
thrilled me as he shouted back quickly, “Hold th-
torches over farther. Wave them about.” Then,
is his face turned toward me, he gasped suddenly.
The next moment I was in his arms. "So neai
.sterility.” Then he stood on the ledge, slipped the
tered it in the blazing sunlight; when they bore
me back it was stiil blazing, but at the close of
another and brighter day forme, for Haines Dargle
was at my side v
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
use of tartar emetic and ipecac. Another safe
By John Stainback ATilsor, M. D..
ATLANTA, GA.
Croup. There are two kinds of croup: the
spasmodic and the inflammatory. The inflam
matory croup is one of the most dangerous dis
eases to which children are exposed, and there
fore its symptoms and domestic treatment shouid
be well understood.
The < xciting causes of this disease are much
the same t.s those of a common cold, such as
exposure, insufficient clothing, and changes of
weather. Some children are prone to these a‘- ost relief,
tacks on the slightest exposure, and one attack
seems to increase the susceptibilily to subse
quent ones. Fortunately, very young children
are to a great extent, exempt from this d sease,
as it is not common during the first year of life.
The danger in croup is obstruction of the air
passage to tbe lungs, either from spasm, or from
the formation of a false membrane, which, clo
sing np the passage, causes the most distressing
of all deaths—death by suffjcation, or death for
want of breath.
This talse membrane is the result of the in
flammation which accompanies that variety of
croup—the inflammatory—to which special at
tention will be given, on account of its great
danger.
This form may come on suddenly bnt it is
generally preceded by the symptoms af an or
dinary cold, such as slight fever, thirst, cough,
hoarsen* ss, and running at the eyes and nose.
In some cases the child oltUohes or nibs at the
throat, and there is some difficulty in swallow
ing.
After these symptoms hitVs- continued for
twenty-fonr or thirty-six hours, the real and
peculiar symptoms of inflammatory croup are
developed. The child awakes suddenly, and
almost invariably at night, with a most distres
sing sensation of impending suffocation, atter -
ded by a characteristic sharp, dry ringing,
brazen cough. With this cough, there is hur
ried breathing and a very peouiiar crowing, or
horn-like sonnd whenever the breath is drawn
in; The cough and breathing are so very peou-
l ar that they will always be readily reoogn'zsd,
when once heard; and mothers, knowing the
danger impending when they hear these sounds,
will seek means for immediate relief. These
symptoms will generally continue through the
night, unless relief is obtained by the use of
suitable remedies.
But it should be known that not unfr-quent-
iy there is a decided remission of the threaten
ing symptoms towards morning. The little
sufferer sleeps, br< a'Ires more quietly, and ap
pears to be befier; and this state of things may
ointinue until the next evening. But in most
cases of real inflammatory croup, the improve
ment is only temporary—the distressing symp
toms continue more or less through the day, in
creasing as night approaches, when the disease
sets in with renewed intens ty. It were nardly
necessary to give the last scene of the sad histo
ry of a c, se of croup were tin not as a warning
(Urtit and Jtuwcrr.
The woman who rejects au offer of marriage practices
slight of hand.
When a man calls his wife's maid "an angel” it is time
for the wife to make her fly.
m Miss Sheets is the new popular singer in London.
and very us-fui remedy is cold wet cloths to the Twenty-four of her ought to make a tolerably good choir,
throat. If the heat and fever are great, the i “Can a clergyman marry himself?” asks an exchange,
cloths should be dipped into the coldest water, ! Me suppose he can, but we are afraid he would not be a
whenever they become the least warm, repeat- ha PPy couple,
ipg this, until the inflammation and fever sub- T ' “■
side. In cases whan the heat is moderate, the
clothes need not be changed so often; and it is
better to cover the wet doth with a dry tovrel
or oil cloth. ,
The air of the room, in cases of croup, should
be kept moderately warm; and it is well to keep
it somewhat moist I y diffusing the vapor of wa
ter through the room by means of a boiling
tea-keitie, or a pan of water on a stone. Still,
ventilation should not be negleolei; for abund
ant supply of exvgen is necessary to sustain
the life of a child when the difficulty of breath
ing is so great. Inhaling the steam from a ket
tle or cc-ffae-pot placed elesa to the nose and
mouth is a non-direct way of obtaining the
benefit of warm, moist air;and gives the great-
use finely means
the first appear-
istic cough and
ark the bagin-
todinpr 'ss the
“For shame, gentlemen,
he way.”
I, a woman, will ‘leac. °°P about “ e > be;d me out wich his Powerful arms
and shuuteu:
to mothers, «u that they
to prevent its enactment,
anoe of the peculiar ch
other symptoms which pi
ning of the disease. But i
importaDoe of prompt measures for relief, le:
us see what is the end of a case of inflammato
ry oroup. After the symptoms described, the
feverishness lists to a high fever, with a quick,
hard palse, great thirst and restlessness, clutch
ing at the threat, whspering voice, furred
tongue, dry, La sh congh, sta ing eye-balls
and dusky and livid face. In the last stage, or
that of collap: e the voice is entirely, gone, the
breathing more difficult, the pulse is quick and
feeble, the skin bedewed with a clammy perspi
ration, and the counten nee expressive of ter
rible agony. After struggling in this condition
for about twelve or eighteen hours, the little
sufferer sinks in death with convulsive move
ments. struggling aua dying for want of breath.
Such is the distressing end of a case of inflam
matory oroup when not promptly aad properly
treated in its first stage. This treatment I will
now give, and it is gratifying to know that ii
can be carried out by mothers and that it wili
prove successful in the great majority of cases.
This treatment consis's in the prompt use of
the warm bath, or warm we'-sheet pack, foi-
h wsd, if necessary, by an emetic. The child
should be emersed all over, up to the chin in
warm water, regulating the temperature of the
water by the heat of the skiD, If the skin is
very hot, the water should be barely warm, or
about milk warm. If the skin is cool, orrniy
moderately warn', the water should be warmer,
about as warm as it can be comfortably borne.
Ii the difficulty of breathing is great, give from
ten to thirty drops of Hive Syrup, Compound
Syrup of Squibs, while preparing the bath.
When this is ready, put the cb.ld into it, and
let him rerna u till the system is thoroughly
impressed, as wiil be indicated by sweating
about the face, a weak or languid expression of
the eyes, paleness, and perhaps, some sick
stomach. It is worse than useless in these ca
ses to dab ctiildren in a little tepid water for a
few minutes, and then take them out and ex
pose them without any covering to tin air, lon
ger, while drying, than they remained in the
b.-ta. The patient should remain in the bath
for au hour, adding warm water from time to
time, should so long a time be r*quired to
make the desired impression is indicated by
greater freedom in breathing, paleness, sweat
ing, and the other signs already mentioned.
As soon as the child is taken out of the bath,
wipe off quickly, w rap in a sheet, or put in a
loose gown, and place in bed. In this way the
iro ible and exposure of dressing and undress
ing are avoided; and the pa.ient can be readilj
put in the bath again when necessary.
Aid this will be necessary, whenever the ur
gent symptoms return; for the bath should be
lepeated as often as this is the case. It can
not well be used too o ten, if regulated according
fo the effects, and given as here dir c.ea
The warm W6t-sheet pack is a stili more conve
nient, »nd equally effectual mode of bathing,
and can be used without any fatigue or expo
sure whatever. This should be followed by a
epid bath in water, or a brisk and general
washing and rubbing. After the bath or pack,
the Hive Syrup may be given every two or three
jours; bat it thi , with the bath does not havt
he desired i-ff.ct, a physician should be called
it is important not to be misled by the deceit
ful remissions in these cases. If there are an;
symptoms of tne disease during ihe day, the at
tack will be almost certainly renewed at night
In such casts, the Hive Syrup should be giver
every two or three hou-s daring the day, and
.he warm bath should be used at bedtime.
Emetics have been mentioned, as an impor
tant part of t he treatment. It is b st that thest
should be administered noder the direction o
a physician, but there is one remedy of ths
class that may be safely resorted to in domestic
BIRDS WITH TUBUL AR TONGUES.
How Huraining-Hirtfs Suck Honey Irom
Flower to Flower.
As an illustration of the luxuriant develop
ment of tropied nature and the changes and va-
rie ies consequent upon natural selection, Mr.
Wallace gives a detailed account of the family
( f the hummiDg-birds. These beautiful little
creatures are found only in America, and are
almost exclusively confined to the tropical zone.
There are four hundred different speoies, the
largest about the s zs of a swallow, and the
smallest scarcely larger than a humble-bee.
They live upon honey, which they extract from
flowers, bnt require also a certain proportion of
insect food. *In Juan Fernandez the humming
birds, which belong to a Chilian species, form
a very good illustration, in the changes through
which they have passed, of variation and naln-
ral selections, the factors in these changes be
ing abundance of food and freedom from the
competition of any rival species.
The tongue of the humming-bird is tubulai
and retractive;it is very long, and is capable of
being extended far beyond the beak and rapidly
drawn baok, so as to suck up honey from the
nectaries of flewers and capture small insects.
Seen iu its familiar haunts poised on rapid
wing in the vivid sunlight, the humming-bird
gleams like a jewel with the iridescent hues of
the amethyst, the ruby and the sapphire; but
like the parrots of its native forests, the basis of
its brilliant coloring is greeD, not a silky green,
such as adorns the parrot's neck and breast,
but a bright, dazzling, metallio hue, which
seems to ri fleet every varying gleam of the sun
shine.
The flight of these little creatures is incon
ceivably rapid. ‘The bird,’ Mr. Wallace says,
‘may be said to live in the air—an element in
which it performs every kind of evolution with
the greatest ease, frequently rising perpendicu
larly, flying backward, pirouetting or dancing
off, as it were, from place to place, or from one
part of a tree to another, sometimes descending,
at others ascending.’
It was long thonght that humming birds
would not live in confinement; and this idea is
so far correct, tlat though easily tamed, they
» 11 not live long in captivity if fed only on
syrup. If confined to this food they die in a
month or two. apparently starved; whereas, ii
kept in a small room, the windows orifrhich are
covered with fine net, so as to ailow insects to
enter, they may be preserved for a considerable
time.in health and beauty. Their nests are very
curiousfmany of tu6m a.e uTp-stap^V jvttl very
small, sometimes no larger than the half of a
walnut-shel 1 ; and they are often b a itifully deo-
orated on the ou'side with lichens, so as to ex
actly resemble the branch, in the fork of which
they are placed. They are formed of cotton
sobstancos, and are lined inside with fibeis a>
tine and soft a? silk. The nests of other species
are hammock-shaped, and are suspended to
creepers; tne Pininoha humming-bird has beeD
known to attach its nest to a siraw rope hang
ing in a sheo; their eggs are white, snd they
never lay more than one or two. Oace, when
on the Amazon, Mr. Wallace tad a nest ot
young humming-birds brought to him, which
he tried to feed on syrup, supposing that they
would be fed ou honey by their parents. To
his surprise, however, they not oniy would not
swallow the 1 quid, but nearly choked them
selves in their • fforts to > j ;ct it. He then caugh
Home very small flies, and dropped one in'o
the wide-open mouth of the poor little orphan
humming bird; it closed instantly with a sa f s-
fied gu’p, and opened again for more - The lit
tle crealures, he found, demanded fifteen or
twenty flies each in succassion before they were
satis fled; and the process of feeding and fly-
catching together required so much time that
he was reluctantly compelled to abandon them
to their fate.
The meanest man iu Chicago went to hear the
Rev. Dr. Swing preach, and dropped his pocket-
book, containing $100 in cash and a note for 81,000.
The boy who dispenses hymn slips at the door
found it when the i ush had cleared away, and when
the excited man claimed and identified it he re
stored it intact. The old miser kept it, not even
thanking the boy; and now it is hard work to con
vince that boy that “honesty is the best policy.”
As if there were not enough denominations an
other is organized iu Texas. Five Cumberland
Presbyterians have started “The Temple of the
Coming Lord.” These brethren are advanced pre-
miilenarians and were not at unity with their fel
low Cumberland Presbyterians on matters concern
ing the second coming of the Lord, Having their
own little Zioa they can now enjoy a profitable
time ail to themselves
Wilmington's ex-dog-catche-, Hun*, was sent to
the Almshouse yesterday. Being iu asortofjim-
jam state he fancies that all the dogs sent to the
happy yelping ground by means of toe municipal
smotherer are now pursuing him.
Brother Cole, of Charlemonte, Mass, thrashed
Mrs. Cole with a horse-whip, because oi her refusal
to listen to his preaching. The Methodists have
now shut him out of his pulpit, and Sister Cole can
not hear him preach even ii she wants to ever so
much.
Two young elopers from Cleveland were respectively
fourteen and seventeen, and were overtaken by the boy s
mother and the girl’s father. The giri_ behaved senti
mentally, throwing herself on her lover s bosom and de
claring that her entwining arms, but not her heart might
be wrenched from him. The boy. however, on feeling
the grip of his mother’s hand on his shoulder, said, "1
guess we’d better go home with 'em, Jennie.”
The ceremony of baptism by immersion was celebrated
in western Texas the other day. and wRen the fourteen
candidates walked down to the water fifteen revolvers
were deposited on the bank of the stream, that of the
preacher making the fifteenth.
A Donaldsonville, La., paper says: “There is a novelty
here in the way of a eourt-house. It is a very small flat-
boat covered in. Being discovered floating^ down the
river it was pulled ashore, and is now occupied on court
days by his Honor the colored Justice of the Peace to set
tle disputes.”
The clown preacher's trial still excites interest
among those inclined to the ribald eiemtni of mirth,
and the crowd enjoys the sarcasm of the pretense
to religion.
In one of the interior counties, the other day. Robert
Guile and Mary Williams were married. Now she is the
"Mary of R. Guile.”
Very kind gent: “Do you know, my dear, that we have
to-day the shortest day in the year?” Lady: “Very true;
but your presence makes me forget it.”
It is very difficult to find fault with a dear little three-
year-old. who buries her little head under the clothes and
■ sings: "Now I lay me down to sleep; Pop goes the
weasel.”
Photographer: “You look sober—smile a little.” He
smiles, and the photographer says,‘Not mueh, sir; my
instrument is too small to encompass the opening.”
A pretty girl “out West” told her beau that she was a
miua-reader. “You don’t say so?” he exclaimed. “Can
you read what's in my mind?” Yes,” said she; “you
have it in yonr mind to ask me to be your wife, but
you’re just a little scared at the idea.” The wedding-
cards are out.
A few days ago, at the breakfast table, his mother said
she dreamed a man had shot her in the arm, and then
she woke up. Master five-year-old listened with becom
ing gravity until the story was done, and then he said:
It’s a pity, mamma, von didn't keep on sleeping. You'd
have hung that man before you woke up.”
A short time ago a little boy went with ins father to see
a colt. He patted the colt's head and made quite a fuss
over it until finally the stableman told him to be careful
that the colt did not turn round and kick him. When
the little chap went homo his mother asked him what he
thought of the colt. “I like him pretty well,” was the
reply. “He's real tame in front, but he's awful wild be
hind.”
A man named Clare had raised a large family of boys.
He had desired a girl, but the fates had gone against him.
At last, after six boy babies had come to bless him and
kept him buying bread and dealing out pennies, a girl
put in an appearance. He was so delignted and sur
prised that he raised up his voice and exclaimed: "Well,
I declare.” And so they named her Ida Clare.
“Georgie.” said a devoted young mother of our ac
quaintance to her very juvenile son. "you cannot have
another cookie till you ask for it properly.” “Please, for
Christ's sake, Amen,” said little innocence, with imme
diately folded hands.
Gideon Cook, a Baptist preacher, well known a quarter
of a century ago, wasaman vary eecentrie in his speech,
even to his last earthly moments. A few hours previous
to his death his brother, also a preacher, came to his bed
side and enquired: “Do you think you arc dying. Gid
eon?” And the reply, sharp and quick, came: “Don't
know—can't tell—never died yet!”
"Now, children.” said a Sunday school superintendent,
who had been talking to his scholars about good people
and bad people, "when I’m walking in the street I speak
to some persons I meet, and I don't speak to others, and
what's the reason ?’ He expected the reply would be
"Because some are good, and others badbut to his dis
comfiture, the general shout was, “Because some are rich
and others are poor.”
School-mistress (jnst beginninga nice improving lesson
upon minerals to the juniors)—“Now, what are the prin
cipal things we get out of the earth ?” Youthful auglcr,
aged four (confidently)—“Worms.”
The festive cockroaches, which abfde under the velvet
carpet in the Derrick’s sanctum, and at odd intervals en
gage in pedestrian tournaments on the mahogany desks,
are called Truth, because when crushed to the earth they
rise again.—Derrick.
Two darkies were venting their, courage. “I isn't
’feared o’ nothin’, I isn’t,” said one. “Den, Sam, I reck
on you isn’t’feared to loan me a dollar?” "No, Julus,
I isn’t ’feared to loan you a dollah, but I does hate to
part wid an ole fren’ forebber.”
Lo! now upon the armor door
The skeeter softly perches,;
And sharpens up the instrument
With which he makes researches;
Then when, at last, he has it put
Into the right condition,
He speedily sets sail upon
A poll-ar expedition.
Nature may not have intendedjman to drink water. It
looks that way from the fact that she will freeze up the
water-pipes on the slightest occasion, and not meddle
with a barrel of whisky when she can help it.’
A daughter of the late Brigham Young was asked re
cently in Washington how she had been treated at the
capttak Her ivyly was: “By members of Congress and
the press VCrUT. ell; bift by Christians badly.” 5 •. ‘
“Tommy, my son, what is longitude?” “A clothes
line, papa.” "Prove it, my son.” “Because it stretches
from pole to pole.”
Professor (lecturing on psychology)—“All phenomena
are sensations. For instance, that leaf appears green to
me. In other words, I have sensation of greenness with
in me.” Of course no harm wasmeant, butstill the class
would laugh.
After the recent wholesale flogging of boys at the Minot
School. Neponset. a boy who was one of the victims was
questioned as to the severity of the punishment. “Did
he whin any them so as to leave them black and blue ?’
was asked. “No,” replied the boy, “but he made some
of them yell-oh!”
Every now and then some chap writes to a newspaper
for a recipe to prevent hair from coming out. If men
would go home from the lodge before midnight with their
legs sober, their hair wouldn’t come out so rapidly. We
always go home early and we have more hair no-.r than
he day we were born.
“Well, my little boy,” said a Somerville clergyman,
patting a little fellow on the head, “what do you expect
to be when you grow up?” “Dunno,” answered the boy
bashfully. “What would you like to be, then?” contin
ued the pastor, expecting the youngster to say he would
like to be President of the United States. But the boy’s
ambjtion soared higher than that, for he blurted out,
'I’d like to be a walker, an’ wax O’Leary,”
I want to be a walker,
Yes, that is now the thing;
I want to get my muscle up
And sail around the ring.
I want to win a champion beit
And make the people talk;
I want to hear the fellows shout,
“O. golly, can’t she walk!"
I want to beat O’Leary,
And wear a victor’s smile,
For walking is, I understand,
The latest female style.
If yonr tailor does not finish you pantaloons at the
specified time, but puts you off from day to day, can it
be called breeches of promise ?
“Fie! Mollie,” quoth Reuben to Mary; “’tsa pity we
can’t agree.” “ ‘Fie, Mollie,’ is good, sir,” sheanswered,
“but you’ll find that you can’t Mollie-fle me.”
A young lady being asked if there were many beauti
ful women iu Washington innocently replied, “Oh, no,
there are only six of us at present.”
Since the negro-exodus to the West the Southern chick
en smiles serenely, and softly murmurs to its mate, “It's
an ill wind that blows no good.”
A protessor told a wild student that “the report of his
vices would bring his father’s gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave." To which the young scajiegrace replied that his
father wore a wig, which was repartee to a professor.
Intelligence of British Police (best force in the world:)
The child was evidently lost!—cried bitterly—could not
tell where its parents lived, or whether she was an or
phan. or what her father was—or where she went to
school. Enter intelligent policeman. Policeman (in a
friendly whisper:) “Where does yourmotlierget her gin,
my dear ?’ ’ (And the mystery was solved.)
A sort oi colored Talmage trial has been proceeding in
Georgia, a colored preacher being tried before tile dusky
ecclesiastical court for stealing bacon. The verdict was
that "the Rev. Moses Bledsoe am ackwitted of de sinua-
tions dat he actual did stole de pork, and ’tvvas not shode
dat sumbody else miten’t have been vvearin his cloze;
but de brudder is hereby fecti mutely warned dat in the
future he must be more keerful.”
A little Gonntcticut girl said her prayers as usual,
but, happening to remember that there was an
other girl of the same name in town, auded her
own street and number, so that no mistakes should
be made.
The jokes on queer prayers were going out of
fashion by reason of becoming a little threadbare.
But here comes a new and fresh one, which is
strictly in season. It is at the expense of a Massa-
enusetts person, who, being about to leave, intro
duced with his closing prayer a petition for choir,
organist, sexton and ushers, graphically describing
all tnese officials according to the nature of their
various services. But when he came to the least
known of ail church officials his eloquence failed
him. He prayed for “the one who, although hidd n
from si"-ht, contributes so much to the musical
part of our worship,” ending with: “Oh, Lord, I
mean the boy who blows the organ.”
INSTINCT PRINT