Abilene Weekly Reflector from Abilene, Kansas • Page 6

VALENTINE VERSES. -LoTeJji ire. Will you bchny Valentine Long I've worsh ped avyour shrine, Everything I have is thine." SHE. Truly, sir, I can not say. How much is your income, prayP HE.

"Income, dainty lady mine? What of that! For you I pine and day: my heart is thine Pray, then, be my Valentine." SHE. Hearts and pining touch me not, How much money hare you gotr HE. Half a million, lady mine." SHE. Ofeouru be your Valentine." Somerrille Journal. JUNE'S VALENTINE.

How It "Won a Lover and Caught a Thief. Written for This can not fail to take it as an answer to his question of last "week." And fair Helen pave another look at the photograph in her band. There is a singular fascination in one's own clured features which it is hard to account for. Helen was by no means noglipent of her lookin; -glass, and knew every i ne of the fair face, every crinkle and wave of 'the sunuy h.ur reflected there, still there was a new charm in it as shown by the burnished surface of the photograpn car and she imagined lier lover's pleased surprise when he should open the eaveloj which he would receive on St. Valentine's Day and iind her face, arch and smiling, looking up at bim.

She had had only the ono taken. She was a little exclusive, and preferred that her face should not be shown promiscuously, and it was a proof which spoke for itself of her affection for Harvey Ingraham, when she was willing ta entrust him with the shadow of herself. He knew of this peculiarity of hers, and would, she was sure, ro.id the act as Bha intended he should. There was another aspirant to her hand and affections, Harris Miller, a mail-clerk on the B. Y.

road at one. of the stations of which Harvey Ingraham telegraph operator, but to his chagrin Helen had resolutely refused to listen to his suit, and he was aDgry and jsalous of young Ingraham in proportion. Harris Miller was of god'd reputation.edu-cation and family.stillthero was some.ang in his face wh ch gave wanting of some-t dng wrong in his cnaracter; a downcast, furtive pair of eyes, making it fflcult to catch those wary organs in a straightforward, honest look. Helen, with her quick woman's instinct, tiad taken a disliko to him for which she could hardly account, but. with a rare senso of honor, she had kept her unfavorable opinion to herself, nut wishing to tiarm the young man in any way, and had not spoken of her dislike even to Harvey Ingraham, who looked up young Miller as a rival, though how dangerous he could not determine from Helen's manner.

She wrote but the two conventional words, "Your Valentine," upon the back cf the photograp 1, but under the circumstances they convoyed all the answer to bis question that he could ask for. On tho very morning on which Helen her valentine for mailing, Har-voy Ingraham sat before his desk, a smile upon his handsome features, as he also prepared his mail for St Valentino's Day. An elegant affair in satin and filagree with silver cupids pointing to an impassioned love verse lay side by side with comic monstrosity. June will dance th wrath when she gets that," he soliloquized, as he looked at tho U'ly creation of fancy. June was his si ter, and the two were in the habit of play.ng jokes upon each other, June's last effort in that diroction having been so successful that brother had no compunctions of consc ence in choosing the worst looking parody on females that ho could find, even touch on her gait, tier one tender spot for sensitive fee dng, for Juno w.is decidedly wobbly in her walk and as decidedly averse to being re minded of it.

He directed his envelopes, laying them face downward as he did so, and us another matter called for his attention he eli ped the valentines hastily in and sealed them, never dreaming that he could ssibly mako a m. stake. Helen waited impatiently for the postman on St Valentine's morning and eagerly broke the seal of the envelope directed in tho hand she know so welL She changed color as sho took out the and her eyes fail ly blazed with anger as sho gave a comprehensive look at the hideous comic horror which it contained, for Harvey in his haste had changed tho envelopes, and while Juno was in raptures over "dear HA.KVET WAS ALONE. Hnrvey's" unexpected display of brotherly fraction, poor Helen was correspondingly unhappy over what 6ho supposed to be an open insult, or, at the best possible construction, a most lamentable lack of good taste. She flew to her own room and burst into a ra sion of angry tears.

To ink that he of all others should me with -such a thing as thatl" she cried. "Oh, how I repent sending him my picture; but he shall not gloat over the (cnowledgo that I love him for long," she rejoined, with a shud Jering sigh, and rising hastily shn took a package of letters Jrom a private dr wer in her desk and making them into a package with his gifts, she ouclosed a freezing cold note, and tastily descending the stairs started for tho express office. i have asked him to burn every thing perta niag to me, and, of course, that in eludes the photograph," she said to herself es she went out, "and is any gentleman ao will comply with my request." She did not stop to consider her own pain in the matter, or how barren life was KPingto'bectmetoherwith rvey left out ol it, but her indignation occupied all her thoughts, and sho like an insulted queen as she went on her way. Harvey was alone when the expre3 agent hanJi-d la tho package, and his eyes lighted up with pleasure as he. recognized her and as he tore away the tgpWr-l Hi'rv ISmfiJjti fi I v-isf' I.

VS yS'- OP If iff i 3S5 wrapper and beheld the fateful package of his letters, together with the few simple gifts which he had ventured to send her, he grew pale as death th emotion. He had received no valentine from her, but knowing her proud and reserved spirit he had not been surprised, but this unexpected rebuff was something for which he was totally unprepared, and he sank into a chair exclaiming: "Oh, Helen, Helen, what have I done to deserve such treatment, and from you!" He read her chilling note, but it gave no explanation of the mystery, and the lines of years of suffering had been added to the handsome face before he tossed a package of her letters into the glowing fire, as she had requested him to, together with his own, and miserably strove to go on with his work. The express came thundering in the next morning, and Harvey stepped out upon the platform as a relief to his restlessness, and paced up and down before the train. He had passed a sleepless night, and looked haggard, pale and old. The mail sacks had been exchanged, tbe passengers had gone into an eating-house near by for breakfast, when Harris Miller called out: "Hello, Ingraham.

what have you been doing to yourself You look as if your great grandmother was dead and you had ju-t seen her ghost." Harvey started in unpleasant surprise. He had forgotten that this was Harris Miller's run, and the sight of his face, never agreeable to him, but now doubly hateful with its triumphant expression was so unpleasantly suggestive of Helen that his misery came over him like a flood. "I suppose I hava your sympathy in such a case." he retorted, dryly. 'Of course," replied the other, jovially, "though what you have to be glum about is more than 1 know," he added, "And you won't know from my telling you," was Harvey's mental comment. The fellow's manner grated terribly on his overwrought nerves.

"St. Valentine diJn't go back on you.did he!" and Miller put on a look of innocent inquiry. -What's that to you Harvey was growing angry, and his tone was far from pleasant. Oil, nothing," returned the ether, with assumed carelessness, "only the jolly old Saint u-ed me so well that I was hoping you had been as fortunate also," and he drew a photograph from his inside pocket as he spoke, and removing the tissue paper in which it was wrapped held out the pictured face of Helen Montjoy before Harvey's startled eyes. The action was so sudden that he had no time to collect his thoughts and bear the bitter blow compose Ily, and he was white as death as he said in a voice which trembled in spito of him: "Thank you for your good wishes, and of course you expect me to congratulate you." He did not look up to see the look of malice and the triumphant hatred which was pictured on Miller's face, ho only saw the sweet, haughty face of Helen, the girl he loved so devotedly, in tho hands of one whom at that moment he hated as cordially as he was hated in return.

Well, it amounts to that, don't it, old boy?" replied Miller, as ho turned the card and showed tho tortured lover the word, -'Your Valentine," upon tho back traced in the unmistakable handwriting he kniw so welL Ho turned away sick and faint as the bell rang, and the passengers came hurry-iugback to the train, aud tho office seemed spinning around as ho entered the door again. He staggered to a chair and mercifully forgot his pain Tor a few blissful moments of unconsciousness. "Guess ye fainted, mister," said the office boy, who, with an instinct seemingly common to the human race, had seized a water pitcher and emptied its contents down the young man's neck and into his ears as he lay on the iioor. "Granville's hen a callin' fur the last five minutes." Harvey wearily arose and took the message in a listless, mechanical way, very unlike his brisk, business-like manner. Ho felt dazed and stunned by the thought that Helen had so openly and decidedly shown her preference for his despised rival, the sight of the picture in Miller's possosslon having all the significance that Helen had intended it should when rece.ved by himself, but tne thought never occurred to him that there could be any mistake, and his trouble seemed greater than he could bear.

His first thought was to write Helen an upbraiding letter, telling her what he had seen, but his love for her conquered the impulse. "She has the perfect right to choose whom sho will, but, oh! Helen, Helen, you need not have thrown mo away so scorn. udy, without the most ordinary words of friendship." His sore heart would have been comforted could he have seen Helen at that moment as she sat in her room idly twisting Juno's obnoxious valentine around her white fingers; the of paper which was to have been a vexation of spirit to teasing June Ingraham. Tears stood in her largo eyes as she looked into the fire, and she already repented the baste with whifib. she had resented its receipt, and shV cherished a secret hope that he might yet wr.te and request an explanation.

Even now her love whispered tho possibility of a mistake, but her pride would not allow her to t.ike the first step to ascertain the truth, and so the matter seemed likely to rest where it was, Harvey's love being stronger than his resentment, and Helen's pride keeping guard over her love. Harvey had an intimate friend, a detective in Pinker ton's employ, and as he was sending a message in cipher to his chief he said to him in a confidential aside: "There is a systematic robbing of the mail going on between Omaha and Chicago, and we have not as yet been able to get any definite clew to the thief, but it will go hard with him when he is caught. He must be an old bird, not easily caught with chaff, fcr wo have sent out decoys which would have spotted him at once if he had meddled with them, but these have been untouched." By a curious conjunction of ideas the memory of Helen's photograph flashed over Harvey. With the sneeringly triumphant expression of Harris Miller's face as he had taken it from his pocket, and, for the first time sinco that miserable morning, ho had a doubt, a happy, hopeful doubt, as to his lawful possession of it. The detective noticed it "You look serenely happy over the intelligence.

Have you any clew to the mystery "No, no," replied Harvey, vexed with his tell-tale face, "only an impression, and if it proves to be any thing more than that I will tell you." Much as he disliked Hanis Miller, ho would not do him the injustice of an accusation without proof. The evening mail brought him an anxious letter from June, saying that his mother was sick and wished him to come home, a.nd, after procuring a substitute, he started homeward, his affair with Helen sinking into insignificance compared with his present anxiety, for the mother was a frail little woman, and her frequent illnesses were times of sore trial to her children. Happily she was much better before Harvey reached home, and the visit was a source of pleasure instead of pain, as he feared it would ba. "Juno Ingraham, where did you get this!" he asked, in an agitated voice. His sister had drawn up an easy chair before the fire, and had settled down for an evening chat, and Harvey wa3 looking over a portfolio of drawings, and the object which had caused his exclamation was a r.chly-designed valentine, tho very ono which had so unexpectedly gono astray.

'Why, you sent it to me, like a dear, good brother," replied June. 4 She was not usually demonstrative, but she had been greatly pleased by Harvey's token of remembrance. The truth flashed over him in a moment, and his face was scarlet as he thought of Helen, his haughty, dignified Helen, receiving that scarecrow in colors and believing that he had sent it to her. All the occurrences of the past were explained, and he could not blame her for taking it as an msu It "If you will kindly explain what you are flushing and paling about," said June, in a piqued voice; "perhaps that valentine was not meant for me after She was quick at reaching conclusions. "To tell the truth, June, it was not, and the mistake has caused me the keenest agony of my whole life," and he told the story.

June could be a most sympathetic sister in any real sorrow, and her heart went out to him as he told how he bad suffered. I always told you that unholy passion you have for tejsing me would bring you to grief some day, and I was a true prophet," said June, as she wiped her eyes. It was yet too sore a subject for Harvey to smile-over, but he replied: "I never will again, June, I can promise you," with 1 1 in "PZItnAPS THAT VALENTINE WAS SOT MEANT FOK ME." such evident sincerity that she really believed him. "Of course you will visit Helen and have tho matter explained," said'June. "Would it not be better to write first?" He actually dreaded to meet her after such a ridiculous mistako without a previous explanation.

Had he known how sore Helen's heart was, how she longed for a sight of ni3 ice, he would not have been so timid. She had long since repented her haste, seeing in her cooler moments how unlikely it was that he had designed the foolish valentine for her, still, pride withheld her from taking a step toward leaning the truth. Harris Miller, confident that ho had made a permanent estrangement between them, had urged his suit anew, only to be scornfully repulsed, for girls of Helen's stamp do not shift their affections easily. She was sitting by her desk one evening, her head bowed upon her hands, as she was thinking miserably how little life held for her in comparison with the hopes a few months since. "Oh! Harvay," she cried, and her line eyes were full of unutterable longing, "if you only knew how gladly I would undo tho past A ring at tho door-bell aroused her and a few moments later a servant called her to the parlor.

She arose with a weary sigh as she went down the stairs. "I am in no mood to chatter nothings with society friends tonight," she reflected sadly as she opened the door. A familiar form stood under the chandelier, a pair of pleading blue eyes looked eagerly into hers, and sho know from his look that the mistake, whatever it was, had been righted, and she met him half way as he advanced. "Helen, my Helen," he said.and his voice had never sounded so sweet, so manly to her before. Tho horrors of the unhappy past were all forgotten as for a few happy moments they were claspc in a close embrace, and then Harvey said, roguishly "For my part of the explanation, dearest, I will say that my sister June is anxious to exchango valentines with you.

for she fears you do not properly appreciate the ono I selected for her, not with the best of taste, I'll admit I think you will like the ono I supposed I had sent you the best," and ho drew the valentine which June had enjoyed so much from his breast pocket She took it with trembling hands, looking at it through a mist of happy tears. "How much unhappiness I might have saved had I stopped to consider," she said, regretfully. "Did you receive my picture?" "Your picture!" It was Harvey's turn to be surprised. "Is it possible you sent me your picture!" "Very possible, Harvey," sho replied, archly. "A cabinet photograph taken expressly for you and in answer to your postal.

I thought tho most acceptable valentine I could send you would be myself." A grave look shadowed Harvey's happy face. "Then you did not send Harris Miller your photograph?" "Harris Miller! What could havo put such a strange idea into your head, dear?" She blushed as the caressing word, never before used excopt in tho privacy of her own room, escaped her lipa. "He showed it to mo, claiming that it came from you as a valentine." She looked up at him in pained surprise. "And you believed him?" "How could I do otherwise. It was only the morning after 1 had recoivod your package, and I had no other clew to your reasons, and knew your exclusive ideas in regard to your picture.

Oh Helen, if you knew what I have suffered." She was looking at him seriously. "Harvey, how do you suppose Harris Miller came by that picturo? It was securely wrapped and sealed and I know there is but the one copy, for I brought home the negative, and the artist positively assured me he printed no duplicates, and Harrison Is a man of his word." I fear," and Harvey shook his head, that he came by it far from honestly." The conviction had been growing upon him that Harris Miller was the man whom the detectives were looking for, and that he would bo in duty bound to tell what he knew. Ho knows my handwriting even better than you rejoined, "for we once attended writing-school together, and he was always laughing at my queer J's and H's, and he could pick out my valentine to you from all others. To think that he had the audacity to ask me again to marry him after doing such underhand work." I am afraid, Helen, that he has done even worse work than that" replied Harvey, gravely, and he related his interview with his detective friend, "and if he is proven to be the thief he will have ample time to meditate on his misdeeds, for there will be no mercy shown him." Harvey, can not we get that picture out of his possession!" said Helen, looking earnestly in her lover's face, "the thought of my photograph in the hanas of such a man is perfect torture." Since I have tho original, I can afford to be generous," said Harvey, teasingly; "let the poor fellow have it, since it is all of you he can ever claim. Seriously, dear, I fear we can not without the pain of a personal interview, and even then his malicious satisfaction in annoying you would prompt him to keep it Possession is nine points of tbe law in his case." It was as Harvey had suspected, and Helen's photograph was the means of un earthing an adroit mail robber, whose sue cess had made him btld and careless, or he would never have ventured to show the spoils of his unlawful skill, even for love's Fake, and Hawey and Helen were marriod on the very day that Harris Miller put on his prison garb in the penitee tiary.

Mas. F. M. Howard. SOLDIERS' DEPAETMENT.

STRANGER THAN FICTION. An Old Soldier Finds His Wife After Twenty-Eight Years. A real romance, not inclosed in covers, came to light yesterday, which again proves the wisdom of the saying that truth is stranger than fiction. Frank Hall, a veteran of many battles, who was in the city yesterday, is the hero of the story, and his experience of the past week were such as rarely happen outside the confines of the playhouse or the pages of a novel. In the year 1860, Hall, then a comparatively young man, lived in Waukesha, where he was employed in a flour-milL In his association with the young people of the village, he became acquainted with pretty Annie Rivers, then a bonnie lassie of twenty, and a mutual attachment sprang up.

He wooed and won, and on a sunny day the church bells rang merrily for the union of two hearts. Shortly after came tho breaking out of the war and its conso quent excitement, and among the first to volunteer for the defense of the Na- tion was Frank Hall. The last moment arrived, and having bade an affection-ate farewell to his weeping bride, ho entered the cars and was taken to aa Illinois regiment, to which ho had asked to be assigned. In tho Forty-second Illinois Volunteers he went to the front, and none were more frequent in writing home at all possible opportunities than he. The letters from his wife came regularly at first, one informing him of the birth of a son; then they began to drop off.

Finally there was a long silence, although he continued to send home his pay. One day when tho soldiers' mail was handed out there was a letter for Frank Hall which brought sad news. It was from a friend in Wisconsin who, in a scarcely legible hand, wrote to acquaint him with the death of his wife. In 1863 Hall was disabled and received a discharge at Atlanta, going to a hospital for a time. On mending he re-enlisted, this time in the Thirteenth Ohio and served until the close of the war.

Tie determined to continue in his country's service, and enlisted in the Sixth Cavalry of the regular service, being sent to Texas. In 1869 he left the service and settled in Kansas, afterward going to Washington Territory, thence to Michigan, and later to Iowa, where ho has lately resided at Fort Madison. A few weeks ago ho left Fort Madison to visit relatives in Illinois and Wisconsin, and arrived in Milwaukee about a week ago, with the intention of looking over familiar ground at Waukesha, and learning tho story of his wife's death and the whereabouts of the son he had never seen. On Monday he alighted from the cars at the Western Saratoga, and, although scarcely recognizing the town, managed to see a familiar sign. It bore the name of one of the old mill proprietors.

The man was not in, but he was informed as to where Joe Gaudy, a relative of his wife, could bo found, and thither he went, having hired a livery rig. Mr. Gaudy was espied in front of tho house designated, and he called out to him: "Hello, Joe!" "Who are you?" asked the astonished Joe. Hall made himself known, and invited Gaudy to a seat in the buggy. Tho conversation turned to tho subject of the Rivers family, and Hall asked where his wife was buried.

"Buried dead!" exclaimed Gaudy, she's no more dead than you are. She's down to tho poor-house." A more surprised man than Frank Hall never breathed. Explanations followed, and they started off toward the institution in question. It seemed that a brother of Hall's wife had died at tho time ho had heard of her death, and that must have occasioned tho mistake. His own letters in some way had failed to reach their destination, and it was generally thought that he had been killed, and his wife had mourned him for dead.

She had become reduced in circumstances, and for ten years had been an inmate of the alms-house. 'When they arrived at their destination, Hall and his friend were ushered in, and the matron being acquainted with tho nature of their visit, called Annie into their presence. "Annie, do you know this man?" asked Gaudy. She shook her head. Hall, who recognized her instantly in spito of her added years, called to her with outstretched arms asking if she did not know his face.

Sho started at the sound of his voice, but did not seem to place him. "Don't you know Frank, your husband?" cried Hall. The woman stood a moment in surprise and then rushed into the arms of her husband. During the affecting scene that followed Hall told her that better times were coming, an hour later took his leave to make necessary arrangements for her release, returning to this city. To-day he goes to claim his wife, and the happy reunited couple will shortly leave for Iowa, there tore-new the fireside so rudely broken by war.

The story is a most unusual one, and is strictly true as told above. The son lives at Lisbon, is in his twenty-eighth year, and was recently married. Milwaukee SentineL SOLDIERS IN BATTLE. General Sigel Pronounces Americans the Best Fighters In the World. The behavior of troops in battle depends on the character of the soldiers and their understanding their position.

If a soldier is wounded, his behavior depends on the manner in which he is wounded and whether he is of a quiet or of an excitable temper. Flesh wounds received in action are in many cases not felt at all, until the blood comes and the man gets exhausted. When a bone is struck, the shock is very great and accompanied by acute pain. I have seen poor fellows struck in the breast by Minie balls remaining in action for minutes, then sinking on their knees or falling on their faces. Not all such severe wounds are mortal.

Sergeant Ture, of the Twelfth Missouri, received a ball which went right through both temples and he lived for years afterward; a soldier who was shot through the left lung lived for a whole General Shields was shot through his breast in Mexico and reached an advanced The worst hits are of course those by canister and round shot and are mostly mortal They take off arms or legs, or the head of a man, as was the case with the captain of a Southern battery in the battle of Pea Ridge. Splinters of shells are less dangerous, but when thrown into groups and columns' may disable many men. A single shell from Paixhaus gun sent from Fort Duncan, Maryland Heights, in my presenre, to Bolivar Heights against a group of Southern horsemen, killed Genera! Lewis and wounded or killed nineteen of his companions. I have heard wounded soldiers groaning under great pain, but I never heard them crying out or using 'profane language. When hailing on horseback on the right of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, in the battle of New Market, the regiment was under fire at close range for about forty minutes, losing two hundred men in killed and wound ed, but not a loud cry was heard from those who were wounded.

As a general rule, our troops consist-ad of good men individually, who were not willing to leave their positions without showing fight But even tho best troops have given way by having been attacked unawares or on account of other extraordinary circumstances that created momentary confusion and a panic. One of the most common causes was the want of preparation resulting in tho surprise of the men of whole armies or smaller independent bodies of troops and detachments. 'The surprise of an army consists in this, that it allows another army to approach unawares until so close that it can throw itself with full force upon its antagonist Such was the case at Shiloh when the whole Southern army was in line of battle ready for attack only three miles distant from our own lines or rather incoherent encampments. The result was a sanguinary contest under great disadvantages, dissolution and "panicky" retreat, of a part of our troops who were ignorant of what was expected, and were not advised as to what they had to do. They were momentarily paralyzed.

But then came tho change the arrival of new troops on Ihe same evening and next day. This also changed the morale of the badly scared forces and led them to victory. Thus troops will break or fight, according to the bad or good circumstances. There were many instances of surprises during the war, such as the attack on Casey's divi sion and the attack bt Jackson on the right wing of the Army of the Potomac during the seven days' fighting in the Peninsula; the attack on Pope's right wing by Long-streets corps in the second battle of Bull Run, and the attack on the Fifteenth Corps in the battle of Atlanta, where General McPherson fell. Another cause which has sometimes changed the serried ranks of brave men into panic-stricken flocks is that of mistaking hostile troops for our own.

As, for instance, in the battle of Corinth, when a Southern brigade consisting of the Second Texas and Nineteenth and Twenty-first Alabama, under the personal direction of General Hardee, moved forward with a careful warning that Breckinridgo was in their front engaging the enemy. "But this," said Colonel Moore, of the Second Texas, "was a mistake, because when the brigade was advancing the right was received by a most murderous fire. So sudden was the shock that the whole line gave way in utter confusion- The regiment became so scattered and mixed that all efforts to reform them became fruitless. There were many reverses during the late war, and many mistakes even blunders but in most cases they were not owing to the rank and file. In regard to individual character, i.

e. manhood and bravery, and in regard to average intelligence there was no better soldier in the world than the American. Considering his poor preparation and lack of experience, especially during the first period of the war, we might say that he has done wonderfully well. He always did well provided he knew for what purpose, against whom and under whose command ho was fighting. General Franz Sigel, in N.

Y. Mail and Express. How Sheridan Saved a Cadet. A recent graduate of West Point gives a pleasant account of his last sight of General Sheridan. That illustrious soldier was making tho inspection rounds of the military academy with the commandant Sheridan lingered awhile in the quarters of my informant, whose father was tho General's friend of long standing.

Before leaving, "Little Phil" stepped to the open fireplace, and, bending, looked up the chimney, making a thrust with his sword worthy of a professional sweep. Rattletybang, crash, came a whole assortment of bottles, flasks and cigar boxes. The cadet said he stood aghast with the death sweat on him. General Sheridan froze him with a stern glance, and then, turning to tho inspector, said: "Do not report this case; I have taken an unfair advantage of I well remember the old hiding-place of my own cadetship." Chicago America. RANDOM SHOTS.

The new ritual of the G. A. R. is now used by its officers. ONE HUMJRED ANDTHIUTyTIIOCSAXD dollars has been subscribed for the Grant monument" to be erected in New York.

The first regiment in the State of New York to offer its services to the Government in 1861 was the Sixty-seventh. The corps in Juneau County, have already raised $250 toward building a cottage at the Soldiers1 Home, Waupaca. The women of Ohio are to furnish a library for the use of disabled veterans of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Sandusky, Ohio. Sixce September 30, 188S, the following posts have been mustered into the Department of Kentucky: No. 110, at Grayson, No.

Ill, Wrights, No. 112, Big Clifty; No. 114, Burksville; No. 115, Montpelier; No. 116, Mayfield; No.

117, Campbellsville; No. 118, Bar-boursville: No. 119. ButW. FAKul AND FIRESIDE.

-TJe-laLinUkrawnJjrom. the cow at a milking, is richer in butter than the first. A few iron nails, or a piece of rusty iron kept in the drinking water, makes a good tonic for the fowls. In the management of a farm, as with all other pursuits, attending to details has done much to assure success. Experience proves that cows which have a due allowance of salt give milk richer than those which are not supplied with salt.

Don't get up an excitement in the hen house. If you want chickens for dinner to-morrow take them quietly off the roost to-night Frightening a hen out of her wits is as bad as dogging a cow. NutPudding: One cupful of sugar, one-half of a cupful of butter, two cup-fuls of flour, one-half of a cupful of cold water, three eggs, one and one-half teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one-half of a cupful of whole walnut meats added the last thing. Bake and eat with sauce. Good Housekeeping.

Stewed Eggs: Cut in thick slices six hard-boiled eggs. Place in a stew pan with one cup of beef, veal, mutton, chicken or roast pork gravy, one tea cup of sweet milk, butter size of an v.gg; one onion, chopped very fine; salt and pepper to season. Dredge into stew one tablespoonful flour. Stew ten minutes; then pour over six slices of soaked and buttered toast. English Pancakes: One pint of milk, two eggs, one tablespoonful of sugar, one cupful of flour, one tea-spoonful of baking powder, one cupful of cream, a little salt; melt a little butter in frying-pan; pour half a cupful of batter in it; put on hot fire and brown on both sides; butter each cake, and sprinkle with powdered sugar, and roll up like jelly roll and serve.

Nearly all failures with peaches are due to the work of the borer, which operates in the collar of the tree near the ground, aud this should not be mistaken for the disease known as the yellows. The trees must be examined for the borer, as it can not be avoided by any remedy except to kill it when it first begins to work on the tree, though occasionally it is destroyed late in the season by inserting wire in the bores made. Creamed Oysters: For this excellent dish take equal proportions of oysters and cream, say a pint of each; a small bit of onion cut fine, a shred of mace, a tablespoonful of flour, and salt and pepper to taste. Scald the onion and mace in the cream, and the oysters in their own liquor until they curl. Mix the flour with a little cold milk and stir it into the cream when it boils; then skim out the onion and mace from the cream, drain the oysters from their liquor, add them to the prepared cream, and they are ready to be served.

RYE FOR HORSES. It Is Sixty Cents Than Oats at Tlilrty-fiie Cents a Husliel. In answer to an inquiry as to whether it is better to sell rye at 50 cents and buy oats at 40 cents than to have the rye ground for horses, F. E. Emery, of the New York Experimental Station, says: "It appears that American winter rye is a little richer in digestible substance and digestibility, owing, no doubt, to its containing no water.

The digestibility never having been determined under American conditions can only be taken with considerable allowance and then only relatively. Rye is cheaper at CO cents per bushel than oats at 36 cents. Rye being a much heavier grain and containing nearly one-fourth less hull than oats should be ground and mixed with nearly its own weight of cut hay, moistened enough to hold the rye meal, otherwise it might form a heavy, indigesti-mass in the stomach and produce colic, If the horses are at all constipated on this mixture a little bran or oatmeal will suffice to keep the bowels in a good, healthy condition, but this will hardly be necessary if the horses are at work or exercise regularly. The amount of feed depends so much upon ihe constitution, age and work of the horse that the feeder must be guided largely by his own judgment, observing, however, to feed about as many pounds of the ground rye as he would of oats, but not so many quarts by nearly half. We should begin with about ten pounds of cut hay and increase and diminish according to the apparent need of each animal, giving all that would be eaten up clean.

Less grain would bo required with clover hav, and about one-fourth more should be added if straw consti- tutes part of tho ration." SHEEP FOR SURETY. The Safest Way of Restoring Fertility to AVorn-Out isoll. There have been many ups and downs in the business since my boyhood; many changes from sheep to something else, and back again, and many thousand sheep have been slaughtered for their pelts and tallow alone in times of depression, but the men who have persistently stuck to sheep through thick and thin, improving their flocks while others were selling out or killing theirs, have in the end come out ahead every time, and have kept up the condition of their farms better than any other class of farmers among us. No man acquainted with the situation will attempt to controvert this assertion. If I desired to bring back into condition a run-down or worn-out farm I should stock it up just as heavily as it would bear with sheep, provided, of course, that it was adapted to sheep.

There are places in which sheep are pests or nuisances. But no intelligent shepherd would pasture sheep in garden or among small fruits. Nor would he turn them upon his newly seeded clover-plots, any more than dairyman would turn cows into his cornfield. Historically, the sheep clearly ranks first among useful animals, and although they sometimes fall into disrepute and carping charges are made against them, they are bound to go up higher in popular estimation with every advance in human development I hail with pleasure the prevailing tendency toward keeping a few sheep on every farm, whatever the predominant S. Bliss, in N.

Y. Tribune. THOMAS KTTTOY, Banker, ABILME, KA5SAS. TRANSACTS A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS Gives Especial Attention to CoHectioni Bhj-s and Sells Foreign and Dee mettle Exchange. Negotiates Mortgage Loans yAU business promptly attended to.

Ily CITIZENS' BANK (Malott Company.) ABILENE, KANSAS Transacts a general banking business- So limit to our liability. i. IT. RICE, D. R.

GORDEN, J0H1 JOIUJTZ, W. II. GILES AND T. II. MALOTT.

T. II. MALOTT, Cashier. I.E. Bonebrakk, Pres.

TnEO. Mosnn, Caslj FIRST NATIONAL BAKli Capital, $75,000. Surplus, $15,0004 ST.VMBACGII, HDRD DEWEY, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, ABILENE, KANSAS. CITY UKERY, T. S.

BARTON, Prop'r, Rospeotfully invites the citizens of AW-lene to his Bakery, at the old Keller itand, on Third street, where he ha roustautly a supply of the best FRESH BREAD, CAKES, CANDIES, PIES, OYSTERS, to be found In the city. Special orders for anything in my line promptly sM tended to on short notice. Respectfully, T. S. BARTCN.

LUMBER! LUMBER! LUMBER! M. T. GOSS CO. Respectfully inform all who intend building in Manchester and vicinity that they are prepared to furnish Lumber, Lath, Sash, Doors, Blinds and PMering Mate AS LOW AS THE LOWEST. Call and "get estimates befon purchasing.

M. T. GOSS CO Manchester, Kansas. Isii Fa mnnr uuiliu TOB ST. LOUIS ASD TBE EAST.

3 Daily Trains 3 Kansas City and St. Louis, Xo. Equipped with Pullman Palace 81eoper and Buffet Can. FREE REGLIN1N6 CHAIR CARS aad Elegant Coache. THE MOST DIRECT LINE TO TEXAS and the SOUTH.

2 Daily Trains Sl principal point In the 1LONE STAB STATE. IRON MOUNTAIN EOUTB Xeaphls, Mobile, Kew Orleans and principal eitles In Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, offering: the ohoice of ROUTES TO NEW ORLEANS. Tor Tickets, Bleeping Car Berths and further tBloraaatton, apply to nearest Ticket agent or J. H. LY027, TT.

P. 538 Mate street, Kansas City, Me IT. H.NRTM AH, Gen. TrafflQ Manager. B.

a-TOWMIWfD, a. P. Ageat, fi.LeaJt.Xfe V-V a. fc' Ajfc. I -X.

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