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Bachelor Brindle's Christmas. “Be merry now, be merry now "\Vithjoy bring in the holly bougl'u; With song and feast and smiling brow . n Bachelor Brindle gives the half-burned log in the fire-place a kick that sends the red sparks flying, and wonders crustin Where that bit of rhyme strung on a half- forgotten fragment of melody, comes from, and how it happens to chant itself to him so persistently to-night. It is a dismal night. Outside, alrigh east wind shrieks and squeals, skirmishes around corners and echoes away dolefully in every stray cavern- ous retreat and nook. Within bursts of tawnv and scarlet flame light up bachelor Brindle’s favorite apartment, big, low-ceil- ed, and comfortable, yet wearing the air of careless disorder peculiar to a bachelor’s apartments. And bachelor Brindle, listening to the Wind’s boisterous whistlings and plaintive minor chords, became cross-grained, and even misanthropical, “Song and féast,” he mutters grumbly, “ holly, etc ! Humph! Gammon ! Where’s any holly, and who’d go (haggling round in this slush and sleet to bring it in ? “'lmt’s set me to thinking "’ “ Crigkey l” is bachelor Brindle’s repre- hensible exclamation, “ so it is. I like to have forgot it.” “ That’s so. But I reckon the’ ain’t no use in raisin’ a fuss,” said Peggy, philoso- phically, “he’s done paid her a. month’s rent, and she’s tuck it. She sayed anyhow, she reckoned you was more of a lady’n to want to stay wher’ you weren’t wanted. But he won’t come till mornin’, you can stay tonight. ” “ But what am I going to do then ?" “Room-rentin’ agency down yonder,” said Peggy, indicating the direction by a flirt of the floor-cloth. “Christmas eve,” chants the t<a~kcttle swinging briskly over the blaze. " That’s what 1, know," said Peggy rub- bing her ear with the soap, “but Miss Malone she says how the rent ‘aint paid an’ “But I was going to pay it next week. and would hava last week if I had’nt been sick and not able to work, 381 toldrhcri” As if sprinkled with some subt‘e, magic powder, the firclight, flickering, quivering. dancing, suddenly lights a path across the floor, through the cottage walls, beyond the mirk and mist, far into the past, Where a cheery Christmas fire is burning ; there are busy hands and hurrying feet and merry voices; there is an intoxicating flavor of holiday cheer ; there is song and gladness ; there are bright eyed cousins, troops of re- latives and friends, and radiant among all, a romping, black~eyed girl with 3. turned up nose, who wore a. scarlet jacket “New foller comin’ to-mon'ow ; and sts Malone sayed as how you hadn’ paid ycr rent this week, an’ bein’ gentlemen preferred ’cause they don’t muss t‘ ings up acookin’ in their rooms, an’ not \vantin’ toflose a shore payin’ roomer, infâ€"altrin m “ But, Peggy, to-mormw’s Christmas Mal) sat down 011 the strange trunk, clasp. ing her damp, gloved hands in helpless be- wilderment. Bachelor Brindle gives the fore stick a discontented poke, and turns to light the tall lamp on the shelf, and then brings forth his old-Iashioned brown Biblefind oncemore follows the sweet story of the beautiful Babe and the first Christmas morning, While without, the Wind tosses and whirls its. fleecy white burden about at its own erratic will. The stout maid-Ofâ€"all-work, on her knees by the desolate little box-stove, arose with a red flannel floor-cloth in one hand, and a bar of yellow 3 up in the other, eyul Mal) doubtfully, tried to scratch her eye with her elbow, and failing, gave her broom-like hexd a» random rub with the soap, and answered: Mab opened her flat little pocket book and shook its contents into her lap. “ Peggy,” said she, “ how many rooms could I rent for a dollar and a half?” “Dunno,” answered Peggy, with easy vagueness as she picked up her bucket of sudsfind depafted. “ Nor care,” added Mab to herself, lean- ing her heazl against the cold, white wall of her little bed room, “ neither does any one else in the world. How different from the old Christmas-eves in the ‘country, when royal fires roared on every hearth, and every- body was in kin to everybody else, befow e so many of them died, or left the dear, peace- ful, stupid old Hollowâ€"and I among them. “And had a temper enough for two,” grunts bachelor Brindle. There is a. dim spot in the path of light. “Half your fault,” sings the tea-kettle cheerfully. “More than half,” snorts the wind belligercntly, coming in a pufif down the chimney to back the tea-kettle. “ Twas, ’twas, ’twas‘.” Amomentary lulling of the aggressive wind. and a soft sputtering in the red coals brings bachelor Brindlc’s mind back to his present lot. ... u 11 “ Shelter is shelter, such a night as this, if it is the waste and desert gloom of Ma.- lone’s establishment with itsnlackrrel-sccnt- ed halls and roachy corners,” she continued, plunging into the shadows of the long, dim hall, and feeling in the dark for her door- knob; “ with all its faults it is a. haven of refuge fromâ€"â€"-â€"Mercy, Peggy! “hats are you tumbling my furniture about and slop- ping up my oil-cioth for? And whose is this big barn of a trunk ?” r, , , m , , , “ Snow,” he muttcrs with a shudder. “ Time was when the idea. had brought; only foolishly bright visions of sleigh rides with her, of frolics and fun, andâ€"oh, what’s the use? They’re all gone, she among the rest, and I’m a forlorn old soul with no one to so much as cook a Christmas (limwr for me; unlens I could coax Aunt Nancy over. Christ- mas eve! bless us. \Vhat an old wretch I was to forget if. MabuLacy caught her breath, and clutch- ed at her vcil with both hands, as the ram- pant gale charged with millions of slecty needles swooped around a corner and nearly blew her off the steps of the grim, tall, nar- row-chested house with its gray-green shut- ters, the bit of white paper tacked against the door bearing the faded notice “Furnish- ed Rooms for Rent,” revealing its nature and characteristics. “ Ugh ! what a depressineg Int-Christian evening, Christmas eve l” _,. .‘ s... BY HATTIE WHITNEY. And now there is §carcely one left who would know Incâ€"only Aunt Nancy Dawson, who would have been my aunt really now, if Ben and I could have kept: our tempers till the wedding-day. Ah, well he has for- gotten me, but Aunt Nancy might be glad to see me, andâ€"yes, adollar and a half will take me to the Hollow. I’ll go. The room is mine to-night, and sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. I will trust in the Father of the fatherless, who leads us on by paths we know not of.” “ Aunt szcyvAunt Na-an-cy I" “Dear sakes! don‘t shriek a body all in pieces, you Ben Brindle; what are you after?" The door of the little deep-eved kitchen flew open, letting out a. scent of boiling coffee into the clear December air; a blue linsey skirt cleared open the passage-way, and Aunt Nancy Dawson popped into the sitting-room, armedwith a broom which she at once proceeded to devote to the oblitera- tion of the string of powdery tracks left; by the nephew acroas the striped rag carpet. “Knowed there’d be tracks who ever ther’ was a man,” observed the little woman, whisking away briskly, “ what y’ out soearly for ?” “VVe-el’” said the 01d bachelor rather dolorously, “ you see the long and short of it is, I’m Iunsnne, Aunt Nancyâ€"awful lowesomo.” “Jest what you 0m) be,” returned Aunt Nancy, with blunt candor, “y’ own fault. I’ve told you to get married forty timcs‘ ain’t 1 ‘2” “ Don’t do that Varied Mr. Brindle, with alarmed sharpncss; “You musn’i; sit on that wet stump and catch a cold just be- cause Aunt Nancy took a notion to go bum- Ining around fora. Christmas lark. Jump in my sleigh like a sensible girl, and we’ll see.” “ Butâ€"thc-re ain’t any one left 10 many round here as I knuw of.” “ Fiddle 2 ain’t ther’ the wider Barley ?” “ Y-es, there‘s the wider Barley,” said l\Ir. Brindle, (loubti‘uliy, “but you know she does weigh most tlnuz hundred, and is kind of curious and cross-grained like.” “ W'hat’s the use ‘2" wailed Mab, trying to stop a small rill of tears that was slipping down her cheek with a. corner of her gray veil. “ I can’t go hmme with you, and there’s no« where to go. Oh, Mr. BrindEeâ€"Ben, what shall I (102”7 “D3 just What I tell you,” sighed Mr. Brindle. “ First give me your hand, and you jump in here back of this robe. Now we’ll have a talk. So you’re alone, Mal) ‘3” “ All alone, Ben,” sighed Mal). “ Well, look here. I’m the same old Ben you always knewâ€"and hated.” “ I didn’t,” said Mab. “ Ihlayou know, Ben ” “You’re lthe same Mal) Lacy I always “ ()h, then whatflwhat shall I do?" tried Mal), ovcwomc with the sudden desperate appearance of her position, and sitting reck- lussly down upon the wayside stump, Whose whim cap of snow was gradually shrinkmg away and oozing in drops down its sides. “ There’s Milissy Hickg; a lovely house- keeperâ€"couldn’t get a better.” “ N-o ; she’s [00 good. A feller could never get a bit of rest; ’long as she could find a. straw or a. ravelling to fuss about. \Vants everything in straight rows and no crooks nownere. She’d put strings to all the young ones she could find and run ’cm up on poles like butter beans if she could. Anyhow, Aunt Nancy, I don’t: reckon I could get mar- ried right off today, and I would kind of like some one to cook a Christmas dinner for me. Not that a. fellow can’t pack the spirit of Christmas round in his heart with- out any dinner, but it would make it; seem like old Christmases, and I want you to jump right into my sleigh and go home with me, Aunt Nancy, and stay all day. Hey?" knew ‘3 “ Yes ; I’m tempted to wish I .was some- one else jugt pow.” “ Well I aint. If you’re alone we’re both alone, Math. for I am ; and its rather rough, in my opinion. Now, why couldn't we drop overboard this big slice of time that’s separated us so long, and go back to where we left 03 before we flew out at each other ‘3” “ How could we ‘3" asked Mob. “ Look through yonder,” said Ben, point- ing to a little yellow cottage at the end of a lane branching off the road. “ Our new minister lives there, Blah.” BaEhelor "Brindle drhve slowly homeward, his Spil its rather depressed in spite of the beauty of the day, bright with a glad glory of sunshine pouring down goldenly over the flawless white fleece of the night’s bestow- ing, yet already beginning to grow damp and heavy under the warm glow, when turn- mg the corner of a fence, Where the drifts had blown up like blocks of marble, his horse gave asturtled spring and stopped at sight of a. small, dark figure trudging along on foot, a picture unusual enough to scare any horse 111 the country where not a. far- mer’s (laughter, in however moderate cir- cumstances, will undertake a. mile journey at any season of the year unless provided w1th some shape or form of a, “nag.” Mr. Brindle gazed down with a, wonder that grew intense at sight of the fair little face with its dark eyes and slightly upturned nose raised toward him. “ Mal) Lacy,” he cried, “ is it Mal) Lacy, “ Then you’ve come on as much of a wild- gooseAchase as I have,_” he returned, rueful- 1y. “ She’s goxxe~g0uo plum to the Branch. Her old Pepper beats my Floss woefully, and 1 saw the gable end of her sleigh shy round the earner before I got to the end of the lane." “ I shan‘t,” said Aunt Nancy, with 1‘0 waste of empty apology ; “ 1’111 going to Jim Dawson 5 i'olkses, across the Branchâ€" promised ’cm a. month ago, 311’ it’s saved me cookiu’ a lot of truck. Old Pepper’s hitched now, ’11 I’m goiu’ to start in just the time it takes me to get my shawl an’ green “003- ted sun-bonnet on. You kin go along too if you lik ’ ' "No-â€"I don‘t like,” rehn'ncd bachelor Brindle. “They'll fish out all their kin- folks from six counties and have ’em there, and I don’t knowhalf of ’cm, and don’t seem to want any crowd todayâ€"only just thcmlknow. I’ll go home and roan a. sweet potato in the ashes and cook a spare- rib before the fire-place; that’ll be good enough, only the gravy’ll be full of Cinders.” or a. Christmzis vision? “It is Mab Lacy,” she answered, wit: a. little, fluttering laugh, “ I’ve come back to SEE_A\1HE Nancy.” 9y: “ Does he ‘3" Mab's tone expressed n0- thing whatever, but bachelor Brindle’s sol- emn gray eyes caught the flicker of a blush in her cheek. “Yes he does,” he answered. “Mab, I’ve got ten dollars in my pocket. I expect the minister is needing about ten dolla's awful bad. ” “Hadn’t you better make him a present of it,” asked Mal), sweetly smiling off at the lace-work of the snowâ€"dapplcd tree branches in the winter-blue distance. Ben looked a lime disconcer:ed, then m‘Iicd. “But, Mab,” he said, “he’s kind of proud. Iwould’t dare to offer it; to him without giving him a chance to earn it. Mab â€"Mab, you haven’t lost your tormenting ways, but the bargain we made back yon- der at the stump was that I would help you out of your trouble if you’d do as 1 said. There’s no one to find faulc with what we (loâ€"nothing to keep us apart. Now, >Mab, we’re going straight to the minister‘s cot- tage, and you know what for.” So Mr. Brindle hada. wife to cmk his Christmas dinner, after all. There was merry bustling, there was laughter and gladnesa in the hitherto lonely bachelor quarters. And there was, too, a sweetly solemn hour in the tender gray Christmas twilight, wherein Ben and MM), with the big Bible between them, bent low in grate- ful acknowledgement of the loving care of the One who, through trial and sorrow, ever and always {calls us on.‘ Dcmorest’s fllont/zly. The largest birds of the eagle species are found in the \Vood River mountains. They have often been known to omit devouring weakly rabbits and squirrels, and to have shown almost human kindness. An event which occurred some days since at Foster’s ranch, above Hartley, fully establishes the trait of the W0 d River variety. One of the ranchers saw a. huge eagle flutter over the barnyard, interested in a fat turkey, and immediately secured his rifle. The first shot broke the eagle’s wing, and in its crippled condition it wobbled and Hopped around uttering screams of pain. The man was watching the result belore firing again. when he discovered another eagle coming from a distance. It was evidently a. mate of the first one. Like an arrow it flew to the rescue, and, examining the wound and seeing its mate could not escape, it took hold of it by its claws and beak and flew to the mountain side where it laid down the victim of the Sportive hunter. During the past seven days the men on Forter’s ranch have noticed, each day, that themate carrir (1 food to the wounded bird regularly, and is yet feediugit uponsquirrels, rabbits, birds, and mice. Mr. Foster could kill the birds any day, but has refrained on account.of the af- fection displayed between them. A small American flag will be fastened about the wounded bird, and whenit again flies it will carry the emblem of freedom with it to the highest mountain peaks-«From the. Wood Hirer Times. During the night which followed the en- gagement fought at thebridge of Traktir, the commanding officer of the Russian en- gineers employed on this service passed on foot along the French and Turkish lines, with all the plans which had been drawn by his suball‘erns, comparing them, as he pro- ceeded, with the appearance of the positions. He trusted that the faint starlight, which sufliced for his purpose, would not be bright enough to enable the advanced sentrics to see him. \Vhen he reached the Sardinian lines, however, he was seen by the retired officer of English Dragoons, who was stand. ing sentry in front of an out lying picket. He did not challenge, but, afterlaying down his rifle, he advanced slowly and stealthily with only his sword-bayonet in his hand. 0n coming near the small mound on which the Russian colonel stood examining the plans, he crept on his hand and knees, then suddenly started up and ran at him, placing his bayonet on the otficer’s breast, and call- ing upon him, in such French as he was master of, to surrender. The Russian tried to draw his sword, but was prevented by the Irishman. He refused, however, to sur- render but seized his adversary round the waist, vainly trying to throw him to the ground. They were both strong and active men, and, neither of them being in the least \nnting in courage, a fierce struggle ensued. The dawn was beginning to break, but they were not neir enough to attract the notice of the Sardinian guard, who slept in full reli- ance on their sentry. Many hard blows were dealt on both sides, but still the Rus- sian kept hold of the bayonet with his left hand, and did not succumb. At last the Irishman wrenched the bayonzt from the Russian’s grasp, and flung it away, contriv- ing at the same time to get his adversary’s head under his left arm, when he pommelled it so lustily with his right fist, that the pun- ishment 3,8001) became too severe for the ofiicer’s further endurance. He surrendered, and gave his word of honor not to attempt to escape, while he handed his sword to his conqueror. They walked to the outpost, the Irishman talking all the time in his broken French, and laughing very heartin as he spoke of their morning’s adventure, which he treated as an excellent joke. The officer in command of the outlying picket sent the Russian colonel under a strong es- cort to Gene‘ al Durando, with the Irishman to tell his own story. The plans were iound to be most accurate and complete, and the service rendered in intercepting them was so much thought of that General de la Mar- mora got an oflicer’s commission for the young Irishman, and took him on the staff as an aide-de~camp. An attempt Was made to treat the Russian engineer as a spy ; but his captor came forward and saved his life by declaring that he had never entered the Sardinian lines, and that he had been at- tached and made prisoner at a distance of more than two hundred yards from them. His evidence was accepted as conclusive, and the colonel was accordingly sent to Con- stantinople as aprisoner of war. He bore no ill-will for his capture, which he attribu- ted solely to the Irishman’s superior know- ledge of the British science of boxing; and he spoke in the highest terms of his oppon~ ent’s chivalrous conduct in throwing away his sword-bayonet when he might haw stabbed him to the heart with it, so helpless was he with his head in so awkward a pre dicament. He also praised the Irishman for relying on his parole instead of binding his arms ignominiously, and for preventing his being shot as a spy.â€"’1'emp[e Bar. The Love of the Eagles. y or the Crimean War. ummary of Foreign, Domestic and War Itemsâ€"Concise. Pllhy and Pointed. The investigation at Halifax into the wreck of the Cedar Grove is still continued. It is estimated that every brick in abuild- ing at Winnipeg, now in progress, will cost ten cents. Nearly five hundred deer have been shot in the northern townships of Hastings this year. A chore~w0man named Bedard died sud- denly in St. Sauveur recently under very mysterious circumstances. Sergeant-Major Lake has been commis. sioned to raise 100 recruits in Ontario and Quebec for the Mounted Police. No action will be taken by the friends of the late Mr. Tackaberry, whose body was stolen irom the cemetery at Elgin. The Common Council of St. John, N. B., has vnted $5,000 to the Dominion Exhibi- tion to be held there next year. Jce Coburn, the pugilis‘, was released from Sing Sing recently. He had been sen- tenced for ten years. Dillon has abandoned his proposed visit to Colorado. and will go to Malta. The Kurd sh Rheik Obeidullah has arriv- ed at Mosau with his wives and children. Great disappointment was expressed in the Bundesrath at; the absence of Bismarck. British Trade returns for November show an increase In Imports and a: decrease in ex- ports. Fifty pe): cent. of the mem and nearly 45 per cent. of the women of Ireland are un- married. Madrid dcspatches lead to the belief that the success of Marshall Serrano’s policy is imposziblc at present. All lasters who leave the union at Mon- treal are being encouraged by the employ- ers, who give them work immediately. \Vhile John Cons'dine was hunting near St. Thomas recently, a cartridge which he was removing from the gun exploded and inflicted a. severe wound on his forehead. J. J. Joplin. teller of the St. John, N. 13., agency of the Halifax banking company, re- cently obtained leave of absence to visit friends in Boston. During his absence his books were inspected and a. deficit of $700 discovered. J oplin has not returned. Recent advices indicate that China, and Japan desire a ratification of the Stufeldt Treaty. Lloyd‘s agency has ordered all steamers for New York to pass Cape Race at a dis- tance of at least one hundred miles. The trial of Dr. Pynchon for having pro- curei an abortion on Buddie McCrea, with fatal results, is in process at Buffalo. At a Mexican wedding feast recently at Sabzfllo, Francisco Natan. a drunken gues: shot and killed two brothers named Ravall. It is stated thztt the evidence taken by the commission appointed by the New York Leg- islature in respect to the conditbn oi the Onondaga Indians reveals a rcVulting state of affairs. Prince Bismark is suffering from neural- gia. The Emperor William has returned to Berlin. More fighting is imminent with the Cafl‘res in Basutoland. The Khedive has refusal to accept the reâ€" signation of Ri'az Pasha. A vessel has foundered at Tynemmlth. All on board were drowned. The North-West Mounted Police numbers 500, and it is reported to be the intention of the Government to make it 1.000. At Kingston, at one time “hen the sun was covered by a thin white cloud, Venus could be obServcd plainly with the naked eye. The Rock Lake IIerahl, published by Mr. \V. '1‘. Hill at Crystal City, is the latest yet in Manitoba. The first number has just reached us. It is full of bright, fresh locals, pertaining to the locality, and looks as if it would succeed. The New York State canvassers recentâ€" ly declared the vote at the recent elec- tion as follows :â€"Clevelaud, 835,318 ; F01- gex', 342,463; Howe, 111,975; Hopkins, 95,133. Charles Decker, proprietor of a grist mill at Dcckcrville, Mich., was caught in lllc shaft Wednesday night and killed, being horribly mangled. He was a Canadian, and his friends live near London, Ontario. Burlington, Shoal Lake, has cause‘l quite an attraction to the Province specu- lators. Lotsin that new laid out town have been exchanging hands at $100 advancv. It is situated on the Portage anrl North-\Vest- em Railway, 38 miles west of Minncdosa, immediately at the muth LMl of Shoal Lake, and where the leading rosd cross as going to the Big Saskatchewan. There are seventy-five bodies at the morgue in New York waitmg to be claimed. At Lacrosse, \Yis, it was 25° below on Thursday morning and 10° below at noon. Lieutenant Newcomb of the Life Saving Service, has been ordered to investigate the causes of the recent wrecks on Lake Michigan. At: Moorhead, Minnesota, it was 30 ° be- low zero recently. At Chicago, Bloomingv ton, Freeport and Rockford, 111., the ther- mometer indicated from 15 to 20° below zero. A divorce has been granted to Mary Ham- vey, of Brooklyn, who is aged sixteen, and has just discovered that her husband, \Vil- liam Harvey, 18 a thief. NEWS IN A NUTSHBLL. M. Zaueofi', cx-I’remi'zr of Bulgaria, will Five Minutes‘ Select Reading. I‘N ITED 'ford DOMESTXC‘ GENERAL. be tried on a, charge of inciting the people against the Government. Mme. Sardou, the mother of the WV known dramatic author and academician, has just expired at Nice. At Plymouth, England, the Harvey C(ax- ide Creosote W'orks are burned. The c m~ flagyation’waq immense. >5 The transit of Venus was successfully ob- served at Melbourne, and thirty-three pho- tographs were obtained. The Glasgow Corporation conferred the freedom of the r-ity on Mr. Forster, M. 1’., late Chief Secretary for Ireland. Eight persons arrested in connection with ths riots in the suburbs of Vienna have been sentenced to imprisonment. Up to five years ago the great aim of ninety per cent. of those connected with mining, was to float upon the market some bloated stock of a high sounding location, upon which not a. hole had been drilled, or an atom of quartz dislodged. The conse- quence was that hundreds made blind ven- tures in mining stocks with disastrous re- sults, and fell into the belief that they had thus sounded the mining business, and that there was no good nor profit in it. ’._‘l ~ was that for years the production i,» llife precious metals did not increase. authal fled at the mere mention of such enterprises. History repeats itself, and the experience of our neighbors will he ours, too,if We indulge in the fascinations of mining stock gam bling, instead of the actual output of bullion. Canada is but young at the business, but al- ready the reputation. of mining has sufl'ered from stock operations, which have been foisted upon the country by Ignorant or de- signing Inen.’â€"leundcr Bay Sentiael. Mr. Forster, in a speech at Bradford, ex- plained the circumstances of his resignation of the office of Chief Secretary of Ireland. The French Government is awaiting fresh proposals from England regarding the settle- ment of the Egyptian question before mak- ing definite reply. The I‘arlimnentary Situation and H18 Egyptian question were subjects of dis- cussion in the interview between Prince Bismarck and the Emperor William on Monday. The Emperor expressed satis- faction with Prince Bismarck’s policy. The Ofiicial Gazette of Ccttinje, states the measures of defence being taken by Mun- tcuegro are in View of a. possible atteck on the Principality. The difficult situation in which Montenegro is left by the Berlin treaty compels her to maintain warlike cfliciencv. M. DeGicrs, the Russian diplomatist, had an audience with the Pope on Tuesday, the interview resulting in asatisfactory basis for mmngement of the que=tions at issue between Russia and the Vatican, especially the one relating to the renomination of bishops to the Polish Sees. Operations in Keewatinâ€"A Canadmu Cul- il'ormu. Gold mining operations in the districts of Keewatin areiu progress to an extent and with asuccess not generally known. This is especially the case regarding the coun- try in the Vicinity of the Lake of the “'oods, which promises to be a Canadian lili- fornia. Itwill be well, for what is destined to be a, great industry In Canada, if we steer clear at the rocks upon which the mining interests of the United States are so long stranded. The strides made in mining business dur- ing the past; snmmerha‘s been far‘ ahead of the most; sanguine expectations. 'nmpan- ies have been formed, work hurried f0 ward, shafts sunk and mills erected. As a ginse- quence, an immense amount of Wplies have to be shipped to the seat of operations. These supplies, for want of good storehouse, in many cases, have to lay on the wharf for days exposed to the weather, besides run- ning the risk of being stolen. A large store- house built close to the water would remedy this, and be a. safe investment. About twenty-five different parties, each showing gold in their vein matter, claim to have a. mine, but of those some will be dis- appointed, as that portion at the precious metal {or the area of the Lake of the Woods would exceed the usual allotment of nature. There have been several companies stocked, among which are the Keewatin Mining Com- pany, the Manitoba, Consolidated, the VVin- nipeg Consolidated and the Argyle Com- p . ' Extensive prospecting has also been done with good results, and \ that companies will in all probability be formed in consequence. Houses have been built by the Winnipeg Consolidated and the Argyle Companies, and experienced Colorado miners have been brought over and are prosecuting excava- tion, with the encouraging yield of $22 to $350 per ton of ore. The other companies have been for a. long time “going: to start,” but have not yet; regularly begun. The opening up of railway communication to the east and west has given an impetus to mining enterplise which before no one would have been considered level headed if he had ventured to predict it, and a. most encouraging feature in this new connection is found in the fact that 1110 adventurous spirits are not of the wild cat speeulator progeny, but are actually at work, delving and digging and bringing forth the solid metal. Nothing is so calculated to give a health tone and impart a robust faith in mining operations in Canada than the course now being pursued in the mineral district. Instead of ballooning; uncertain stock, the worth of which depends upon the glow or dullness 0f theiinagination, our people have started the drill, and the pick and shovel, and are daily producing actual value, as only true value is created, namely, by the result of labor. The four men awaiting execution with Myles Joyce for the Maa-ntrasna. murders have petitioned the Lord Lieutenant to re- prieve Joyce on the ground of mistaken identity. The Spanish newspapers express surprise at the severe action of the English Govern- ment against; the cflicials at Gibraltar in connection with the case of the Cuban re- fugees. Capt. Noxman, Ccmmander from the Danish Admiralty to gather information regarding the “Dijmphna.” Alctic expedi- tion, had an audience “111) the Empress of :Lussia 011 Tutslay. MINING MATTERS.