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“FORTY YEARS AGO.”
DRIFTING SANDS FECK THE MOTJN
TAINS AND FOOT-HILLS OF
NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
A Brilliant Bonanee Baaed uponJFacta.
BT 6. J. N. WILSON.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The tour proposed haring been indefinitely
postponed, each one of the returned party as
sumed their usual duties, and everything ap
peared to be in snob a high degree of prosperity,
that no one felt inclined to think of seeking
pleasure elsewhere. Nelly, engaged in domes
tic affairs, her books and her music, seemed to
hare forgotten the past, to lire only in these
and the smiles of the pretty Indian girl, Olivia,
who was always at her side to please and to
comfort Letters came from Coralie and Harry
Summerville to cheer her heart, and bid her
hare high hopes for the future; for by this cor
respondence arrangements were made for Cora
lie to come to her uncle Montgomery's bouse
about the first of the next summer, and there
remain until she, Nelly, and Olura Sandown
should complete their education under a cele
brated Frenoh lady whose services had already
been engaged.
Julius Latrain spent much of his time at Az-
ilia. Here and beneath his father's humble
roof, he delved among his ponderous tomes,
or transferred to canvas the pleasing objects
which sometimes passed before his view, and
now and then he brought to light the creations
of bis fancy, Seeing all the letters received
from the Summerville, he thus learned that
Coralie was to return the next summer. Hith-
to all his thoughts in relation to her, had been
connected with the past. Now they were often
turned to the future, with a mixture of hope
and anxiety. Often had his mind dwelt upon
her and Horace Morone, and many times had
he wondered what they were doing, and if she
really loved him. Even in the presence of the
charming Nelly, he was unable to banish the
thought of Coralie, though he strove bard to do
so. For his love was without hope, she could
never be anything to him but a friend. But
this thought was made less painful to him since
be knew of her anticipated return to stay, per
haps a long time, and knew also that she was
still free from the absolute control of Horace
Morone. This was at least some consolation,
and Julius now thoroughly aroused to the con
sideration of his future career in life, cultivated
his garden and pursued his studies with in
creasing devotion'and tried to exercise philoso
phy as to the future.
Thus engaged, the early Spring found both
Julius and Nelly advancing in their studies and
accomplishments. Time planted more roses in
Nelly’s cheeks and more manliness and dignity
on the brow of Julius. If they had been hand
some and preposessing before, those who saw
them at this time said they were attractive be- j
yond measure. Too much so to esoape the
shafts of envy and calumny had they lived in
what is called the 'first society.' To the honor
of the country in which they had their homes,
be it said that these stinging serpents did not
hurt the one or even raise their heads at the
other. It was only three weeks until the
time of Coralie’s arrival, and the smiles of her
friendB corresponded with the opening flow
ers.
Azilia had become a charming spot—a little
Eden of bloom and beauty. One night when
the, moon hung low in the west, the presiding,
genius of this rural retreat, having labored hard
at his books all day, heard a light tapping at hiB
cottage door, followed by the words—
“Mass Julius?" softly spoken.
‘Who called my name?’ mildly asked the
student.
‘Hannah,’ was the only answer.
Opening the door, his unexpected visitor
hastily glided inside, and sure enough Hannah
the servant girl whom he had bought for his
benefactor, stood before him. To all appear
ance she was alarmed at something; but before
Julius could ask her any question, she took him
by the hand and stepping toward the door,
hurriedly whispered—
•For God’s sake follow me ! your life’s in dan
ger ! I will tell you how it is when away frem
here.’
The next instant she was in the yard, and
when Julius bad hastily locked the door they
glided away in the direction of a dense thick
et not far distant. Cautiously going through
this they entered an open field near the center
of which stood a great chestnut tree whose
spreading limbs cast a dark shadow for many
feet around it. Having safely gained this they
had an extensive field of observation without
being exposed to view themselveB. After satis
fying himself that no one was approaching,
Julius, who was all anxiety to know the partic
ulars of Hannah’s alarming message, told her to
go on and explain it.
■You may not know, Sir,’ said she with a
trembling voice, ‘that I would do anything in
my power for you. You were so kind to me,
I can never forget. Cupid’s sister, Mr. Julius,
who lives on the lower part of the plantation is
very sick. To-night about dark I went to take
her some nice victuals that mistress thought
she could eat. As I was coming back I heard
something fall a little before me, and looking,
I saw one man getting up from the ground, and
another sitting on the fence laughing at him.
I judged them to be white men, and not caring
to meet them, I hid behind a large tree and
waited for them to go away. They did not
seem to be in a hurry, and when they began to
tall( I stopped to listen. I could’nt understand
all they said;bnt I soon got the run of their talk
well enough to know they meant to do you some
harm before day. When they quit talking they
seemed to listen a little while, and then went
off down the fence in the direction of the creek.
A6 soon as I thought they were out of hearing,
I run home as fast as I could to get some one to
come and tell yon of the danger. Master and
Cupid were both gone, and I was afraid to
trust any body else who could come, I run all
the way here to teil you myself. I was not
afraid to come, but somehow I do not like to go
back by myself, What will I do ?’
‘Never mind, Hannah,’ said Julius seriously ;
‘I will see you at home safely or die on the way.
As Bnoh men are likely to confine themselves to
the woods, we will continue to go through the
fields. This will also give us a good opportuni
ty to see others as soon as they see us.’
‘I had not thought of that,’said the servant
with some relief at the idea suggested. ‘But
tell me,' Bhe continued, ‘what in the world
these men want to murder you for. It is mor6
than I can understand.’
'I do not know that I have but one enemy in
the world, and be is so without even the shad
ow of a cause. We will remain here a little
longer and watch for the men yon saw. I do
not feel willing to run away from home just
now. I am very much surprised, and feel at
some loss to know what is the best course to
pursue. The whole matter is a profound mys
tery to me. and l am exceedingly anxious to un
derstand it’
‘Then,’ said Hannah, ‘let us watch a while.
I will stay with yon and render you all the ser
vice I can. Miss Nelly and Lura both know the
cause of my absence, and they are at this mo
ment terribly frightened, for I told them all
I had seen and heard of those strange men.'
'If Nelly and Olura are so alarmed I had
better go and reassure them,’ Julius said thougt-
fully.
Stooping low they passed along a fence that
led them nearly in the right direction; but in
order to avail themselves of this protection to
any great extent, they were often compelled to
go out of theit way. Now and then they stopped
to look and listen, but nothing unusual was dis
covered. Finally ooncludiog that the men
would not appear in the immediate vicinity of
Azilia until later in the night, they hastened
on and found Mrs. Montgomery greatly alarmed
and Nelly and Olura much agitated. Julius
at onoe went to Nick’s cabin and told him to
go and tell Joe Harper to oome there as soon as
possible, but to come quietly. Without a mo
ment’s hesitation Nick bounded away like a
buck, and Julius returned to his friends.
‘Now, tell me,’ said he to Hannah, ‘what the
men said to make you think they seek my life.’
‘The one sitting on the fence said, as near ss
I oould understand him, ‘We will kill Latrain
before day, and then we‘11 both be safe. You
will then have a good chance to git the beauty
that came to your house, and he'll not make your
sister run distracted anymore. I tell you, sir,
she is mine, and nobody else can oome fooling
around her and live long afterwards.’
‘Now, you're right,’ said the other, 'but I
could not understand all he said. I heard him
say ‘Julium,’ but I don’t know who he was talk
ing about. Then he called the man on the
fence ‘Bill,’ and said something about ‘darter’
and ‘steer waggin.’ I feel sure they had laid
their plans before, for they spoke of slipping
around here two or three nights to find out
where yon stay, and one asked the other if he
was certain the hole was big enough to hold
your body. They also said that if they did not
find yon to-night, they intended to stay until
they killed you if it took a week. This is about
all 1 oould understand, and the Lord knows it
is enough to opon anybody’s eyes. It seems
like I‘ve seen both the men before, but to save
my life I cannot think who they are.’
As Hannah closed her account of what she
bad heard the men say, Julius and Nelly looked
at each other in utter astonishment. A horri
ble suspicion had entered their minds, suggest
ed by the expressions ‘Bill,” ‘steer-waggin,’
‘Julium’ and ‘darter.’ Then the phrases ‘come
to your house.’ and ‘your sister,’ when taken in
connection with Hannah’s supposition that she
had seen the men on some former occasion,
enabled them to see through the whole affair at
a glance.
While thinking in silent amazement, a knock,
followed by the single word ‘In,’ attracted the
attention of the little company; but no one ex
cept Olura Sundown seemed to understand the
signals given. Hastily going to the door, she
opened it, and Calveda, our old Indian friend,
glided by her like a shadow, and without cere
mony took a seat on the floor, as was his usual
custom. It was then found that Olura, soon
after Hannah started to Azilia, had sent a ne
gro boy in all haste after her father, knowing,
perhaps, better than any one else his ability to
solve the servant's difficult and alarming prob-
lem.
When informed of the discoveries made, be
only said ‘Ugh,’ but that was enough. Those
present knew that the word, if it may be called
one, meant business, and asked for no further
explanation. In due time Joe Harper also ar
rived, and thinking that Julius only wanted
to take a fox or coon hunt, as he often did, he
brought his dogs with him, six or seven in num
ber, and all of the first-class. When informed
of the reason why he bad been sent for, Joe
stood for a moment in deep thought, then knit
ting his brows in token of the formatiou of
some resolve, he oalled each one of his dogs by
name, and they oame frisking arou&a him. *
Having well understood the exact place where
the men had been seen, Joe and the Indian
hastened away, the dogs following. Joe per
emptorily forbade Julius to follow him, say
ing he had his reasons.
Julius, stationing himself at an upper win
dow, soon heard the yelp of discovery.
He intently listens. Again the sound reaches
him. Yes, it is ‘Leader’ taking a circle
to see that no ruse has been played. But bark !
Another and another joins in with the first. He
leans for out over the window-sill and listens
again. The simultaneous yell of many houeds,
quick and sharp tells him, they are in hot pur
suit. Down the hill to the creek, and across
they go. Thence up the stream, bearing a little
to the right—the direct course to his lonely cot
tage. How straDge he feels for there the bark
ing ceases. He thinks of his fate if there alone.
How anxiously he listens ! Presently the chase
is renewed. The dogs yelp laster and sharper
than before—tho track is more easily followed.
On they go as if for verv life in the direction of
the river. He hears them as they reach the
summit of the hill. From thence the barking
grows fainter and fainter until it entirely ceases.
Still he stands and listens, but nothing more is
heard. He goes down and finds his lady friends
in a state of fearful anxiety. Hannah is still with
them, showing as bold a front as the proudest
soldier. No one think of sleep. Alternately
they listen, talk and wonder, but to no purpose,-
for morning comes, and none are the wiser—
neither Joe nor the Indian has returned.
Awhile after sunrise, Julias went home, aud
much to his suppose found that his parents
knew nothing of the stirring event of the previ
ous night. They lived many years after, and
died without knowing anything of them. In
all that country there was no busy news-carrier
to keep up the excitement of modern times I
Generally, all notice of events passed away with
the events themselves.
By nature Julius Latrain was fearful and de
cided in all bis undertakings ; aud as he had re
cently begun some improvements at Azilia
which he was exceedingly anxious to complete
before Coralie Summerville's arrival, he at once
proceeded to his favorite home, the Willow Cot
tage. When he arrived he discovered Joe Har
perstanding by the garden ga'.e drumming with
his fingers on his long rifle, and whistling Yan
kee Doodle. Julius knew by the giant’s appear
ance that the affairs of the previous night had
ended to his liking, whether satisfactory to oth
ers or not.
‘Do tell me, Joe,’ anxiously asked Julius,
what discoveries you made last night? T am
all anxiety to know.’
Well,’ replied the other, smiling, ‘I have »i'.- »
things to say ; but you must first comply with
my terms.'
What are they ?'
You must allow .me to make my own state
ments, and you must not ask me any questions.
Are yon willing to comply with the terms?’
I certainly am.’
'Then Hannah was not mistaken last night;
but you have nothing to fear now. Just as 1
said, we run the men out of the oountry, aud my
word for it, they will never return. At first I
supposed one of them would turn out to be that
Horace Morone fellow, but I was mistaken.
Both were strangers to me, though I had once
before seen one of them at Hnanah’s wedding.
Here,’ continued Joe, feeling in his vest pocket,
here ! look at this watch, and tell me if you
know it We found it at the fence where Han
nah said she heard one of the men fall.'
At a glance Julius knew the watch, and open
ing it, there were the initial letters *J. M..' out
in bold relief on the inside of the case. Strange
to say, it was the watch which John Montgome
ry had given to Rislum Ramsey.
'And now you may know who the other ohap
was,’ said Joe, taking a dirty piece of paper out
of the crown of his hat, and handing it to Jaliua.
With eager grasp the tell-tale missive was
taken, and oarefully examined. It was a miser
able scrawl barely readable; but made out as
follows :
‘Far missus mayzern Grayse Rampzy me deer
i seet miselph tur Let U No As hou me en Riz-
lim maint ble bak tur hum in er Weak yit Wee
iz stil er huntin in Montins yit an as how Wee
kant Fine What Wee Wans tur W«e iz aguine
tur Wate dont be onezy er bout us For Wee iz
er tryen tur ketch A varmuut Whot mout tri tur
bight vor ef Wee dont cotch hit butt yer musent
tel on Us kaze i Lobs U so that i don’t erlow
no boddy eltz tur lub yer too ef Kizlim kumbs
tur bum a 4 i doez he 11 Fetch this ere lettur
tur U an i rite hit tur haave hit reddy tur send
yer Whence hed kumbs.
Yer troo lub Four ever mour,
Wilum Fate.’
Having read the letter as above rendered,
Julius stood lost in thought ooncerning.its con
tents and the revela'ions made by the discovery
of the lost watch. After all his hopes to the
contra-y, he an! Nally were not mistaken in
their first suspicions. He oould now see
through the whole plot—that he was himself the
‘varnmnt* hunted—that in a fit of jealousy Ris
lum Ramsay had conceived the foolish idea that
if Julius Latrain was out of the way the poor de
luded wretch might himself win the love of Nel
ly Montgomery, and that Bill Fate, whom the
old man Ramsay had brought to notice as the
over of his favorite daughter, had, from similar
motives, become a confederate in order to re
move an obstacle which in his ignorance was
supposed to stand between himself and ‘Missus
mazern Grayse Rampsay ;‘ or, if not this, he
was stimulated by a desire to assist his intend
ed brother-in-law to execute his murderous pur
poses.
Taking all the circumstances into considera
tion, these were reasonable conclusions, and
good cause for alarm on the part of the intend
ed victim and his friends ; but the painful emo
tions thus produced did not end here. The tall
of the yonnger Ramsay from the height on
which his pretended friendship and apparently
kind-heart had pla-sed him, was cause for deep
sorrow and profound regret. The astonished
boy had never before so fully realized the fact
that the human heart was oapable of such de
pravity—that a dark and murderous purpose
might lie concealed behind a smile of welcome
or a deed of pretended kindness! But now his
eyes were opened to many things which he had
imputed to ignoranoe, or were in themselves
too small to attract his particular attention. He
could now, however, account for many strange
glances given him by this pretended friend as
well as for some curious aots of his while stay
ing at Mr. Montgomery's house. These discov
eries, though fraught with danger in their con
ception, turned out to be one of the most im
portant lessons of his life; for henceforth he
studied men's faces and actions as he. did his
books, which was of inestimable value in his af
ter strangely checkered career.
Overcome by conflicting emotions, Julius
stood motionless, looking first at the tell-tale
evidence of his secret enemies, and then at the
giant form of the friend who sat on a benoh near
by, again dramming with his fingers on his
deadly rifle. Though the countenance of the
latter did not revg ;l a shade of passion, those
active fingers di©o There were fury drops of
blood still runniiedthrough his veins, and they
must in somewa on.jodnce action. The indi
gnant wrath enge3 in;;:ed by Hannah's revelations
of the night bewill had not yet subsided, nor
would it for msbriv'ays to come. " ‘
he
this a stranger ashi
signs of the t
calm extenor oyup
‘I see,’ said Jhe <
are anxious to W-"
tie camffiuTRTV ma
orable to breakway
will relieve you;pe.
j ust said, Galveierti
out of the coumndk
But for all
have failed to perceive any
ling volcano beneath the
ad chest, and open brow.
* long silence, ‘that you
-fv ,that wonderful epU-
,T5VT. You are too hon-
■*<mise by asking, and I
e particular. As I have
*' ran the two miscreants
ver to return. The one
who seems to h&vy. |\ed himself ‘Wilum Fate,’
ran so fast that hi sa ! ckets turned wrong side
out and of oourse m< le t everything in then
lying on the gromhfebehind him. As the party
was completely ro\in'u the spoils belonged to
the victor; so I toof possession of the literary
department, compelled of that miserable paper
only. We preserved it as a kind of remem-
bran oe; but oaring nothing for any other part of
the booty, we generously left the remainder on
the field. The fact of the business is, this is
neither the time nor the place for midnight
murderers to be sneaking through the country
to gratify a low-born revenge which no one but
the most degraded wretch will entertain for a
moment. By George Washington, Napoleon
Bonaparte, and all the rest of the parts, such
white-livered cowards cannot play that game on
the innocent friends for whom Calveda the In
dian brave, and Joe Harper, the wild back
woodsman, would fight beyond the last ditch.
When we blow our horns such dogs as ‘Wilum
Fate* Jerusalem Judas Ramsay, and that Hor
ace M orone fellow with his diamond finger rings
and choke-rag of a neck collar, may come to
dance but they’ll cave in on the first toot.*
With deep emotion Julius listened to the
strong language of his stronger friend. He well
knew that Joe Harper used the wild expression
‘run out of the country’ to cover th6 more terri
ble word death. And although he felt something
like relief at the evident fate of the poor wretch
es who had been seeking his life through mo
tives of wild and extravagant jealousy, he
would, if left to himself, have taken them alive,
and turned them over to the officers of the law.
While those and similar thoughts were pass
ing through the troubled boy’s mind, Joe had
fallen into a deep study which caused J alia i to
give him an enquiring look.
‘I believe,’said Harper, ‘this interview, so far
as the events of last night are concerned, is now
at an end. So let the whole affair remain for
ever. You are at liberty to give those of your
particular friends whom you can implicitly
trust with a secret, the explanation I have given
you, provided you omit names. These, howev
er, you may tell Nelly if you wish to do so. This
arraugement will not be objected to by Calveda.
who will himself tell that pretty daughter of his.
I have just been thinking of that rare flower. Is
it not strange that such a one should grow in an
Indian garden?’
‘Indeed,* answered the other, ‘that is the third
great mystery of my short life. I do not under
stand it. Her father, who was known to be
highly honorable, avers that she is a pure, full-
blooded Indian; but for ail that I think he is
iu some way mistaken. I know this is curious
logic; but still I feel satisded that the unearthly
purity aud heavenly beauty of Olura Sundown
cannot be reconciled with the wild, roving life
of the tribe to which her father belongs. But
please excuse me for not wishing to talk abont
her. The mystery which surrounds her, spec
ulations upon what may be her future destiny,
aud tho yearning of my heart of hearts for her
welfare, are considerations which so bewilder
my miad, that I avoid thinking of her when I
can.*
‘I hope.’ playfully said Joe, ‘that such is not
the case in regard to both Nelly and the White
Angel, eh?’
‘Yes, that is just the way in regard to them al
so. And although I am only a boy just well into
my teens, I do not sucoeed very well in my ef
forts to banish either one of the three out of my
thoughts. I wish I could; but I suppose that
no one who knows them as I do, oould hide
from their ever living presence.’
‘May I ask if the long absence of Coralie Sum
merville has caused any of her charms to fade.*
‘No indeed! As I have told you, neither time
nor distance will ever change my mind in re
gard to her. ‘
‘Does the prospect of her early arrival here
give you any hope?’
‘Only for the precious boon of enjoying her
society now and then. I have no reason to think
that she is not still my friend.’
. ‘I suppose that gives you but little oonBola-
tion in comparison to what her love ^ould be;
but—but—I must stop! Thoughts of my own
loved one rush in and out of my mind like sparks
crashing from a red hot hickory chunk. Like
you I cannot stand it. As there are matters
whioh need my attention at home, I wilt now
leave you. If you wish Calvedo and I will stay
with you here at night until the excitement nat
ural to such a time as this dies away.’
‘Your presence is always acceptable; but as I
now have so many things to think about, your
company will be more than acceptable just at
this time.*
‘Then everything is all right. The storm is
over, and we’ll launch our boats upon the
smooth waters, and sing:
•‘Saturday night at sea, my boys,
Saturday night at sea;
Coildren throw away Tour toys,
And take a sail with me.”
Having sung this stanza to a lively air, Joe
shouldered his rifle, and disappeared still sing
ing his favorite song, “The Sailor's Saturday
Night at Sea.’’
Thus these two friends of such strangely op
posite tastes and habits separated, little think
ing that the song of joy would soon turn into one
of t-orrow, and that the smooth waters upon
which they proposed to sail would, ere long, be
tempest tossed.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Dreams of a Summer’s Night.
The sunny light of day had sunk in the love-lit
west, and the evening was flushed with gold. Night
had hovered over the great world and shroud
ed her with its clouds of silver. Now and then the
cloudlet drifted and revealed the moon all soft and
tender in its light, as it played in fitful shadows
among the drooping willows, and kissing the emer
ald leaves of the oak, nestled close beside the wa
ters, and shimmered on the wave.
In an humble home there was a watcher. Back
and forth she paced with noiseless tread, her hands
locked, her eyes tearless. She paused by the win
dow, but the glories of the night were unheeded—
she was waiting for to-morrow—all the life long
days of her precious youth she had scattered loving
smiles and deeds of kindness to those met in the
common ways of life. Weary at last she had turn
ed away and sank upon a couch, pale as a waxen 1 fnls of cream tarter, two of soda; mix soft,
image —sleep touched her eyes and she was in the 1
land of dreams. Before her swept
fporocstic TWattcvs.
Drink cayenne pepper tea for cold.
The most dreadful thing to put on a farm is a
mortgage.
May-weed blossoms put into alcohol make a
s uperior linim* nt.
In cases of Ivy poisoning, bathe the parts in
sweet spirits niter.
Pure air is the most valuable, for its cost, of
all our necessities.
It is better to be a tenant free from debt than
to own a mortgaged farm.
Plenty of light and sun are an essential to all
domesticated animals as too 1.
For burns bind on moistened baking soda
It will give prompt and permanent relief.
Rub sprains, bruises and lameness with a
paste made of salt and the white of an egg.
To restore elasticity of rubber springs, bands,
etc., place the rnbber bands of springs in hot
water.
He who ministers cruelty to his family or
animals may expect to “be paid in his own coin"
some day.
A small spoonful of molasses added to buck
wheat batter each morning will make the cakes
temptingly brown.
Mixed husbandry is the most profitable, pro
vided one knows just how to mix it, but unless
there is judgment, experience and skill in the
mixture it will not combine to profit; but, as
chemists say, it will “precipitate.’ Then “stand
from under.’’
Recipes.
Smoked Meats.—After smoked beef or hams
are cut, bang them in a coarse linen beg in the
cellar, and tie it to keep out flies.
Omelets.—Three eggs, three-fourths of a cup
of milk, one and one-half tablespoons of corn
starch. Fry quick in very little lard.
Crullers —One and-a-half cup of sugar, two
eggs, one spoonful of butter, one enp of sweet
milk, one teaspoonful of cream tartar, ono-Lalf
teaspoon ful of soda.
Fried Cakes.—Two cupfuls sugar, two cup
fuls sweet milk, two eggs, half tee-cupful bat
ter, half a nutmeg, a little salt, four tea-spoon-
panoramic
vision—a vision of bitter-sweets from the by-gone
years. Drifting down the tide of memory caine
the days of weary toil—toil without compensation
from the careless lookers on. She lived again the
weary days of struggle, smiled to keep back the
tears as she felt the chords of her heart snap, one
by one, beneath the touch of ruthless hands—She
heard sweet music like the sound of that false voice
—listened to the whip-poor-will and wept at her
own sad fate. Then came a bright cloud of drap
ery and she saw her comforting angel who stooped
and wrapped her armsabout her, whispering: “For
every day shall strength be given us,” She felt
humiliated at her weakness, and smiling through
her tears, she said, “Brave, true Elba,”
They wandered beneath the meadow maples, and
by the water’s mossy edge; they paused, and with
her own deft Ungers she plucked the bright daisies
and twined them in a wreath—When the golden
sunlight fell on Eilia’s brown curls she kissed them
and crowned her with the floral treasures.
She sleeps now in a ceaseless calm—the weary
strife of life is over—her head is pillowed on His
breast and God murmurs words of comfort sweeter
far than Eilia’s on that night when she taRd wan
dered with her near the crystal stream—That
drejyii was but a glimpse of the glories of aAttmor-
row in paradise, Caldwell.
Precious Stones.
Their Meanings and Mysteries.
Precious stones from a very early period have
been valued not only for their rare and admir
able qualities as ornaments, bat as appropriate
emblems, and as endowed with certain mysteri
ous powers. Among other properties, they have
been supposed able to connteraot many evil in
fluences, and to insnre to their possessors health
and beanty, riches and honor, good fortune and
influence. Not a few were imagined to be en
dowed with medicinal virtues. Trusting to the
ignoranoe and superstition of their patrons, the
Magi, or wise men of ancient times, proclaimed
the merits of precious stones certain as a care
for all the ills that flesh is heir to. There is
good reason to believe that these caterers to the
public taste became as skillful in multiplying
the names of the articles they traded in as thov
were in devising magical uses for them.
Much more satisfactory to regard is the use
made of precious stones as expressive of certain
sentiments. Hence, just as a language of flow
ers has been created, or, rather, has grown up
oo no fixed principle and with no special ob
ject in view, we flud, on a limited scale, what
may be styled a language of gems. Closely alli
ed to the idea last indicated is the employment
of gems as emblems of persons, times and sea
sons, and other matters.
Our object is not exactly to prove that there
are “sermous in stones," but to exhibit some of
our old and valued jewels in a light which to
many will be new. To cover the whole of the
ground would require far more space than oau
be allowed for a single article, but it will be
possible to supply illustratiens of the principal
points adverted to.
“The Language of Gems ; or, the Sentiments
Associated with Precious Stones.”—Under this
head a very few examples must suffice :
Agate.—Health, prosperity and long life.
Amethyst. Peace of mind, earthly suffering,
sorrow, deep love, and truth unto death.
Aquamarine.—Misfortune and hope.
Blood-stone.—Courage and suocess in hazard
ous enterprises.
Carbuncle. —Suffering.
Carnelian.—Forgetfulness of evils.
Chrysolite. - Preservation from folly.
Diamond. —Repentance, innocence and light;
purity, life and joy.
Emerald.—Success in love ; faith, victory and
immortality.
Garnet. —Constancy and fidelity.
Jacinth.—The same.
Jasper.—See blood-stone.
Malachite.—Success and happiness ; also num
erous friends.
Opal.—Good fortune ; more recently misfor
tune, though some prefer to make it signify hope.
Pearl.—Parity, innocence, humility, tears
and a retiring spirit.
Ruby.—Forgetfulness of evils ; also divine
power and love, dignity and royalty.
Sapphire.—Repentance and innocence ; also
virtue, truth, constancy, contemplation, heaven,
ly love and heaven.
Sardius.—Martyrdom (in ecclesiastical sym
bolism.]
Sardonyx.—Conjugal felicity, or marriage
bliss and unanimity.
Topaz.—Friendship, fidelity, fruitfulness,
love to God, and the goodness of God.
Turquoise.—Sucaess, happiness, and nnmer-
ous friends.
Marmalade Pudding.—A quarter of a pound
of suet, a quarter of a pound of bread crumbs,
two ounces of sifted sugar and a quarter of a
pound of marmalade ; mix well with one egg,
and boil for two hours.
Green Corn Pudding.—Take twelve ears of
sweet corn, grated, one and one-half pints of
milk, four well-beaten eggs, and one and one-
half tea cups of sugar. Mix the above. Bake
it for two hours in a buttered dish.
Potato Fritters.—Grate six cold boiled po
tatoes, add to them one pint of cream or new
milk, and flour enough to make as stiff a batter
as for other fritters, the yolk of three eggs, then
the beaten whites, salt, and fry in sweet batter.
Buttermilk Pancakes. —One quarter of a
pound of rice flour, one small teaspoonful of bi
carbonate of soda, made into a light batter, with
buttermilk ; must be put in the pan at once,
with very little butter or lard, aud fried as pan
cakes.
Fubm Gebes.—Boil one quart of fresh butter
milk, beat one egg, a pinch of salt, and a heap
ing tabiespoonful of flour together, and ptmr
into the boiling milk; Btir briskly and boil for
two or three minutes, and serve while warm
with sugar.
Graham Muffins.—To make Graham muffins
use two eggs, one quart of sweet milk, two table
spoons of melted butter, a light salt, one-half
cup of home-made yeast or two tablespoons of
brewer's yeast, and Graham flour to make a
thick batter ; bake as soon as light.
Sauce for Boiled Rice —Beat the yolks of
three eggs into sugar enough to make it quite
sweet. Add a tea-cup of creau , and the grated
peel and jnice of two lemons. This is a good
sance for other pudding, especially for corn
starch paddings.
Portable Lemonade.—Powdered tartaric acid
one ounce, powdered sugar six ounces, essence
of lemon one dram ; let it dry thoroughly in the
sunshine, rub together and divide in twenty-
four papers. One makes a glass of good sweet
lemonade.
jELLy-RoLL Cake.—Take four eggs, one cup
of sugar, one cup of flour, one-fourth teaspoon
of salt; beat the eggs and sugar together until
very light, then add the flour ; beat for five min
utes, then bake in a bread-pan in a hot oven ;
when done spread the jelly and roll while warm ;
do not cut until cold.
To keep a copper tea-kettle bright, buy five
cents worth of oxalic acid, and put it in a bot
tle and fill with cold water; when dissolved,
rnb th6 kettle with a cloth dipped in the solu
tion. Elbow grease is essential to make the
kettle shine, and the kettle must be cold when
cleaned.
To take the woody taste out of a wooden
pail, fill the pail with boiling-hot water ; let it
remain until cold, then empty it and dissolve
some soda in lukewarm water, adding a little
lime to it, and wash the inside well with the so
lution; after that, scald with hot water and
rinse well.
Macaroni.—Boil until tendar enough to put
a fork through easily, put in a deep dish a
layer of macaroni, with a little melted butter
and salt, grate cheese over this, fill np the dish
as above, the last layer of cheese without buffer,
pour over all milk so you can see it on the edge
of the dish; bake until a nice brown.
Washing Flannels.—A lady correspondent
writes as follows : I will give you a little of my
experience in washing flannels. I was tangbt
to wash them in hot water, but it is a great sois.
take. In Italy my flannels were a wosder to
me; they always oame home from the wash so
soft and white. I learned that the Italian
women washed them in cold water. Many a
time I have watched them kneeling in a box
which had one end taken out to keep them cut
of the mud, by the bank of a stream, washing
in the running water, and drying on the bank
or gravel, without boiling; and I never had
washing done better, and flannels never halt so
well. I tried it since, and find the secret of
nice sott flannels to be the washing of them in
cold or luKewarm water and plenty of stretch
ing before hanging out.
‘An unloved wife,’ who ought to know of tha-
which she speaks, because she has so much ext
perienoe, says that the reason the ladies look so
much to money in the matter of marriage, is
that now-a-days they so Beldom find anything
else in a man worth having.
A colored person recently addressed the freed-
men of Columbus, Ohio, upon the subiect of
negro suffrage. The lecturer charge twenty-five
cents admission. One of the audience, at the
olose of the lecture, rose and said : “Nex quar
ter I se got to spend, I’m gwine to de theatre or
cirons. Don t catoh me at no more quarter dol-
larniggershows.’ Talk better den he can me-
self. Yotin am t gwine to poke bread down a
nigger s moof, no how.
The city gnilds of London have set apart u'ifin
annually for the training of women, establish
ing a school of wood engraving.