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FIFTY TO-DAY. irlns; linfB written tor tte Parols H orter,” Hie irorn toe pen of Mrs ,01 New Britain, Pa.] tlow the years go by hi careN and joys well strewn, infant’s cry, the shout of a boy; |d next, a man full growD. ^parents, v.’ho guide! our childhood's feps, long since been laid away ; Fa e children still to brighten our home, (we are the old lolts to-day. joe years go swlltly and silently on; • e lull ol sorrow and pain ; j Bume, so fall ol hope and joy |ey mate us young agt i f. God Is G .)d to the sorrowing, Jnigbtas well as by day,” Jour tears snail be ailed forever lien ne wipeth them all away. 1 f an other year we t ee lill in the agei past, there be no sad lepinings Sr Joys that could not last; [y there be no painful heart throbs Jor the golden days misspent, jase Ingratitude to God hr any nuny sent. hie getting along to the time of life igu childish sports aud ways |y memories < f lb*e past— lly, happier days— fgetting along where the rosy tints i ate not so bright, • ll.he ‘orb of day” hasturned to meet |comiug hours of eight. i hours of night will surely come; oa will sink to rest, ita'n with a new-born light, Imountain and ocean crest, itltul slgut when tue King ol day fyhe sable mantle of night, geous tho’, when at midday Ipnarch is clothed with light; ierlar when tue purple tints the crlixn on hue, le, tie cy c ou Is enhance the scene loat aw ay in the blue. Jh the lile that tas n_m,'y borne |teu aud heat ol tfcteil.y, n has grown purer and fairer to ady has gone to decay. ! ours to resemble the sun onward way; ^otir Ute be tt e bestof our life Fe’ve bad a long bright day. fitting the Brigands. ou such a morning as we fcg- ired islanders seldom witness at is, that I stood upon the deck of the good steamer Coumourd uurous, ratohing the nearing shores of the ’irasus, which, as all the world knows should know, ia the port of the jaic city of Athens. The beautiful jltude isky; the bright outline of Fe sunbithed coa t; the air laden nth the sceut of the di j tant Hymet- tus; the far eminence with fhe grand |Id Acropolis standing out white and do d in the clear atmosphere ; and .close at hand the molderine tomb of ’hemistccks—all combined to arouse ft ch poetic fancies in my mind that I forgot for tie moment t ie prossij Dusines-i upon which 1 had comp. Tiie ^reaming engine < f the bt sy little flway which carries the traveler the Pii feus to Athens, soon re- hied mo, however, that I was ac credited with a mission from a Lec tion Greek lirm to their Iriends in the 'Attic city ; ami I was soon whirling |over theflacred ground Where history g 1 fts te every rood a page! } assed the monuments of those jughty champions of the War of Jn- oendence. K rdskakis and Miau ind many oth* r ot j ^ct s of inter* s"; if ter a ride ( f three or four milts [ud myself at my destinaiion. Jfter a few days I certainly had a Fy pleasant time of it, the few hours [k each day acting or ly as a stimu- ly varied pleasures ; and, hav ing - gji^itLed the Acropolis and inched by tnWB^^pi^ir of Jup'ttr, >d myself in the ruins of the Pnyx Fence Demosthenes declaimed Pericles evolved his plans—I ad around, like Alexander, for fe woilds to conquer, iheieupou consulted my genial but fashed hort, Kyrie Antonio Perl- Pappademttracopoulos—who, al- )ugh Plato was to him a text-book le sryings of Socrates as familiar pe story of Tomu y and Harry to laglish souooiboy, was always as as a sweep—upon the propriety Itaking myself to where The mountains look ou Marathon, And Maiatlion :o <ks on the sea. ?ne might as well go to Egypt Tout visiting the Pyramids, or to ie without entering 8t. Peter’s, ati Jo” Greece and leave Marathon unexplored. Aud when my host tried to dissuade me by assuiriug me that a Greek gentleman's ear bad been sent a fortnight before by the brigands to his obstinate relatives, to hurry the negotiations for hia ransom, it so roused my blocd that I vowed i would go if I returned as close cropped as au English terrier. So away we started— myself aud Themistocies, the son of mine host, a sallow, uushaven youth, dirtier thau hla father—irymuted upon Jtwo hlgh-apiri vers well primed and our commissariat well stocked. ll Acloia Kyrieshouted my long namsd host as we cantered off. “Never fear,” I replied, waving my revolver defiantly, and feeling that I should be greatly disappointed it the rascals did not show themselves. Ou we went, enjoying the scene)y and holding a hybrid conversation— he in broken English and I in sadly mutilated Greek—until in the excite ment of the ride and the glorious pan orama constant y unfolding itself to our view I entirely forgo;; that there were such beings as brigands in ex istence. “Now,” said I to Themistocies, after a ride of some hours, during which my appetite had become unpleasantly sharpened, “let us look about for a spot where we can bivouac in com fort.” We soon found a delightful plsce, sheltered all round, save where through a small opening we obtained a view of a charming landscape. Dis mounting and allowing our animals to refresh themselves on the grass, we soon made havoc of the good things we had Brought. I was lying upon my back smoking a cigarette after the meal, gazing dreamily at the blue firmament, and, being too hz/to rise, had called on Themistocies to pass tho bottle. “Has the fellow gone to sleep?” thought I, still indisposed to turn my head. “Themistocies 1” But Themistocies hear! me not; and when 1 raise myself upon my el bow I saw him standing, as if struck dumb and motionless with fear, star ing upon tho opening. Instinctively I leaped up and clutched my revolver; but before I took a step the cause of Themistocies’ fear became apparent; and thre? shaggy forms behind three blunderbusses aimed direct at me made me fully aware that I was in the presence of those scourges of Greece, the brigands ! But oh! what a meta morphosis ! Where were the natty green jackets with silver buttons, the plumed hats and the tout ensemble of the brigands of my youth of the operas and the picture books? Three ragged, disreputable-looking figures, clad iu greasy sheepskins and dirfy clothes, unkempt, unshaven, took the place of those tinseled heroes, and with stern gestures and muttered threats ordered us to follow them. My first thought was resistance, but when I showed the slightest signs the three bell-mouthed muskets were bent toward me, and I felt that the odds were too many, and, determined to wait events, grimly submitted to be led down the mountain by our unsavory guides. At last, after winding through ra vines and hollows, across glen3 and over mountain paths innumerable, hia most unpleasant journey ended by our guides calling a halt as we gained tho summit of an eminence surrounded by trees and tall rocks, forming au extraordinary natural for tress. Beneath our feet, in a deep ra> vine,with seemingly butoneoutlet.and excellently sheltered by overhanging foil age, was the camp of the brigands and here we found the rest of the shaggy ruffians—with tne exception of one who stood sentinel—enjoying# their siesta with indolent content. A shrill whistle soon brought the rascals to their feet; and rushing up to meet us, they displayed a dozen of as unfavorable specimens of the hu man race as could well be found Seizing our asses by their bridles they relieved our # captora and led us down the ravine; and having roughly ae sisted us to dismount, brought us into the presence of the chief of the band “ Bravo, lade! excellent!” he shout ed, as his sparkling eyes bent upon us in delight; and after a cursory exami nation we were conducted, amid the excited gesticulations of the brigands, aud without undue ceremony, into a dark cavern within the ravine. “ Shiver my maintops!” exclaimed a voice as I groped my way in ; “they might give us searoom, the vagabonds, and not land us in this lubberly creek ; and ucw they are shoving more craft In to anchor!” “ Haul in, Jack, old chum,” answer ed the other ; “ we must make the best of a bad job, mate.” To say that my heart leaped to my mouth at hearing such unexpected words and finding myself in the com- pai y of my own countrymen would no more than describe the cheering sensation that thrilled through me. “.What cheer, mates?” I cried in the darkness. Answering exclama tions of astonishment greeted my words; aud in a few minutes our stories were told, aud I learned that uew-fojfliii friends were the Cap a sbi lying iu the port of the Piraeus, who, seeking a like object, had mtt with a similar fate to my own. “ And now,” said Captain Jack Jenkins, “ how sre we to get out of this scrape? If I had Tim and Joe aud Black Tom, each with a cutlass and a barking-iron here, we’d soon make a passage, I’d warrant!” “ That’s all very well,” said Will Johnson, the supercargo; “but we haveu’t. If I’d but the opportunily given me, I’d guarantee ’* Whatever the supercargo was about to say was cut short by the advent of two shock-heads at the little opening of our prison, and two harsh voices calling us—as my guide Themistocies informed us—to partake of a feast; for we learned afterward that the chief, in commemoration of having 'made such a good haul, had decided to allow us, his prisoners, to partake of the general festivlly. But as a prelimi nary, we had to undergo an examina tion as to our capability of paying the anticipated ransoms. First, we were relieved of our watches and rings, the Captain using language rather too strong for translation to these lines, to the great amusement of his tormen tors, who, with similar gesticulations to his, endeavored to imitate the sound of the Captain’s words, which, of course, only added to his w rath and their hilarity. “You uncombed, dlr<y faced vaga bonds !” ho shouted, “if I had a few of you aboard the Annie Martin I’d twist your ugly head3 over the yard- arm iu the twinkling of a jiffy !” Of course, they only laughed the louder at his impotent rage, and I thought it quite as well that they did not understand the language in which he gave it vent. The operation of stripping us of our valuables gave me an opportuni ty to ob serve the a ppsarauce.o f my compa nions Captain Jenkins was the beau-ideal of an English seaman. In age about 35, of a large aud robust build, a face broad, manly aud bearded, and limbs such as would delight a sculptor to copy. His height was nearly six feet, and he had an air of command about him which was doubtless bred of his occupation. The supercargo, Will Johnson, was perhaps ten years younger; nearly as tall as his friend, strong and active: and take us all to gether—for I ant ofnoraem stature myself—wo were three men who, under any circumstances, would be no disgrace to our country; and if any opportunity should arise for au attempt at an escape I felt certain that we should give as good an account of our selves as any scratch three, here or there. Having satisfied themselves of the value of my late fathir's watch, which I parted from with some emotion, aud of Hie intrinsic worth of the Captain’s gold chronometer, as well as the su percargo’s watch and diamond ring, we were interrogated, through Themi stocies, as to our means. For myself, the name of the firm I was traveling for acted with alalismanic effect upon them, and I was immediately assessed —notwithstanding my protestations— at three hundred pounds. At this pri6e, too, the Captain’d freedom was valued ; while the unfortunate super cargo—whose business they persisted in confounding with that of owner of the cargo and ship—was unanimously voted to be worth twice our ransom Having arranged ibis matter to their own satisfaction, if not to ours, we were told to sit down and enjoy our selves with what appetite we could muster. The smell of the roast lamb and the freshly-baked meal-cakes, however, soon aroused pleasanter sensations, aud dimmed for a time the memory cf our griefs; more especially so as, under the apparent certainty of ob taining his booty, the chief condes cended to be quite patronizing toward us, carv.ng the j oints himself for us, and delicately handing on the point of a dagger «>ur several portions. After we bad satisfied our hunger with the more solid viands we were regaled with dried fruits as dessert, and a large jar of a peculiar sherry colored, but bad-tasting, wine of a resinous Haver—which Themistocies described as the common wine of the country— was brought in and set down In the midst of us. Tnis we toll them we could not drink, and the chief very generously ordered us a couple of bot tles from his own particular store, doubtless the proceeds of raid upon some well-to-do householder. Will Johuson after a time managed ft> ingratiate himself in the favor of our shaggy host aud his friends l y his geuial happy iuauuer aud frank bear- lug, favoring the company with many remarks,^fcioh, translated by The mistocies, evidently pie; When, too, by sleigh t-of-han which he was an adept—he performed some simple tricks, and gave them a music-hall song with a rollicking chorus, and wound up with a horn pipe accompanied by the CapUin with a pocket-comb and a piece o paper, tiie general enthusiasm knew no bounds, and ihe beelle-browtd vagabonds laughed till the tears rolled down their cheeks. Will now became ou such excellent terms with them al' that he proceeded to take some freedom with them; and when he snatched the horn from the cup-bearer, and installed himself in that official’s place, ladling the wine out of the wide mouthed jar and handing it round, to the company, his triumph was complete.” “For heaven’s sake!” said he, as he passed us, “don’t take any of this stuff, and don’t drink much of your own.” “Never fear,” said Jenkins, making awry face; “one taste is sufficient.” And so Will went round with the cup, making a comic il remark to this one, and a grimace at that, until the chief-—evidently fearing from their hilarity that they were taking too much—ordered them, to desist from drinking and return to their several duties. Meanwhile, we were sent back into our dunget n, with a sentinel stationed at tiie opening. “Not a word,” whispered Will, as we settled down in our prison. “Here’s something, Captain,” he con continued, “that belongs to you.” “Why,” slid the Captain in reply, as Will handed him the article men tioned, “this is a stopper out of my medicine chest.” “To be sure it is, Jack,” returned Will; “and I must apologiza for the liberty of taking your iaudauum phial; but my confounded back-tooth was so painful on board the ship last night that I got up and took it, and luckily forgot to return it this morn ing. You must debit me with the bottle aud its contents, for I dropped them both into the vagabonds’ win jar!” “What!” we all exclaimed in a breath. “Now, slop your clappers !” contin ued the supercargo. “Jaoh, you know I’m not bad at sleight-of-hand tricks. Well, in the first place, having con trived to secrete the bottle while the blackguards were relieving me of my valuables, and then having attained the position of waiter, what wss easier than to wriggle the bottle down my sleeve, whip out the stopper, aud drop the lot into their swipes ; giving the bottle a crack and stirring the lauda num up, every time I dipped the horn into it!” “Bravo, Will!” cried the Captain, seizing his hand and giving it a hearty shake. “If that’s the case, we’re safe; for the black-faced rascals won’t wake up for a dozen hours, I’ll he bound. There ! our guard has dropped off al ready !” And sure enough, the drowsy ruf fian had planted himself right across the opening and was snoring louo ly. “Now for it!” cried the impetuous Jack Jenkins, rising. “Hold hard!” said Will. “Let them get well off.” “So,settling ourselves down for half an hour we talked the matter over. At the end of this time we sent the trembling Themistocies to see how things were outside ; and after peep ing over the prostrate, sentinel he gave us to understand that they were all sleeping except three, and they were retiring to the further end of the ravine, and would in a minute be out of sight. “Capital!” said Will, with suppress ed excitement. “Now, each take a pistol and a cutlass from the fellows and foilbw me.” Odb after another we fctepped ac roas the sleeping brigand at the entrance, Will relieving him of his pistol, dirk and blunderbuss, while the captain and I stood by ready to give him his quietus at the slightest sigu of bis waking. Then the four of us, ylidlng like ghosts, assisted ourselves to whatever weapons we could most easily lay bauds upon; aud, as The mistocies waa not of much use for fighting,we gave him the bag contain ing our valuables—which we fouud by the side of the sleeping chief—as well as several spare pistols to carry. Pick lug our wav without speaking a word, we advanoed toward the open end of the ravlue, aud just as we turned around a Jutting pieoe of rock we saw the three sentinels, seemingly iu earn est conversation. It, ”j*hisuered Will.* ‘Now. and each singling o{ clutching his. rifle barrel^for wo avoided the n< shooting—we sprang forward. ) moat simultaneouslv, and befoi enemy had time to observe ua^ were upon them, and three rlfle-st descended upon three Bfcock hi with such force that two of the felloi dropped like stones. The stock of rifle glanced off the hard head of 1 antagonist and crashed against rock. With a stifled cry he turni but in an Instant my hand wa9 u) his throat, and the sound died in gullet, while with the strength of di peration I dashed his head agaii the wall-like rock, and after a sti gle, In which he wounded me wit his dagger, he fell from my grasp, ap parently lifeless. “Now,” said the captain, “wheraj are the donkeys? Come, Greeky I’ ne cried to Themistocies; “bear hand and, looking around, we pied our four animals just as we lej them, but with a brigand sitting them. Here was an unlooked for rei contre I He was fully a hundred yard] off’, and to get at him we would have 1 to cross a small plateau. “Leave him to me!” oriel Jenkins; preparing to rush forward. But under the advice of the supercargo he stop ped. We could have picked him off easily, but dared not for the noise o| the rifles. “Hing it!” impatiently muttei Jenkins, "we shall ba trapped ags after alland without further paj the impetuous fellow atarted off, ning on the tips of his toes w) drawn cutlass in one hand and a, in the other. Just as he was wii few yards of the brigand the turned round, and seeing how ms ftood made for his rifle, which j leaning against a tree a few y^rda but a revolver hurled d fftly i Johnson—for we had all catching him directly m ti effectually stopped his progi he fell stunned to the ground. “You persist in doing all the we said Jenkins as we came up to^ “But quick, lads ; off we go!” a moment w* were on our 1 and under the guidance Greek companion, were making] break neck speed for Athens, hill, down dale, on we wei couple of hours withou( meeting a human being i we were about to cross ti mountain at which we, harmless-looking peasjj “good-day,” andj “SMzd him( “fit’s a scout.”’ So seize him sake ; and as there we tied his hands, aud left him beg there was no me cially as TnemiiJ there was such a rious connection betJ and villagers that it unlikely—had we all free —he would havl est village and rouj biigands about Havii as for fat? resting animals, until late at night where, round the hi our host, we soon forgo! Chambers' Journal. i A Young Specula) A bright-eyed and neatly) lad, with Jewish features, raigned before Justice Smith, I Tombs Police Court, N. Y.) charge of fighting in the street^ said his name was Henry LW iteln, aged 15 years, of No. 64 topher street, and then startled around him by saying that he waa speculator. “Yes, Judge Smith,! kno your name, because I used to lh opposite you. I am a speculator, an support my mother and sister. I bu goods at pawnbrokers’ sales and the pawn them again, usually with largo profit. I make from $8 tojj per week.” “Smart boy; you go,” said the Judge^.