Day, an' it don't seem jest right to set down an' eat what we've got all by ourselves." "There's old Mr. Barber, that lives up in the third story," suggested Florella. "He's as poor as we are, if not poorer. Suppose we ask him to eat dinner with us?" "Why, to-be-sure," said her mother, brightening up. 'I'll send Jack up to ask him as soon as he comes in." The Spikenards occupied two tiny rooms in the back part of a respectable three-story house in Cote Brilliante. The rooms were small and not very comfortable, to be sure, but they were decent and cheap, and poor as they were it took about all Florella could earn as saleslady in a commercial house down town to pay the rent and buy food, fuel and clothing for herself, her mother, and eight year-old Jack, who went to school, and wore out more jackets and trousers than he was worth, so his mother de 'How different it used to be in the country, where we used to kill the fattest gobbler in the flock for Thanksgiving dinner, and made pumpkin pies with scuds of fresh eggs and rich milk in 'em! An' fur vegetables, we had sweet potatoes, an' squash, an' pickled cabbage, an'- But, law, it's different in the city-that is, if you ain't made of money! The markets are lined with turkeys an' fowls of all kinds, an' vegetables by the wagon load; but it takes a forchin to get 'em a'most. I give thirty-five cents fur them two pore look-clared. in' chickens, an' ten fur that little measure of turnips. I did want to git a few cranberries fur sass, but Jack had sot his heart on havin' a pie, so I got one." Mrs. Spikenard shook her head as she turned over the contents of the little worn market-basket on the kitchen table. Oh, we can make quite a nice dinner of these," said Florella, lifting up the chickens; and I have a nickel left. We can buy a dish of jelly with it. I walked home to-night, and saved it on purpose. "But it won't seem quite like a Thanksgiving dinner unless we have some one to help us eat it," persisted Mrs. Spikenard. "I've allus been used to havin' the house full on Thanksgiving Jack soon came in from the bakery, where he had been sent for a loaf of bread, and was at once dispatched to invite old Mr. Barber to the Thanksgiving dinner the next day. Mrs. Spikenard was setting the table for supper, and Florella was cutting the loaf of bread, when he came running back. All right, mother! Mr. Barclay says he'll come. Mr. Barclay!" cried Florella. "Mr. Barclay!" shrieked the widow. Oh, Jack, you never asked him!" Yes, I did," declared Jack, boldly. 'Why, you told me to ask him!" "I said Mr. Barber, you dreadful boy! And now, what are we going to do?” Florella began to cry. "Two little chickens as big as par tridges, and a few miserable turnips and a pie. Oh, Jack, Jack! what made you do such a thing?” Well, shall I go back and tell him not to come?" asked the boy, practically. No, no-of course not!" cried his sister, drying her tears and beginning to laugh at the ridiculous side of the affair. "We must make the best of it now of course; but what will he think of us? I can stuff these miserable little fowls with some stale bread crumbs," she added, as her mother looked hopelessly on. "And we must polish up our bits of silver and 'put the best foot foremost'; but it will be a ridiculous Thanksgiving dinner " Mr. Bernard Barclay was a bachelor, well to do, and good looking, Florella admitted, who occupied the second story front room in Mrs. Lloyd's house, and took his meals at a restaurant, as Mrs. Lloyd only kept "roomers"-that is, she let lodgings only, without board. Mr. Barclay had frequently bowed to Mrs Spikenard, as they met in the hall or on the stairway, and had even exchanged a few words with Florella, on the front steps; and once he had brought her home from the street car under his umbrella, during a heavy rain. But what would he think of them for inviting him to a Thanksgiving dinner?and such a dinner, too! Florella lay awake half the night, puzzling her head over this problem. The sun shone out on a clear, frosty Thanksgiving Day, the next morning, and Florella and her mother were bustling about, putting the little rooms in holiday order, when shuffling steps came up the stairway, a thumping knock sounded on the door, and a shock-headed boy asked: Mrs. Spikenard live here?” Yes," said the widow, wonderingly, That's my name. "This here's fur you, then. Nothin' to pay. And having deposited a well-filled market-basket on the table, the boy shuffled away, leaving the widow and her daughter staring at each other with astonishment. 'It's a mistake!" cried Florella. But no, there was a card, with Mrs. Spikenard's name and number, carefully attached to the basket; and having made sure it was meant for them, Florella fell at once to rifling it of its contents. "A twenty-pound turkey, I do believe! Just look, ma and half a pumpkin! A paper of sugar. Eggs-two dozen of em at least- and sweet potatoes. Half a dozen lemons; now I can make some lemon pies. And raisins, and currants, and citron, and ginger. What else, I wonder? This is sage, for the dressing, and here's a bucket of somethingoysters! And a paper of cranberriesand that's all. But who could have sent them?” Florella and her mother stared blankly at each other, while Jack helped himself to currants and raisins, unrebuked. "If 'twa'n't fur the oysters an' lemons, I sh'd think 'twas sister Sary sent 'em,' said Mrs. Spikenard, at last. "It's a God-send to us, anyway, wherever it came from," declared Florella. And I'm going to get dinner right away. And now we can ask old Mr. Barber, too, after all." The twenty-pound turkey was soon sputtering in the oven, and the aromatic odor of lemons and spice filled the little kitchen and floated out through the hallway, penetrating even to Bachelor Barclay's very door. The dinner was a success. The oyster soup, roast turkey, the sweet potatoes, the lemon and pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce were cooked to perfection, and Mr. Barclay could not help contrasting his lonely dinners at the restaurant with this cozy meal; with kind-hearted Mrs. Spikenard presiding over the coffeeurn, and pretty, violet-eyed Florella busy helping every one but herself. Old Mr. Barber, too, with his dignified, old-school manners, was no detraction to the merry party around the well-spread board. And when it was all over, and Bachelor Barclay had gone to smoke a cigar in the solitude of his own room, he mentally decided, as the blue wreaths curled overhead, that "it was not good for man to be alone.' In fact, before many moons had come and gone, pretty Florella Spikenard had resigned her position as saleslady, and assumed the more responsible position of housewife, with the matronly title of Mrs. Bernard Barclay. And not until then, did Mr. Barclay confess that he had sent the basket which had so puzzled Florella and her mother. "I overheard your conversation when you discovered Jack's blunder," he con fessed, "and, of course, on learning the circumstances, I thought it was only my duty to help you out of the dilemma." And Florella only laughed at her hus band's explanation, and declared she had suspected him all along. But a load was lifted from Mrs. Spikenard's mind, for, according to her own confession, she couldn't skeerseley sleep o' nights, fur wondering where on 'arth that basket come from." WHAT AN EGG WILL DO. For burns and scalds nothing is more soothing than the white of an egg, which may be poured over the wound. It is softer as a varnish for burns than collodion, and, being always at hand, can be applied. It is also more cooling than sweet oil and cotton, which were formerly supposed to be the surest application to allay smarting pain. It is the contact with the air which gives the extreme discomfort experienced from the ordinary accident of this kind, and anything that excludes the air and prevents inflammation is the thing which should be at once applied. The egg is considered one of the best remedies for dysentery. Beaten up slightly, with or without sugar, and swallowed at a gulp, it tends, by its emolient qualities, to lessen the inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and by forming a transient coating on these organs, to enable nature to resume her healthful sway over a diseased body. Two, or at most three eggs per day would be all that is required in ordinary cases; and since egg is not merely a medicine, but food as well, the lighter the diet otherwise and the quieter the patient is kept, the more certain and rapid the recovery. WATCH TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. The Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Guild of the United States held a convention in Chicago the second week in May. In his address, as President of the Guild, Col. R. E. P. Shurley said that the demands of the trade now amount to 3,000 watches a day. Of this number the large manufactories of the United States produce 1,530 a day, as follows: The Waltham factory, 750; the Elgin, 500; Springfield, Ill., 80; Hampden Watch Company, 90; Howard, 20; Lancaster, 50; Rockford, 40. The number produced by smaller establishments was not estimated. USING ONE'S EYES. How many of us go through life withbe educated to see as well as our tongues out ever realizing that our eyes have to to speak, and that only the barest outlines of the complex and ever-changing images focused on the retina ordinarily impress themselves upon the brain? That the education of the eye may be brought to a high state of perfection is shown in numerous ways. There are many delicate processes of manufacture which depend for their practical success upon the nice visual perception of the skilled artisan, who almost unconsciously detects variations of temperature, color, density, etc., of his materials which are inappreciable to the ordinary eye. The hunter, the mariner, the artist, the scientist, each needs to educate the eye to quick action in his special field of research before he can hope to become expert in it. A WONDERFUL CLOCK. A clock-manufacturing firm in Càlcutta, India, has lately completed a very ingenious timepiece in the shape of an eight-day clock, which strikes the hours on a large, full-toned gong and chimes the quarters on eight bells. In connection with the clock there is a perpetual calendar which gives the correct days of all the various months, including the twenty-nine days of February in the leap year. There is also a military procession worked by the clock, representing various branches of the British army, consisting of artillery, cavalry and infantry, and the staff in review order. There is also a sentry on duty who salutes a drummer, who beats the drum, and a bugler who raises his bugle to his mouth every few minutes. All of these figures are arranged at the top of the dial. There is also a musical instrument, which plays while the procession is marching in review. Near the bottom of the clock is placed a military band which is concealed by a curtain, and which is raised every hour when the music is playing and the procession moving, and falls again immediately after the clock has struck, and remains drawn until the next hour. The case, made of ebonized mahogany, is about six feet high, three feet six inches wide, and two feet six inches deep, highly ornamented with brass trimmings. The circles on the dial to show minutes, hours, days of the month, etc., are engraved and silvered. The center and sides of the dial are richly enameled. At the sides of the case are massive brass ornamental handles and ornamental fretwork. BE INDEPENDENT. gold, others colorations of saffron; some are reddening, some are rubbed with bitumen, like a sketch of Rembrandt's. Green, which lately was predominant, is now gradually fading away. Upon the forest there only remains the immutable sad dark green of the firs, over which the year's evolutions can have no influence. Already a few detached leaves rise upward, come down again, and flutter like There is nothing in the wide world that is the season which best suits landscape spangles of gold in Dantzic brandy. It insures success so completely as does per- painters. It is with autumn just as with fect independence. People who are al- decayed literatures; the early charm has ways waiting for help may wait a long vanished long ago; but does not a penetime, as a general thing. A little assistance, a little influence, is not to be had trating and melancholy seductiveness still for asking; but there is always something about to fade and disappear exist in that ripening beauty which is Has not one can do for himself. Do it, whatever twilight as well as morning a splendor of it is, with a will. One thing leads to an- its own? Those copperish hues, those other. If a young lady, don't sit still and hope a rich young man will marry mixed with sapphire; all those tints green golds, those tones of turquoise you, while your aged father toils for which burn and become decomposed in your daily bread. Learn how to help the great final conflagration; those clouds yourself, and take care of yourself as with their strange and monstrous forms, much as possible. Rather be one who traversed by jets of light, and which look does things for others, than one who like the gigantic crumbling down of an must have things done for you. Two aerial Babel, are quite worth the rosy hands, two feet, sight and strength-paleness of dawn, whose virgin candor these ought to enable you to dispense we more than any one else admire; but with help while you are young and still that sunset is not to be despised. In we more than any one else admire; but vigorous. Men who can defy adverse circumstances, and can earn a living in the spring, Nature was an artless maiden; a white dress, a pink sash, and a few any quarter of the world in which they blossoms in her hair were sufficient to are dropped down; who can roll up their adorn her. In the summer, she was a sleeves and set to work at almost any-woman in all the bloom of her prolific thing that offers, and who can even sew on their own buttons, and make themon their own buttons, and make them selves a cup of tea when deprived of the help of womankind, are ones who are really independent. The most helpful women are the kindest and the truest; and as for man, never trust him in any capacity if he has not within him the true spirit of independence, without which neither strength or sweetness may be hoped for. In the battle of life there is but one way to succeed-fight it out yourself. Give the helping hand when you may. Take it, if in some sore strait it is offered freely; but never ask for it. Be independent as far as can be if you would honor yourself, or be honored by others, or be happy. THE DYING SUMMER. A whole gamut of varied yellow spreads on Nature's palette. The reflex of sunset appears to fix itself over the leaves, some of which have shades of beauty; her grace, at first somewhat frail VALUABLE OLD DOCUMENTS. In the library connected with the State Department at Washington is the original copy of the Constitution of the United States. Another unique paper is the oath of allegiance taken at Valley Forge. It is signed by George Washington, Benedict Arnold, De Kalb, Steuben, Lafayette and every soldier in the army. There, too, is the pathetic letter from Andre to Washington, begging that he might be allowed to die the death of a soldier. IMPROVE THE COMPLEXION BY CARING FOR THE FEET. Madam, allow me to prescribe for you. I have had a long experience in the management of delicate women, and believe I can give you some important advice. For the present I prescribe only for your feet. First, procure a quantity of woolen stockings, not such as you buy at the store under the name of lamb's wool, that you can read a newspaper through, but the kind that your Aunt Jerusha in the country knits for you, that will keep your feet dry and warm in spite of wind and weather; second, if you want to be thorough, change them every morning, hanging the fresh ones by the fire during the night; third, procure thick calfskin boots, double uppers and triple soles, and wear them from 1st of October to 1st of May; make frequent applications of some good oil blacking; fourth, avoid rubbers altogether, except a pair of rubber boots, which may be worn for a little time through the snow-drifts or a flood of water; fifth, hold the bottoms of your feet in cold water a quarter of an inch deep just before going to bed two or three minutes, and rub them hard with rough towels and your naked hands; sixth, now, madam, go out freely in all weathers, and, believe me, not only will your feet enjoy a good circulation, but as the consequences of the good circulation in the lower extremities your head will be relieved of all its fullness and your heart of all its palpitations. Your complexion will be greatly improved and your health made better in every respect. MAKING Razor BLADES. Razor blades are forged from cast steel, and are ground and scorched to take off the black scale, being heated in a coke or charcoal fire and dipped obliquely into water. After being drilled and stamped they are hardened and tempered. In tempering they are laid on their backs on a clear fire and are removed as their edges attain a pale straw color. Shavings of leather added to the fire prevent cracking when the blades are put into water. After tempering they are ground successively on stone, a lap charged with fine emery and a second lap with finer emery. The final polish is given on a soft leather wheel charged with crocus, both razor and wheel being heated. It is then honed, working from the point to the heel, being laid flat for the purpose. VOLCANOS AND EARTHQUAKES. The name volcano is derived from Vul” canus, the god of fire of the ancient Ro mans. They are generally divided into three classes-active, intermittent and exis a good example of the first class, maktinct. Stromboli, in the Mediterranean, ing a fiery beacon light for sailors on the good examples of the second kind. To neighboring sea. the popular mind they are the chimneys of the vast roaring furnace of heat in the bowels of the earth, and undoubtedly serve as vents for the powerful gases that might, if confined, create a total destruction to the crust upon which we live. Etna and Vesuvius are There are supposed to be some 300 and over of these chimneys upon the face of the earth, two-thirds being situated upon islands. America has about 114 of these, and more than any other geographical division of the globe. Earthquakes appear to be from the same cause as volcanic eruptions, the energy of vapors and gases in the earth struggling to find a vent. The same night that the city of Lima, South America, was shaken down four new volcanic vents was found in the Andes. Soon after the earthquake in Lisbon in 1750 there were some of the most violent eruptions ever known. After the destruction of Caracas the volcano of St. Vincent became active, and at the beginning the earth was shaken for a space of nearly 20,000 square miles. The movement of the earth during an earthquake may be vertical, horizontal or whirling. The most destructive shocks are generally the shortest in duration That of Lisbon, November 1, 1755, lasted about six minutes. The three shocks that reduced Caracas to ruins, March 26, 1812, were over in a minute, and most of the damage to the city of Conception, February 20, 1835, was done in six seconds. At Lima, Peru, an average of nearly fifty shocks in a year are expected, and in some parts of South America over sixty have been counted in a year, not reckoning the slight ones, which were still more numerous. The permanent elevation or depression of large tracts of land is one of the peculiar phenomena attending these convulsions of nature. During the earthquake at Lisbon the new quay subsided and the spot was covered by water 600 feet deep. Many other remarkable instances are on record. They have been |