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There was a Sultan of the East Who used to ridea stubborn beast ; A marvel of the donke ukind, 'l'hut much perplexed i5 owner‘s mind. BK turns he moved a rod ahead, '1' en backed a rod or so instead. And thnsthe day would pass around, The Sultan guininglittlc ground, The servants on before would stray And pitch their tents beside the way. And pass the timeas best they might Until their master have in sight. The Sultan man ' methods tried; lle clicked am coaxed and spurs applied, And stri ped a dozen trees, at least, 0f brane 105, to persuade the beast. But all his ellorts went for naught ; No reformation could be wrought, At length, before the palace gate He called the wise men of the state. And bade them now their skill display liyfinding where the troll lay. “A “enrnfl” .1 in“.qu annu .V .e.» “91(1) solemn looks and thoughts profound. The men of learning gathered ‘round. The beast was measured o’er with core : ‘ They proved him by the plumb and square, The compass to his ribs applied, And every jointby rule was tried ; But nothing could the doctors find To prove he diil’ered from his kind. Said they : “Your Highness it appears The beast is sound from hoof to ears ; No outward blemishes we see To limit, action fair and free. In View of this the feet is plain 'l‘he mischief lies within the brain. Now. we suggest to stop his tricks, A sail upon his back you fix, Of goodly size, to catch thehrceze And urge him forward where you please.“ The Sultan welltheir wisdom praised. 'l‘wo masts upon the beast were raised. And. schooner-rigged from head to tail. With halliurds, spunker-boom, and soil. in proper shupe equipped was he, As though designed to soil the sea! And when the Sultan next bestrode 'l‘he beast upon a lengthy roud. \Vith favoring winds that; whistled strong And swiftly urged the emftalong ; The people cleared the track with speed ; And old and 3 oung alike agreed A stranger sight, eould’not be found. From side to side the province round. â€"PALMER Cox, St. Nicholasfm- July. “doo40boowâ€" I get through my toilet with a good deal of deliberation. 1 am in no great hurry to find myself downâ€"stairs ; I am determined to afford him every chance of getting clear of the premises before 1 make my appearâ€" ance. uuuu. \thn dressed to Martha’s satisfaction, I go cautiously through the house, and, con- trary to my usual custom, make straight for Marmmluke’s study. Opening the door without knocking, 1 find myself face to face with Marmaduke and Sir Mark Gore. I feel petrified, and somewhat guilty. Of what use my condemning mysdf to solitary confinement for so many hours, if the close 0t them only brings me in contact with what I have so striven to avoid? A 0, I am not false,” I protest, vehe- mently, putting my hand through Marma- duke’s arm, and glancing at my opponent defiantly from my shelter : “ ’Duke is my husband ; why should I hide anything from him? I told you I would conceal 110th mg Marmaduke’s blue eyes are flashing, and his lips are white and compressed. Sir Mark, always dark and supercilious, is look- ing much the same as usual, except for a certain bitter expression that adorns the corners of his mouth. Both men regard me fixedly as I enter, but with what different feelings 1‘ ‘ .u~x 1L,,,,, ,,1 c:‘ What charming wifely conduct E” says Sir Mark, witha. sneer ; “not only do you confide to him all your own little affairs, but you are ready also at a moment’s notice to forgive him any peccadilloes of which he hag heeh_g11i}ty.” ‘ a . u ‘VV-._°~ . Marmaduke holds out his hand to me, and the flash dies in his eyes. Sir Mark’s lips form the one word f‘rfalggz” I feel ’Duke quiver with rage, but laying a vmmmg pressure on 1115 arm, I Succeed in restratinipg him. 7‘; He 111:8 been guilty of none,” I cry, in- dignantly. “ He never cared for any one but mg as_ yqu Well _k110w.” 7 "Sir Marl; looks down, and smiles mean- inglly - I rcdden with anger. 1 . - ‘ 6""‘Vhy are you not gojxc Y" I ask, inhos- pitably ; “you pl'Cmised you would leave carlyflthis- morning.” ‘I m “ Grant me a little grace, Mrs. Carrmg- ton. Had I had time, I might, indeed. have ordered a special train, but, as matters stand, 1 am compelled to be your guest unv til one be allowed by the authorities to start. But for your entrance herejust now, which I did not anticipate, I would not have troubled you by my presence again. However, it is the last time '01: shall be so annoyed. Perhaps you \vi bid me goodâ€"bye, and grant me your forgiveness be- fore I go. You at least should find it easy to pardon, as it was my unfortunate and undue admiration for yourself caused me to enran His tone is light and mocking, there is even a half smile upon his lips. He treats Marmaduke’s presence as though he were utterly unaware of it. Yet still. something beneath his sneerng manner makes me know he does not. repent either his false step, orits consequences. 11- 1| It is with amazement I discover 1 hear him no ill»will, Indeed, I might almost be said to feel sorry 101' him at this present moment. I shall be intensely relieved and glad when he is no longer before me ; but he has been kind and pleasant to me, in many ways, during these past two months, ‘ . and J1 'vaéj'g’ivc hil'IJl. I pfit my hand in his and say “ good-bye,” gently. He holds. it tightly f(_>r an instant, then drops it. an , "W ov: .N. ‘ d _ _ He moves towards the door \nth 111$ usual careless graceful step. u‘ ‘ .J H . “Good-bye, Can'mgton,”he dys) coolly : “ I hope when next “0 meet» time will have, softened your “cscntmcnt. ” HII' ‘ “ And I hope,” says ’Imke, in a voice clear and quiet, yet full of suppressed passion, "that the day we meet againis fzu' distant. l have no desire to renew ae- quaintanee in the futnrewith a man who has so basely abused the l'lghtb‘ of friend- ship and hospitality. You have chosen to act the part of a Scoundrel. Keep to it, therefore. and avoid the society of honest men. For myself, I shall endeavor to for~ get I ever knew any one so contempt- ible.” m- I. u . 1 ulhor of “11101111 1302571.” “Tim I'ulz', “Airy Fairy Lilian," (10.. etc. w “Take care,” says Sir Mark, in alow, CHAPTER XX11,iCoNT1N 17151) The Sultan of the East. BY THE DCCI’ PHYLLIS. fierce tone. “ Don‘t try me too far. ‘ Honest men 1’ Rmember one thing, Car- yington 2 you owe me something for my forA For a. full minute the two men gIaJ e-at each other, than the door is flung open, and Mark is gong. Â¥ “ What did he mean by that ?" ask I, frightened and tearful. “ What was that he said about forbearance? Tell me, ’Duke.” Marmaduke’s face is white as death. “ Nothing,” he answers, with an eflbrt. “ It is onlya stagy way he has 0i speaking. Let us forget him.” So Mark Gore drops out of our life for the present. Three days later Lady Blanche Going also take_s _h81: departmg. Asvvre assemble in the hall to bid her good-bxeâ€"I, fron an oppressive sense of what is demanded by the laws of courtesy, the others through the dawdling idleness that belongs to acountry houseaishe sweeps up to me, and, with an unusually hewiteh- lug smile, says sweetly: V“Good~l)yc‘, dear ' Mrs. Carringtan, Thank you so much for all your kindness to me. I really don’t remember when I have enjoyed myself so well as here at dear old Strangemore with you." Here she stoops forward, as though she would press her lips to my check. Instan- tancously dropping both her hand and my handkerchief, I bend to pick up the latter ; when I raise myself again, she has wisely passed on, and so I escape the hypocritical salute. Marmaduke puts her, maids, traps, and all, into the carriage. The door is shut, the horses start ; I am well lid of another troublesome guest. I draw a deep sigh of relief as twoideas present themselves before my mind. One is, that I am better out of it all than I deserve ; the second, that never again, under any circumstances, shall Sllc CI tor my doors. lb is the night before Ilarriet‘s departuie, and almost; all our guests lime Vanished. Our two military friends have resumed their regimental duties a week ago ; Sir George Ashurst has gone to London for a while; Dora has decided on burying her- self at Summerleas during his absence I suppose to meditate soberly upon the com- ing event. It is nine o’clook. Dinner is a thing of the past. Even the gentlemen, having tired of each other, or the wine, or the politics. have strolled into the drawing-room, and are now indulging in such light converse as they deem suitable to our feeble understand- ings. Suddenly the door is flung wide, and Bebe comes hurridly inâ€"so hurridly that We all refrain from speech, and raise our eyes to rivet them upon her. She is nervous» hqu laughingwyet evidently soared. “ 0h, Marmaduke 3” she says, with a little gasp, and going up to him and fasten- ir}? her‘fingers on his arm, “I have seen a. ghost l” “A what .7” says ’an0. “A ghostâ€"a downright, veritable ghost 3 Now, don’t look so incredulous ; I am thoroughly in earnest. l was never in my life before so frightened. I tell you I saw it plainly, and quite close. Oh, how I 1‘11!) ‘ She puts her other hand to her heart, and dI‘Z‘IEVS a lgpg breafih. Naturally we all stare at her, and feel in- terested directly. A real spectre is not a thing of every-day occurrence. I feel some- thing stronger than interest ; I am terrified beyond measure, and rising from my seat,'I look anxiously at ’Duke. “ I never heard there was a ghost here be- fore,” I say. l'cproachfnlly. “ Is the house haunted ‘3 Oh, ’I)uke ! you never told me ofitiand I have gone about; it all hours, and sometimes even wit/tout a, light .’” I conclude there IS something comical in my dismay, as Marmaduke and Lord Chan- (los burst out laughing. Thornton fairly roars, while Sir James gets as near an out- burst of mcrrimcnt as he ever did in his life “ Is there a ghost in your family ?” I deâ€" mand, rather sharply, feeling nettled at their heartless mirth. “ No ; I am afraid we have nothing he. longing to us half so respectable. All the ancestors I ever heard of (lied most amiablv, either on the battle-field, or on the grllows, 01' in their beds. \Ve cannot lay claim to a single murder or suicide ; there is not even a solitary instance of a duel heng fought within these walls. I doubt We area tame race. There IS not a. spark of romance about us. llehe’s imagination has run riot.” “ I tell you l saw it,” persists Bch, in- dignant‘y. “ Am I to disbelieve my own sight? 1 was walking along the corridor otl'the picture-gallery quite quietly, thinkâ€" ing of anything:r in the world but super- natural subjects, when all at once, as I got- near the window, I saw a face looking in at me from the halcony outside.” “0h, Bebe I” I cry, faintly, castinga nervous glance ln‘hind me, as l edge closer to Lord L'handos, who happens to 1:8 the one nearest me “ It was a hoirihle face, wicked, hut handsome. The head was covered with something dark, and it Wm only the eyes 1 noticed, they were etilra7'(/t/;I/-solai'ge, and black, and revengeful ; they had mur- der in them." Bebe stops, shuddering. “ lleally, (laii‘ington, it, is too had of you,” says Chips, reprovingly. “ lf you keep them at all they should at least be ami- able. I wonder Miss lleatoun lives to tell the tuEe. I’i'ziy go on ; i1. is positively en~ thrulling. Did the eyes spit fire 2’” “ The head vanished while I stared, and then i dropped my candle and rm: down- stairs, as though I were hzumleih 0h, 1 shall never l())'j_{ct it Y” “ Probably £01.10 about," says ’l)ukc, tears " It was nothing living," declares Miss llcntuun, with u settled conviction that bands :1 cold chill through my veins. “ Bebe, hmv can you he so stupid '1” (tx- claims ’I)ulm, almost. provoked. “ Ghosts, indeedlml thought you had more sense. Come, let us go in a hme and (exorcise this thing, whatever it is. I believe an appari- tion should be spoken of respectfully in capitals as 177'. She may still he on the bal- cony." pom' tramp prowlng wcin-r I am nearly in So we all march solemnly up-stairs, armed dwitl) lights, to investigate this awful mysâ€" tag. ” I think it improbable," says Chips ; “ she would see by the aid of Miss Beatoun’s candle that it is an unlikely spot for silver tapooms.‘1 “ Well, if we fail, I shall give orders for a. couple of men to search the shrubberies, and whatever they find they shall bring straight to Bebe.” _ _ ,.. .. 1“ I take Marmajdfike’s armvand cling to him. He looks down at me amused. “\Vhy, you are trembling, you little goose. Perhaps you had better stay here.” g’irlrlnfind nothing,’_’ says Bebe, Wi_th up oilsjcinacyfluitg foreign to he'r. “\Vhat! all alone!” I cry, aghast. “Never! I would be (lead by the time you came back. No, I would rather see it out.” Sir James and Thornton take the lead, as I decline to separate from Marmaduke or to go anywhere but in the middle. Not for worlds would I head the procession and be the first to come up with what may be in store for us. \Vith an equal horran shrink from being lastâ€"fearful of being grabbed by something uncanny in the back- ground. The whole scene is evidently an intense amusement to the men, and even Harriet, to my disgust, finds some element of the' burlesque about it. The lamps upon the staircase and along the corridors throw shadows everywhere, and are not reassur- ing. Once Mr. Thornton, stalking on in front, gives way to a dismal howl, and, stopping short, throws himself into an attitude of abject fear, that causes me to nearly wepp ; so I entreat him, in touching accents, not to do it again without reason. Another time, either Harriet or Bebeâ€" who are walking: close behind me (having ordered Lord Chandos to the extreme rear, as a further precaution)â€"â€"lays her hand lightly on my shoulder, whereupon I shriek aloud and precipitate myself into Marmaâ€" duke’s arms. At length we reached the dreaded spot, and Thornton, after a few whispered words with Sir James, llings up the window, and with what; appears to me reckless courage, steps out upon the le‘ksome b3.le ny alone. lie is a. long time absent. ' To me it seems ages. “'9 three women stand waiting in breathless suspense. Bebe fitters norâ€" vously. “ He is without doubt making a thorough examination,” says Sir James gravely. “'0 strain our eyes into the night, and even as we do so, something supernaturally tall~black, gaunt, with a white plume waving from its haughty headwadvances slowly towards us, from out the gloom. I feel paralyzed with fright, although instinct tells me it is notthe thing. “ \Vho are ye, that come to disturb my nightly revel?” says the plumed figure; and then we all know we are gazing at Mr. Thornton, lengthened by a. sweeping-brush covered with a. black garment, which he holds high above his head. ‘ ‘ ThOFDCOI‘I, I protest you are incorrigible,” exclaims Marmaduke, when at length he can Command his voice; “and I thought better of you, James, than to aid and abet him.” I am on the very verge of hysterics ; a pinch, administered byBcbe, alone restrain- ng me ;as it- is, the tears of alarm are mingl- ing with the laughter I cannot s11r13rc§s. ‘5‘ My new blauck Cashmere wrai), I pro- test l” cries harrict, pounching upon Chips and his sweeping-brush. “ \Vcll, really Chippendalcâ€" And the feather out of my best bonnet. Oh, this comcsof having one’s room 0H3. balcony. \Vhy, you wicked boy, you have been upsetting all my goods and chattels. \Vho gave you permission 511', to miter my bedroom 1’” “ Sir James 1” replies Chips, demurely, who has emerged from his disguise, and is vainly trying to reduce his disheveled locks to order. “ It was so convenient.” “ Oh, James 2” says his wife, with a live- ]y reproach, “have I lived to see you per- petrate a joke ?” .i “ But where is the. spectre ?” I venture to remark. “ You must really ask Miss Beatoun,” says Chips. “ I have done my dutyvaliunt- 1y; no one can say I funked it. 1 have done my very best to produce a respectable lionafidc bogy ; and if I have failed, I am not to be blmneil. Now I insist on Miss Bea.toun’s producing hers. We cannot pos- sibly 90 back to the domestics (who, I feel positive, are cowering upon the lowest stair) empty-handed. Miss Beatoun, you have brought us all here at the peril of our lives. Now where is he i’” “ It was not a man,” says Bebe. “Then where is she ?” “ I am not sure it was a woman either,” with some hesitation. “ Ye powers !” cries Chips. “ Then what was it ? a. mermaid ? an undiscovered gender ‘3 The plot thickens. I Khan’t be able to sleep a wink to-night unless you be more explimt.” “Then you may stay wide awake,” re- torts Miss Beatoun, “ as I remember noth- ing but those horrid eyes. You have chosen to turn it all into ridicule; and who ever heard of a ghost appearing amidst shouts of laughter? How (lreéultnlly cold it is ! D0 shut that window and let; us go back to the drawing-room fire. ” ,o ,, | “ I hope your next venture W111 be more , ,, . successful, says Chlps, meekly. And then we all troop down again to the cozy room we have quitted, by no means wiscrthan when we started. Somehow I think no more about it, and, except that] Keep Martha busied in my room until I hear Murmaduke’s step next door, 1 Show no further cowardice. The general air or disbelief around quenuhes my tears, and the bidding farewell to the guests 1 have got to like as well occupies me to the exclusion of all other matters. Then follows Dora‘s wedding, a very quiet but \‘CI‘ycharminglittle afl'air, remark- able for nothing beyond the fact that dur- ing the. inevitable breakfast speeches my lather actually cuntl'iVCs to :queezc out two small team. Marmaduke and I, having decided on accepting no invitations until after Christ- The happy pair start for the Contillent~ tlleln'illc all 5milcs and brown velvet and lace, the bridegroom, perhaps, atrlfle paleA and we at home fall once more into our usual ways, and try toforget that Dora Vernon was oval-anything but Lady Ash- lust. mas, bein filled with a. desire to spend this season (w icb will be our first together) in our own home, settle down for a short time into alazy Darby-and-Joan existence. It is the 2nd of December; the little ormolu toy upon the mantel-piecehas chimed out a quarter to five; it is almost quiet dark, yet there is still a glimmer of day- light that might, perhaps, be even more pronounced but for the blazing fire within that puts it to shame. “ What a cozy little room it is I” says ’Duke, from the doorway. " You make one hate the outer world.” “ Oh, you have come,” I cry, well pleas- ed, “and in tune for tea. That is right. Have you taken off your shooting-things ? I cannot see anything distinctly where you now are.” “ lam quite clean, if you mean that,” says be, laughing and advancing. “ I shall do no injury to your sanctum. But it is too early to go through the regular business of dressing yet.” “ Had you a good day '2” “ Very good indeed, and a pleasant one altogether. Jenkins was with me, and would have come in to pay you his respects, but thought he was hardly fit for so dainty a. lady’s inspection. Have you been lonely, darling? How have you occupied yourself all (19y 2” r “ Very happily,” I my, surrendering one of my warm hands into his cold ones. And then I proceed to recount all the weighty affairs 0t business with which I have been eiuployed during his absence. But even as I speak the words freeze upon my lips. Between me and the dreary land- scape outside rises something that chills every thought of my heart. Ity is a Head, claselyrciévered with some dark clothingâ€"the faintest outlines of a face .a pair of eyes that gleam like living coals. A , T I . - ‘ . _. . v o ."’ "D"*_'_ As I gaze, horror-stricken, 1t <l1sappea1‘s. so suddenly. so utterly, as to almost make me think it was a mere trick of the imagina- tion. Almost, but not quite ; the eyes still burn and gleam before me, and 30 my mem- ory comes Bebe’s ma'r ellous tale. “ ’Duke, ’Dukc,” I cry, rising, “ what is that? “"1131: have I seen? Oh I I am horribly frightened !” I cling to him, and point eagerly towards the window. “A face,” I say, nervously. “ It was there only a moment ago. Isaw it quite distinctly, and eyes so piercing. Marma- duke,” shrinking closer to him, “(lo yon remember Bebe‘s story 1’” “My darling girl, how can you be so absur<,”exclaims Duke, kindly, “letting that stupid tale upset you so? You only imagineda face, my dearest. You have been too inuch rlone all day. There can be noth- ing. ’ “ Nonsense, Phyllis 2 Come with me to the window and look out. If there really Wu} apyope, she must be in View still ” He leads me to the window rather against my will, and makes me look out. I do so to please him, standingsafely ensconced be- hind his arm. ‘~ The lawn is bare,” he saysV convincing- ly ; “ there is no cover until one reaches the shrubberies beyond ; and no one ('01:er have reached them since, I think. Now come with me to the other window. ” “ Frightened at what ?” asks ’Duke, startled by my nmnncr, and gazcingignorant- ly in the direction I have indicated. 7‘ There was,” I declare, po'sitively. could not be so deceived.” I follow him submissiver with the same result ; and finally we finish our researches 1n thebjwâ€"window, at the farthest end of the room. The prospect without is dreary in the ex- tr'eme. A storm is steadily rising, and the wind is soughing moumfully through the trees. heat sullen drops of rain fall with vindictive force against the panes. “ Now, confess, you are the most foolish child in the world,” says ’Duke, cheerfully, seeing I am still depressed. “ \Vho would willingly be out such an evening as this ‘. Not even a. dog, if he could help it ; and certainly a. spectre would have far too much sense.” “ If it was fancy, it was very \'ivi«l,”l say, reluctantly, “ and, besides, I am not fanciful at all. I was a little un‘ucky, I think ; It reminded me offiof ” ‘ ‘ A Banshee ‘2” asks ’Duke laughing. “ \Vell, yes, something like that,” I ad- mit, seriously. “Oh, Marmaduke, I hope no bad fortune is in store for us. I feel a. strange forebodingV at my heart.” “You feel a good deal of folly,” says my husband. “ Phyllis, I am ashamed of you. The idea of being superstitious is the nine- teenth century ! I shall give you a. good scolding for this, and at the same time some brandy-and-water. Your nerves are un- strung, my dearest ; that is all. Come, sit down here, and try to be sensible, while I ring the bell.” As he speaks he rings it. “ Tynon, have thegrounds searched again directly. It is very annoying that tramps should be allowed the run of the place. A stop must be put to it. Half a glass of brandy and a bottle of soda.” “ Yes, sir.” “ Don’t give me brandy and soda»water,” I say, With smne‘energy. “I do so hate it.” " How do you know '3" “ Because I tasted yours the other even- iug, and thought it a. horrible concoction. I was tired of hearing men praise it as a. drink, so thought I would tl‘yif it was really as good as they said. But it was not; it was extremely disagreeable.” “ It was tlle sod} you disliked. I will put very little in, and then you will like it better,” “ But indeed, Marmaduke, I would ruth- er not have anything.” “ But indeed, Phyllis, I must insist on your taking it. If we are going to be so ultra-fashionable as to encourage a 1'0le ghost on the premises, we must only increase our allowance of spirits, and fortify our» selves to meet it. By thebye, have you de- cided on the sex '3 Bebe was rather hazy on that point.” 'l‘hen 1v drink what lie has prepared {01' me, and, in spite of my dislike to it,feel pro- sently somewhat happier in my mind. It is conquer or die with the good doctor; but the patient is expected to do the dying. “ I don’t know," I say, shuddering: “ I wish you would not jest about it.” T0 IKE (‘OX'I'INI 1]) Ob“! And now the harvest apple lieth in wait for its victim. The front door mat is always ready to scrape a new acquaintance. Head-line for the report of club banquet WA stuffed club. Girls, like opportunities, are all the more to you after being embraced. The right thing to do now and always is to keep out of debt. And don’t you forget it. Doctors and mackerel have. this in com- mon: they are seldom caught out of their own schools. Is it a runaway match in the insect or animal world when you see one antelope with another ? There will be enough cider in this dear old countrv next: fall to make every man, woman and child see stars. W'c learn from an exchange that a VVclsh- man’s oath is “Y’mw lgng wggll.” This is too awfully awfully awful, and it looks like a. fishworm. ANOTHER ST];AIN.~“Mcm1!” she cried. “My husband is the meanest wretch in the world. He won’t give me the least excuse for complaining!” Electricity and pneumatic tubes are tak- ing the place of cash-boys in various cities. They don’t talk back nor hide under the counters to escape calls. Massachusetts silver mines have dropped in price from $100,000 to $450, and if poor folk don’t take advantage of the crisis they must hereafter hold their jaw about the hard times. Some one is strewing poisoned meat around Constantinople and laying out the dogs by the thousand, and the Turks want to lay their hands on the Yankee who is up to the business. A wife, having lost her husband, was in- consolable for his death. “Leave me to my grief,” she cried sobbing; “you know the extreme sensibility of my nerves; amen? nothng upsets them.” A family which dosen’t know enough to go to church at the proper hour, without hearing the clang 0f the bell, wouldn’t meet a, bank note unless the cashier came and blew 2L horn in front of the house. There was a young girl had two beaux .: The best looking one was named Meaux ; But toward the cleaux Of his call he would deaux And make a great noise with his neaux, Montreal butchers are retailing beef steak at twentv-five cents per pound, and when a woman gets up and pounds a. mg on a board before breakfast, her poor neighbovs are made to sigh and wonder how it feels to be rich. ' Some day when you say that you have seen the time when potatoes were $10 a barrel the youngsters at your knee will won~ der what the old man wants to tell such yarns for. This is the way history is doubted. N ervousness is not always a dis‘advantage. The discharge of a rock blast near his house so startled a resident: of Montana Territory that he bounded from his seat, and a moâ€" ment later a hundred-pound fragment of the rock descended through the roof and knocked the chair into splinters. A soft hammer turneth away uoxse. 01d 1ady~“0h, carpenterâ€"yetâ€"while you were at dinner lâ€"ah!~tied some rags round the head of your hammer, as I found the noise of it this morning disturbed me very much. You will find it much pleasanter now.” The fact that a quart of pins, hair pins, and needles was lately found in a mouse nest at Newton Lower Falls, in pulling down the piazza, ofan old hotel, may not be a. fact of importance in itself. Nevertheless, a partial solution of the puzzle of generations as to what becomes of the pins, is lurnished by this Massachusetts mouse. ¥‘â€"-â€"¢o<o>«â€"â€"â€"â€" Land in the North-West. If holders of land in Manitoba and the Far West think they are going to attract British capital, to any important extent, without a fight for it, they are mistaken. There are abundant indications in this mar- ket already that a systematic attack is about to be made on the new field for capital and settlement under the British flag of America. The provincial papers throughout the United Kingdom are at this moment be- ing flooded with correspondence and re- ports, representing: the authenticated state- ments of actual'settlers, as to the fertility of the soil of the British North \Vest as exag- gerated and untrustworthy. We have re- ceived numerous letters on the subject, from intending investors and settlers in every part of the country, and breathing a feeling of distrust and suspicion engendered by these Insidious statements,. It would be well for public bodies in the Far \Vest, to collect and publish exact information as to climate, products, demands for labor, wages paid7 and prices, in their respective districts. Any facts of this description for- warded to us for publication, we shall be pleased to print, for the information of in- tending investors and settlers. The above is from the (himuiiun and Mmulfolm Thurs, published in London, Eng, and may represent the true state of affairs from one point of View. But we doubt very much that the feeling referred to has any considerable hold on the public mind. This we do know that British capital is seeking investment almost daily in this province, and though privileged eroakers have done, and are still doing, the unsavory work of decryng the country and its resources, there is little cause to fear that the reports of disappointed ones~~ones disappointed be- cause they came here expecting more than any sane man would look in this side of paradise» » will have any material influence on the minds of the intelligent masses of the old countries. If “the authenticated state- ments of actual settlei'sl’arcnotto llc accepted in preference to the correspondence and re- ports raked up by the press of jealmw pro- \‘inccs it is of little use attempting to in- form intending investors, and they must needs see for themselves ln that case Manitoba has nothing to fear. ~11mml0n The first regular train on the Manitoba. South-“batem left \Vinnipeg yesterday. It; will return to-(lay with the first car-loud of grain brought by rail from Southern Manitoba. «on <‘OVOO CURRENCY.