Pittston Gazette

              . rilft Jr f-ir *»STABl.I*I KI» 1850. [ vju xlin. NO. 41- i Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Villey. IMTTSTOX, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, .IUNE 10, 18!«. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. [" " THE GOLDBUG "Perhaps bo," said X: "but, L.egrana, I fear you are no artist. I must wait until I see the beetle itself if I am to form any" idea of its personal appear- "No, massa, 1 bring dis here pissel," and here Jupiter handed me a hote which ran thus: dence of my fraud's aberration of mind, I could scarcely refrain from tears. 1 thought it best, however, to humor his fancy, at least for the present, or until I could adopt some more energetic measures with a chance of success. In the meantime I endeavored, but all in vain, to sound him in regard to the object of the expedition. Having succeeded in inducing me to accompany him, he seemed unwilling to hold conversation upon any topic of minor importance, and to all my questions vouchsafed no other reply than "We shall see." "try tne woou wen, tnen, witn your knife and see if you think it very rotten."disappointment imprinted upon every feature, and proceeded slowly and reluctantly to put on his coat, which he had thrown off at the beginning of his labor. In the meantime I made no remark. Jupiter, at a signal from his master, began to gather up his tools. This done, and the dog having been unmuzzled, we turned in profound silence toward home. everything housed before daylight. It was difficult to say what should be done, and much time was spent in deliberation, so confused were the ideas of alL We finally lightened the box by removing two-thirds of its contents, when we wero enabled, with some trouble, to raise it from the hole. The articles taken out were deposited among the brambles and the dog left to guard them, with strict orders from Jupiter neither upon any pretense to stir from the spot nor to open his mouth until our return. LETTERS TO BILL NYE uu»»u, .caving uie uu tuo gauic vu uj bead, with the broken leg in the air, held there by a pulley and 10-pound weight extension, kind hands slowly built up an abutment of cyclopedias till I once more rested in a horizontal way. All this was due to a cyclopedia, which, as Gene Field, who had one like it, told me, always referred him to "Maternity" when he hunted in it for "Baby," and it was eight years before he got the maternity volume. He also said that when he hunted for "Apple" he was referred to "Pomology," a book that came seven years after he quit farming. I close with an effort in verse, not giving the author's name, as I desire to bring the author out gradually. If the piece be well received, I may use more of them. You will be surprised when you hear what the author's name is. My Dear : Why have I not seen you for so long a time? I hope you have not been so foolish oh to take offense at any little brusyuerle of mine; but no, that is improiiable. "Him rotten, massa, sure nuff," replied the negro in a few moments, "but not so berry rotten as mought be. Mought ventur out leetle way 'pon de limb by myself, dat's true." By EDGAR ALLAN POE. ance. HE REVIEWS THE MANUSCRIPT OF "Well, I don't know," said he, a little nettled. "I draw tolerably—should do it at least—have had good masters and flatter myself that I am not quite a blockhead." SOME CORRESPONDENTS. \V hat ho! what hoi this fellow is (lancing mad! He hath been bitten by the tarantula. Since I saw you I have had great cause for anxiety. 1 have something to tell you, yet scarcely know how to tell it, or whether I should tell it at all. —All iu the Wrong. "By yourself! What do you mean?" The Man Who Wants Some Pointers on ft Many years ago I contracted an intimacy with a Mr. William Legrand. He was of an ancient Huguenot family and had once been wealthy, but a series of misfortunes had reduced him to want. To avoid the mortification consequent upon his disasters he left New Orleans, the city of his forefathers, and took up his residence at Sullivan's island, near Charleston. I have not been quite well for some days past, and poor old J up annoys Die a Imoet beyond endurance by his well meant attentions. Would you believe It?—he had prepared a huge stick tho other day with which to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day. solus, among the hills on the mainland. I verily believe that my ill looks alono suved me a flogging. "Why 1 mean de bug. 'Tis berry hebby bug. S'iDo»e I drop him down fuss, and den de limb won't break wid just de weight ob one nigger." Comic Oration—An Essay on Books—Dif- "But. my dear fellow, you are joking then," said I, "this is a very passable skull—indeed J must say that it is a very excellent skull, according to4 the vulgar notions about such specimens of physiology—and your scarabams must be the queerest scarabteus in the world if it resembles it. Why, we may get up a very thrilling bit of superstition upon this hint. I presume you will call the bug scaraba'us caput honiinis, or something of that kind—there arc many similar titles in the natural histories. But where are the antenna" you siDoke of?" We had taken perhaps a dozen steps in this direction when, with a loud oath, Legrand strode up to Jupiter and seized him by the collar. The astopished negro opened his eyes and mouth to the fullest extent, let fall the spades and fell upon his knees. ferent Kinds of Hooks—Poetry by an Un- known. "You infernal scoundrel!" cried Legrand, apparently much relieved, "what do you mean by telling me such nonsense as that? As sure as you drop that beetle I'll break your neck. Look here, Jupiter, do you hear me?" We then hurriedly made for home with the chest, reaching the hut in safety, but after excessive toil at 1 o'clock in the morning. Worn out as we were, it was not in human nature to do more immediately. We rested until 2 and had supper, starting for the hills immediately afterward, armed with three stout sacks, which, by good luck, were upon the premises. A little before 4 we arrived at tho pit, divided the remainder of the booty as equally as might be among us, and leaving the holes unfilled again set out for the hut, at which, for the second time, we deposited our golden burdens just as the first faint streaks of dawn gleamed from over the tree tops in the erst. Recently I have received a number of communications, both prose and poetry, all asking me my opinion of the work. I select a few of the most pronounced. Some of them I have changed a little to make the lines run more smoothly, just as great editors every little while add sentiments of their own to my work, thus giving currency to ideas that otherwise would be killed by the printer. [Copyright, 1803, by Edgar W. Nye.] We crossed the creek at the head of the island by lfll'ans "f a skiff, and ascending the high grounds on the shore of the mainland proceeded in a northwesterly direction through a tract of countrv excessively wild and desolate, where no trace of human footstep was to be seen. Legrand led the way with decision, pausing only for an instant here and there to consult what appeared to be certain landmarks of his own contrivance upon a former occasion. 1 have made no addition to my cabinet since we met. if you can in any way make it convenient, come over with Jupiter. Do come. I wish to see you tonight upon business of importance. I assure you that It is of the highest importance. Ever yours, William Leuka.nlD. "You scoundrel!" said Legrand, hissing out the syllables from between his clinched teeth, "you infernal black villian—speak, I tell you—answer me this instant without prevarication—which— which is your left eye?" "Yes, massa, needn't holler at poor nigger dat style." This island is a very singular one. It consists of little else than the sea sand and is about three miles long. Its breadth at no point exceeds a quarter of a mile. It is separated from the mainland by a scarcely preceptible creek, oozing its way through a wilderness of reeds and slime, a favorite resort of the marsh hen. The vegetation, as might be supposed, is scant or at least dwarfish. No trees of any magnitude are to be seen. Near the western extremity, where Fort Moultrie stands, and where are some miserable frame buildings, tenanted during sum ma- tb £ fugitives from Charleston dust and fever, may be found indeed the bristly palmetto, but the whole island, with the exception of this westerly point and a line of hard, white beach on the seacoast, is covered with a dense undergrowth of the sweet myrtle so much prized by the horticulturists of England. The shrub here often attains the height of 15 or 20 feet and forms an almost impenetrable coppice, burdening the air with its fragrance. "Well, now listen. If you will venture out on the limb as far as you think The first one who guesses-it, by inclosing $10, will get the true name of t'e« author in autograph. So will the second one. IN MEMORIAM. One bright Saturday morning In eighteen hundred and ninety-two I walked op the road 'x Some domestic work to do. There was something in the tone of this note which gave me great uneasiness. Its whole style differed materially from that of Legrand. What could he be dreaming of? What new crotchet possessed his excitable brain? What "business of the highest importance" could he jKJSsibly have to transact? Jupiter's account of him boded no good. I dreaded lest the continued pressure of safe and not let go the beetle, Til make you a present of a silver dollar as soon as you get down." "The antennae!" said Legrand, who seemed to be getting unaccountably warm upon the subject. "I am sure you must see the antenna?. I made them as distinct as they are in the original insect, and I presume that is sufficient." In this manner we journeyed for about two hours, and the sun was just setting when we entered a region infinitely more drear}- than any yet seen. It was a species of tableland near the summit of an almost inaccessible hill, densely wooded from base to pinnacle and interspersed witb huge crags that appeared to lie loosely upon the soil and in many cases were prevented from precipitating them selves into the valleys below merely by the support of the trees against which they reclined. Deep ravines in various directions gave an air of still sterner solemnity to the scene. "I'm gwine, Massa Will—deed I is," replied the negro very promptly; "mos' out to the eend now." "Well, well," I said, "perhaiDs you have—still I don't see them?" and I banded him the paper additional remark, not wishing to ruffle his temper, but I was much surprised at the turn affairs had taken. His ill humor puzzled me, and, as. for the drawing of the beetle, there were positively no antenna? visible, and the whole did bear a very close resemblance to the ordinary cuts of a death's head. "Out to the end!" here fairly screamed Legrand, "do you say you are out to the end of that limb?" We were now thoroughly broken down, but the intense excitement of the time denied us repose. Alter an unquiet Biumber of some three or four hours' duration we arose, as if by preconcert, to make examination of our treasure. I chanced to meet on that morn Two gentlemen and a lady too. Said they, "We are well," A* they inquired how I was. *•1 »usfortune had, at length, fairly unsettled the reason of my friend. Without a moment's hesitation, therefore, I prepared to accompany the negro. "Soon be ta the eend, massa—o-o-o-o-oh! Lor-gol-a-marcy! What is dis here 'pon de tree?" This waa April, the second day. And they harried on their way To the ordination Of J. B. Hattyway.* Upon reaching the wharf I noticed a scythe and three spades, all apparently new, all lying in the bottom of the bot-t in which we were to embark. "Well!" cried Legrand, highly delighted, "wliat is it?" The chest had been full to the brim, and we spent the whole day and the greater part of the next night in a scrutiny of its contents. There had been nothing like order or arrangment. Everything had been heaped in promiscuously. Having assorted all with care, we found ourselves possessed of even vaster wealth than we had at first supposed. In coin there was rather more than $450,000—estimating the value of the pieces as accurately as we could by the tables of the period. There was not a particle of silver. All was gold of antique date and of great variety—French, Spanish and German money, with a few English guineas, and some counters of which we had never seen specimens before. There were several very large and heavy coins so worn that we could make nothing of their inscriptions. There was no American money. The value of the jewels we found more difficulty in estimating. There were diamonds, Bome of them exceedingly large and fine, 110 in all and not one of them small; 18 rubies of remarkable brilliancy; 810 emeralds, all very beautiful, and 21 sapphires, with an opal. These stones had all been broken from their settings and thrown loose in the chest. The settings themselves, which we picked out from among the other gold, appeared to have been beaten up with hammers, as if to prevent identification. "Why, 'tain't nuffin but a skull—some- somebody bin lef him head up de tree, and de crows done gobble ebery bit ob de meat off." 4! The day rolled on. And when the sun was gone This lady and these two genta Were on their way home. He received the paper very peevishly and was about to crumple it, apparently to throw it into the fire, when a casual glance at the design seemed suddenly to rivet his attention. In an instant his fat e grew violently red—in another as Excessively pile. For Borne minutes he continued to scrutinize the drawing minutely where he sat. At length he arose, took a candle from the table and proceeded to seat himself upon a sea chest in the farthest corner of the room. Here again he made an anxious examination of the j»aper, turning it in all directions. He said nothing, however, and his conduct greatly astonished me. yet I thought it prudent not to exacerbate the growing moodiness of his temper by any com- "What is the meaning of all this, Jup?" I inquired. The natural platform to v. Inch we had clambered was thickly overgrov.-a with brambles, through which we soot, discovered that it would have been impossible to force our way but for the scythe, and Jupiter, oy direction of his master, proceeded to clear for us a path to tlie foot of an enormously tall tulip tree, which stood, with some eight or ten oaks, upon the level, and far surpassed them all, and all other trees Dvliich 1 had then ever seen in the beauty of its foliage ami form, iu the vide spread of its branches and in the general majesty of its appearance. When we reached this tree, Learrand turned to Jupiter and asked him if he thought heonnld climb it,. The old man seemed a little staggered by the question, and for some moments made bo reply. At length he approached tlie huge trunk, walked slowly around it and examiued it with minute attention. When he had completed his scrutiny, he merely said: "Him syfe, massa, and spade." "Very true; but what are they doing "A skull, yon say! Very wellt How is it fastened to the limb—what holds it "you scoundrel!" mid Legrand. I met them again And the lady's husband said, "I am suffering great pain With sick and aching head." on?" "Oh, my golly, Massa Will, ain't dis here my lef eye for sartain?" roared the terrified Jupiter, placing his hand upon his right organ of vision and holding it there with a desperate pertinacity, as if in immediate dread of his master's attempt at a gouge. m~~ «j here?" "Sure nnff, massa; mus' look. Why, dis berry curious sarcumstance, 'pon my word—dare's a great big nail in de skull what fastens ob it on to de tree." In the innermost recesses of this coppice, not far from the eastern 6r more remote end of the island, Legrand had built himself a small hut, which he occupied when I first by mere accident made his acquaintance. This soon ripened into friendship, for there was much in the recluse to excite interest and esteem. I found him well educated, with unusual powers of mind, but infected with misanthropy and subject to perverse moods of alternate enthusiasm and melancholy. He had with .him many books, but rarely employed them. His chief amusements were gunning and fishing, or sauntering along the beach and through the myrtles in quest of shells or entomological specimens. His collection of the latter might have been envied by a Swainmerdamm. "Him de syfe and de spade what Massa Will sis 'pon my buying for him in de town, and de debbil's own lot of money I had to gib for em." ELEVATING A CHILD. This was at Catalpa, A friendly little place. And the people that stay round here Are full of grace and one thing another. People often wonder why editors VxDk so drawn and sad. It is not lack of/.ood that gets the editor down so, bufc the criticism he hears in the composing room and the rasping of the printer's steel rule on his case. If the editor could suspend the rules in these cases, he would not suffer so. "Well, now, Jupiter, do exactly as I tell you—do you hear?" "Yes, massa." "But what in the name of all that is mysterious is your Massa Will going to do with scythes and spades?" "There's a medicine here, I'm sure. That will cure you of your sicklies* And aching head too." And upon this recommendation The medicine he said he'd try, For he was suffering intense misery Around the nose and eyes. Said I to the sufferer. "I thought so—I knew itl Hurrah!" vociferated Legrand, letting the negro go and executing a series of curvets and caracoles, much to the astonishment of his valet, who, arising from his knees, looked mutely from his master to myself and then from myself to his master. "Come, we must go back!" said the Utter; "the game's not up yet." And he again led the way to the tulip tree, "Jupiter," said he when we reached the foot, "come here! Was the skull nailed to the limb with the face outward or with the face to the limb?" "Pay attention then! Find the left eye of the skull." "Dat's more dan I know, and debbil take me if I don't believe 'tis more dan he know too. But it's all cum ob de bug." "HumI hoo! Dat's good! Why, dare ain't no eye lef at all." Finding that no satisfaction was to be obtained of Jupiter, whoso whole intellect seemed to be absorbed by "do bug," "Curse'your stupidity! Do you know your right hand from yofer left?" "Andrew A. Smith, inventive genius, counselor of new and practical ideas and dealer in hard and soft coal," writes a good hand, but his piece is too sad, and there is a remoteness about the points that would make the use of the article, especially.in a hilly country, impracticable and no good. And after calling for some mail Be started on his way home. Thinking very little Twas the last he'd ever roam. "Yes, I nose dat—nose all about dat— 'tis my lef hand what I chops de wood wid." meat. I now stepped into the boat and made sail. With a fair and strong breeze we soon ran into the little cove to the northward of Fort Monjtrio, and a walk o'. some two miles brought ps to the hut. It was about 8 in the afternoon when wC arrived. Legrand had been awaiting uk in eager expectation. He gratipod my Presently he took from his coat pocket a wallet, placed the paper carefully in it. and deposited both in a writing desk, which ho locked. He now grew more composed in his demeanor, but his original air of enthusiasm had quite disappeared, yet he seemed not so much sulky as abstracted. As the evening wore away he became more and more absorbed in reverie, from which no sallies of mine could arouso him. It had been my intention to pass the night at the hut, as I had frequently done before, but seeing my host in this mood I deemed it proper to take leave. lie did not press me to remain, but as I departed he shook my hand with ev m more than liis usual cordialitv."To lie sure! You are left handed, and your left eye is on the same side as your left h:uid. Now 1 suppose you can find the left eye of the skull, or the place where the left eye has been. Have you found it?" But ah I another week Bad only passed away When the rufferlng of this man meek By death was at last allayed. Alick Van Passerup of New Berlin, Union county, Pa., writes as follows: Then I made a call. On Sunday night, tho tenth, And I was made despondent With grief and discontent. "Yes, massa, Jup climb any tree he ebber see in he life." "De face was out, massa, so dat de crows could get at de eyes good widout any trouble." Mat#. In these excursions he was usually accompanied by an old negro called Jupiter, who had been manumitted before the reverses of the family, but who could be induced neither by threats nor by promises to abandon what he considered his right of attendance upon the footsteps of his young "Massa Will." It is not improbable that the relatives of Legrand, conceiving him to be somewhat unsettled in intellect, had contrived to instill this obstinacy into Jupiter, with a view to the supervision and guardianship of the w»nderer. hand with a nervous impressment which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions already entertained. His countenance was pale even to ghastliness "Then up with yon as soon as possible, £or it will soon b° too dark to see what tve are about." Here was a long jwtiae. At length the negro asked: Mr. Nye—I hare been requested to deliver a comic oration at Central Pennsylvania oollego on the 13th of Juno. I thought perhaps you would have a few words that would be amusing to our audience on such an occasion. I am going to state in my oration that I have been corresponding with you and give them your answer (if any) in my oration. r~a "Well, then, was it this eye or that through which you dropped the beetle?" Here Legrand touched each of Jupiter's eyes. This was at the home Of the sufferer I have spoken of Where I found his wife With her ieart almost broken. "Is de lef eyeob de skull 'pon de same side as do lef hand ob de skull too? 'cause de skull ain't got not a bit ob a hand at all—nebber mind. I got de lef eye now. Here de lef eye. What mus' do wid it?" "How far mus' go up, massa?" inquired Jupiter. and his deep set eyes glared \\ ith unnat ural luster. After some i:Djuiries resating his health, I asked him, not knowing what better to say, if he had yet obtained the scarnbieus from Lieu tenant G . "Get up the main trunk first, and then I will tell you which way to go. And here; stop! Take this beetle with you." wM-Sfr NTK'S BEOK KN LEO. And la this biuae there lay One did of mine, Wikw eoeld PtB inclined to bellevC " 'Twas dis eye, massa—de lef eye—jis' as you tell me," and here it was his right eye that the negro indicated. It would be 'better, Alick, for you to deliver your first comic talk and be killed now than to wait 20 years and suffer all that time. Just do the beet you can, and between whiles and while you are thinking of other comic thoughts you can wipe the rochefort cheeee off your glasses. "De bug, Massa Will! De goolebug!" cried the negrQ, drawing back in dismay. "What for inns' tote de bug way up de tree? D—n if I do!" "Let the beetle drop through it as far as the string will reach, but be careful and not let go your hold of the string." "That will do—we must try it again." Here my friend, about whose madness I now saw, or fancied that I saw, certain indications of method, removed the peg which marked the spot where the beetle fell, to a spot about 3 inches to the westward of its former position. Taking now the tape pleasure from the nearest point of the trunk to the peg, as before, and continuing the extension in a straight line to the distance of 50 feet, a spot was indicated, removed by peveral yards from the point at which we had been digging. "Oh, yes," he replied, coloring violently, "I got it from him the next morning. Nothing should tempt me to jxirt witl that tcarabaus. Do you know that Jupi at ia quite right alxnit it?" "All dat done, Massa Will. Moughty easy t ing for to put de bug fru de hole. Look out for him dare below!" It was alDout a month after this—and during the interval I had seen nothing of Legrand—when I received a \isit at Charleston from Ids man Jupiter. I had never seen the good old negro look so dispirited, and I feared that some serious disiister had befallen my friend. "If you are afraid, Jup, a great big negro like you, to take hold of a harmless little dead beetle, why you can carry it up by this string. But if you do not take it up with you in some way I shall be under the necessity of breaking your head with this shovel." The winters in the latitude of Sullivan's island are seldom very severe, and in the fall of the year it is a rare event indeed when a fire is considered necessary. About the middle of October, 18—, there occurred, however, a day of remarkable chilliness. Jnst lDefore sunset I scrambled my way through the evergreens to the hut of my friend, whom I had not visited for several weeks—my residence being at the time in Charleston, a distance of nine miles from the island, while the facilities of -.passage and repassage were very far behind those of the present day. Upon reaching the hut I rapped, as was my custom, and getting no reply sought for the key where I knew it was secreted, unlocked the door and went in. A fine fire was blazing upon the hearth. It was a novelty and by no means an ungrateful one. I threw off an overcoat, took an armchair by the crackling logs and awaited patiently the arrival of my hosts. During this colloquy no jwrtion of Jupiter's jierson could be seen, but the beetle, which ho had suffered to descend, was now visible at the end of the string and glistened like a globe of burnished gold in the last rays of the setting sun, some of which still faintly illumined the eminence ujkiti which we stood. The scarabicus hung quite clear of any branches, and if allowed to fall would have fallen at our feet. Legrand immediately took the scythe and cleared with it a circular space three or four yards in diameter just beneath the insect, and having accomplished this ordered Jupiter to let go the string and come down from the tree. Anything comic should be spontaneous. If you succeed, I will get you to write a lecture for me that would be comic. I never could. When you said you would deliver a comic oration and then put your trust in me for the material, Alick, you fumbled the ball—made a bad play—lost a tally and corked yourself."In what way?" I asked, with a sad foreboding at heart. "In supposing it to be a bug of real lie said this with an air of pro- Found seriousness, and I felt inexpressibly shocked. "Well, Jup," said I, "what is the matter now? How is your master?" "What de matter now, massa?" said J.np, evidently shamed into compliance. "Always want for to raise fuss wid old nigger. Was only funnin anyhow. Me feered de bug! What I keer for de bug?" Here he took cautiously hold of the extreme end of the string, and maintaining the insect as far from his person as circumstances would permit prepared to ascend the tree. "This bug i3 to make my fortune," hC continued, with a triumphant smile, "to reinstate mo in my family possessions. Is it any wonder, then, that I prize it? Since fortune has thought fit to bestow it upon me, I have only to use it properly, and I shall arrive at the gold of which it is the index. Jupiter, bring me that scarabaeus!" Around the new position a circle somewhat larger than in the former instance was now described, and we again set to work with the spades. I was dreadfully weary, but scarcely understanding what had occasioned the change in my thoughts I felt no longer any great aversion from the labor imposed. I had become most unaccountably interested—nay, even excited. Perhaps there was something amid all the extravagant demeanor of Legrand—some air of forethought or of deliberation-- which impressed me. I dug eagerly and now and then caught myself actually looking, with something that very pinch resembled expectation, for the fancied treasure, the vision of which had demented my unfortunate companion. A treasure of incalculable value lay —• — v—r , N. B.—Leave your best suit of clothes at home when delivering a "comic oration." Then you will have something to wear the next day. gleaming before tie. Besides all this, there was a vast quantity of solid gold ornaments—nearly 200 massive finger and earrings; rich chains —80 of these, if I remember—83 very large and heavy crucifixes; five gold censers of great value; a prodigious golden punch bowl, ornamented with richly chased vine leaves and bacchanalian figures, with two sword handles exquisitely embossed, and many other smaller articles which I cannot recollect. The weight of these valuables exceeded 850 pounds avoirdupois, and in this estimate I have not included 197 superb gold watches; three of the number being worth each $500, if $1. Many of them were very old, and as timekeepers valueless, the works having suffered more or less from corrosion, but all were richly jeweled and in cases of greath worth. We next pass on to speak of another yoang'man who aspires to more serious literature. He writes as follows, the name only having been changed for the sake of his little sister and a couple of parents who ought to know better than to bring him into the world and then encourage him to write for the press. I should be glad to show these pieces if they will take the trouble to call at 82 Vesey street during my office hoars there, which are from a. m. in the forenoon to p. m. in the afternoon. He says: Has reached its utmost olyme But his widow stood beside him Till his life flickered oat, From the cruel academic "What I de bug, massa? I'd rudder not go fer trubble dat bug—you mus' git him for your own self." Hereupon Legrand arose with a grave and stately air and brought me the beetle from a glass case, in which it was inclosed. It was a ueautirui scaraoa*us, anu at tnat time unknown to naturalists—of course a great prize in a scientific point of view. There were two round black spots near one extremity of the back and a long one near the other. The scales were exceedingly hard and glossy, with all the appearand of burnished gold. The weight of the insect was very remarkable, and taking all things into consideration I could hardly blame Jupiter for his opinion respecting it. But what to make of Legrand's concordance with that opinion I could not for the life of me tell. Driving a peg with great nicety into the ground at the precise spot where the beetle fell, my friend now produced from his pocket a tape measure. Fastening one end of this at that point of the trunk of the tree which was nearest the peg, he unrolled it till it reached the peg, and thence farther unrolled it in the direction already established by the two points of the tree and the peg for the distance of 50 feot, Jupiter clearing away the brambles with the scythe. At the siDot thus attained a second peg was driven, and about this as a center a rude circle about 4 feet in diameter described. Taking now a spade himself and giving one to Jupiter and one to me, Legrand begged us to set about digging as quickly as possible. That the doctors told about. Oh, It's never I'll forget the picture so fair, As her face seemed framed In lta oriole of hair. Oh, I'll never forget her sweet and gentle way, Nor how I balled op when she asked me to pray. Soon after dark they arrived and gave me a most cordial welcome. Jupiter, grinning from ear to ear, bustled about to prepare some marsh hens for supper. Legrand was in one of his fits—how else shall I term them?—of enthusiasm. He had found an unknown bivalve, forming a new genus, and, more than this, he had hunted down and secured with Jupiter's assistance a scant! nous which he believed to be totally new, but in respect to which he wished to have my opinion on the morrow. "ITcll, J up," said J, "ichat is the mat' * J. B. Hattyway is still loved and remembered by thoee who have not forgotten him and who still feel an affection for him. ter nowf" Coldwater, Dec. 12,1898. "Why, to speak the troof, massa, him not so berry Well as mought be." At a period when such vagaries of thought most fully possessed me, and when we had been at work perhaps an hour and a half, we were again interrupted by the violent howlings of the dog. His uneasiness in the first instance had been evidently but the result of playfulness or caprice, but he now assumed a bitter and serious tone. Upon Jupiter's again attempting to muzzle him, he made furious resistance, and leaping into the hole tore up the mold frantically wun nm ciawa. Dear Editor—I have sent my composition of my own composure, which I wrote at the age of 17. Desiring you to inform me whether I will ever make a journalist or not, 1 have wrote a large number of compositions of proee and poetry, have taken a fancy to writing ever since 13 years old. please inform me all you can about this matter, in haste "Not well! I am truly sorry to hear it What does he complain ofY" "Darl Dat's it! Him nebber plain of nuffin, but him berry sick for all dat." » With a heavy heart I aecompanlcd my We estimated the entire contents of the chest that night at $1,500,000, and upon the pubeequent disposal of the trinkets and jewels (a few beinsr retained for our own use) it was found that w« had greatly undervalued the treasure. friend. "Very sick, Jupiter! Why didn't you say so at once? Is he confined to bed?' In youth the tulip tree, or Liriodendron tulipiferuin, the most magnificent of American foresters, has a trunk peculiarly smooth and often rises to a great height without lateral branches, but in its riper age the bark becomes knarled and uneven; while many short limbs make their appearance on the stem. Thus the difficulty of ascension in the present case lay more in semblance than in reality. Ben Ali Smith. "Could you give me something to eat* ma'am!" asked a tramp at a house on Lafayette avenue. 0*14 Charity. "No; dat he ain't! He ain't find no*vhar. D.it's just wliar de shoo pinch. My mind is got to be berry hobby 'bout poor Manna Will." Then follows the article on "Books." It grieves me to be compelled to ait in judgment on such a work, but some one must do it. I violate no confidence in saying that he is the Judge Cobb of literature, and that the great problem of atness is with him unsolved. I have endeavored to give it more clearness of diction, but without success. Here is the treatise: "And why not tonight?" I askod, rubbing my hands over the blaze and wishing the whole tribe of scarabai at the devil. "I sent for you," said he in a grandiloquent tone when I had completed my examination of the beetle, "I sent for you that I might liave your counsel and assistdf&e in furthering the news of fate aud of the bug"  To K]*»ak the truth, I had no especial relish for such amusements at any time, and at that ]Darticular moment would most willingly have declined it, for the night was coming on and I felt much fatigued with the exercise already taken, but 1 saw no mode of escape and was fearful of disturbing my poor friend's equanimity by a refusal. Could I have dejDended, indeed, upon Jupiter's aid, I would have had no hesitation in attempting to get the lunatic home by force, but I was too well assured of the old negro's disposition to hope that he would assist me under any circumstanoes in a personal contest with his master. When at length we had concluded our examination and the intense excitement of the time had in some measure subsided, Legrand, who saw that I was dying with impatience for a solution of this most extraordinary riddle, entered into a full detail of all the circumstances connected v.-ith it. "No," answered the woman at the door curtly; "we've nothing for tramps." "Jupiter, I should like to understand what it is you aro talking alxmt. You say your master is sick. Hasn't he told you what ails lrim?" "Thank yon, ma'am,'* and he turned meekly away, drawing the skirt of a wretched coat about him to keep out the cold, blinding storm. "Ah, if I had only known you wore here," said Legrand, "but it's so long since I saw you, and how could I foresee that you would pay me a visit this vory night of all others? As I was coining home I met Lientenant G , from the fort, and, very foolishly, I lent him the bug, so it will be impossible for you to Bee it until the morning. Stay here tonight, and I will send Jup down for it at Bunrise. It is the loveliest thing in creation!"In a few seconds he had uncovered a mass of human bones, forming two complete skeletons, intermingled with several buttons of metal, and what appeared to be the dust of decayed woolen. One or two strokes of a spade upturned the blade of a large Spanish knife, and as we dug farther three or four loose pieces of gold and silver coin came to light. "Why, massa, 'tain't worf while for to -P1 mad about de matter. Massa Will •say nuffin at all ain't de matter wid him. But den what make him go about look- "My dear Legrand," I cried, intermpting him, "you are certainly unwell and had better use some little precautions. You sliall go to bed, and I will remain with you a few days until you get over this. You are feverish and"  "I might give you some old clothes if you wait until I can pick them out," said the woman, moved by the appearance of the forlorn figure. Embracing the huge cylinder as closely as possible with his arms and knees, seizing with his hands some projections, and resting his naked toes upon others, Jupiter, after one or two narrow escapes from falling, at length wriggled himself into the first great fork and seemed to consider the whole business as virtually accomplished. The risk of the achievement was, in fact, now over, although the climber was some 60 or 70 feet from the ground. BOOKS. "You remember," said he, "the night when I handed you the rough sketch I had made of the scarabaDus. You recollect also that I became quite vexed at you for insisting that my drawing resembled a death's head. When you first made this assertion I thought you were jesting, but afterward I called to mind the peculiar spots on the back of the insect and admitted to myself that your remark had some little foundation in fact. Still the 6neer at my graphic powers irritated me—for I am considered a good artist—and therefore, when you handed me the scrap of parchment I was about to crumple it up and throw it angrily into the fire." Books are a very useful thing for mankind, they help cultivate the mind and strengthen the memory their chief use Is popular to every cultivated or uncultivated memory a part of tho chief sourco of knowledge is derived from books. He waited outside with the thermometer near zero, waited a long time, and whistled "Annie Laurie" for company. ing dis here way. wid he head down anu his soldiers up and as white as a goseJ And den he keep a syphon all de time"  "Feel my pulse," said he. I folt it and, to say the truth, found not the slightest indication of fever. "Keeps a what, Jupiter?" At sight of these the joy of Jupiter could scarcely be restrained, but the countenance of his master wore an air of extreme disappointment. He urged us, however, to continue our exertions, and the words were hardly uttered when I stumbled and fell forward, having caught the toe of my boot in a large ring of iron that lay half buried in the loose earth. Suppose for instance your child was suffering from disease and you knew not what In your [tower of thought what to give to relieve her whut must be done in this case why a search for a knowledge maintainable to relieve his or her suffering. Then the woman of the house returned, opened the door a crack and handed him out a linen duster and a straw hat. "Keeps a syphon wid de on de date—do queerest figgnrs I ebber did see. Fze tfittin to Ik; skeered, I tell you. Hab for to keep moughty tight eye 'pon him noovers. Todder day ho gib me .dip 'fore do sun utD and was trone de whole ob tie blessed day. 1 had a Dig stick ready cut for to gib him doucecl good beating when ho did come, but I'ze rich a fool dat I hadn't de heart arterall, he look so berry poorly." r "But you may be ill and yet have no fever. Allow me this once to prescribe for you. In the first place, go to bed. In the next"  "What—sunrise?" I made no doubt that the latter had been infected with some of the innumerable southern superstitions about money buried, and that his fantasy had received confirmation by the finding of the scarabieus, or perhaps by Jupiter's obstinacy in maintaining it to be "a bug of real gold." A mind disposed to lunacy would readily lie led away by such suggestions, especially if chiming in with favorite preconceived ideas, and then I called to mind the jDoor fellow's speech about the beetle's being "the index of his fortune." Upon the whole I was sadly vexed and puzzled, but at length I concluded to make a virtue of necessity—to die with a good will, and thus the sooner to convince the visionary by ocular demonstration of the fallacy of the opinions he entertained."Thank you, ma'am," said the tramp gratefully; "there is just one thing more"— , "Nonsense, no—the bug! It is of a brilliant gold color, about the size of a large hickory nut, with two jot black spots near one extremity of the back, and another, somewhat longer, at the other. The antennae are"  where will that knowledge arise from why If there is a book treating on disease and a cure which she can provide by preparation for her child tho cure will relieve his or her suffering Where would the knowledge In that case come from? from a book. "You are mistaken," he interposed. "I am as well as I can expect to be under the excitement which I suffer. If you really wish me well, you will relieve this excitement." "Which may mus' go now, Massa Will?" he asked. "We haven't any drinking water; the pipes are frozen," she interrupted. "No, ma'am, but if I might make so bold as to ask for an old fan. It would go «o beautifully with this suit of clothes." "Keep up the largest branch, the one on this side," said Legrand. The negro obeyed him promptly, and apparently with but little trouble, ascending higher and higher, until no glimpse of his squat figure could be obtained through the dense foliage which enveloped it. Presently his voice was heard in a sort of halloo: "Dey ain't no tin in him, Massa Will, I keep a-tellin on you," here interrupted Jupiter; "de bug is a goolebug, solid, ebery bit of him, inside and all, sop him wing—neber feel half so hebby a bug in my life." We now worked in earnest, and never did 1 pass 10 minutes of more intense excitement. During this interval we had fairly unearthed an oblong chest of wood, which, from its perfect preservation and wonderful hardness, had plainly been subjected to some mineralizing process— perhaps that of the bichloride of mercury. This box was 81 feet long, 8 feet broad and feet deep. It was firmly so cured by bands of wrought iron, riveted, and forming a kind of open trellis work over the whole. On each side of the chest near the top were three rings of ironsix in all—by means of which a firm hold could be obtained'by six persons. The ordinary books of the present day are divided into two classes, good books and bad books. "And how is this to be done?" ( "Very easily. Jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition into the hills upon the mainland, and in this expedition we shall need the aid of some person in whom we can confide. You are the only one we can trust. Whether we succeed or fail the excitement which you now perceive in me will be equally allayed." , A good book contains that which is pure and sentimental what will enrich the mind in full store and a good book pertains to useful knowledge that which is a true event or that which might possibly happen. But she said that she drew the line at fans, and shut the door in his face.—Detroit Free Press. ' 'Eh—what?—ah, yes! Upon the whole I think you had letter not be too severe with the jxjor follow Don't floC{ him, Jupiter; lie can't very well stand it. But can you form no idea of what has occasioned this illness, or rather this change of conduct? Has anything unpleasant happened since I saw yon?" "The scrap of paper, you mean," said L "No; it had much of the appearance of paper, and at first I supposed it to be such, but when I came to draw upon it I discovered it at once to be a piece of very thin parchment. It was quite dirty, you remember. Well, as I was in the very act of crumpling it up my glance fell upon the sketch at which 3Tou had been looking, and you may imagine my astonishment when I perceived in fact the figure of a death's head just where, it seemed to me, I had made the drawing of the beetle. For a moment I was too much amazed to think with accuracy. I knew that my design was very different in detail from this—although there was a certain similarity in general outline. from an Information Bureau. "Well, suppose it is, Jup,'- replied Legrand, somewhat more earnestly, it seemed to me, than the case demanded, "is that any reason for your letting the birds burn? The color"—here he turned to me—"is really almost enough to warrant Jupiter's idea. You never saw a more brilliant metallic luster than the scales emit—but of this you cannot judge till tomorrow. In the meantime I can give you some idea of the shape." Saying this he seated himself at a small table on which were a pen and ink, but no paper. He looked for some in a drawer, but found none. While on tho other hand a bad book contains unuseful reading that which could do the mind or character hurm. That book which is lude or profane will lead a pure honorable character down to a miserable downcast untrodden life. Of selecting books to read beware of the false titles on their cover those which seem good may be poor and miserable ai\d when the minds deepest chain of thought is bound to read them unfasten the chain and free the mind from reading them. Wc should select good books with a prize to cultivate the mind with their useful reading and lay up in our mind a storehouse of their good. We should be attached to good reading human nature sometimes inclines us toward the other way but we should in all cases overcome the strongholds of nature and by the help of a higher power govern thclu toward the right. We should enjoy useful reading because In some cases we mignt learu bo me i mug we an not know or think of. He was one of the "Cholly" variety, with a smooth face and a shiner in hia scarf. He demanded of Major Miller, the Chesterfield of the Kimball counter: "Ah, is Mr. Jones in?" "No; he's ont, sir." "How much fudder is got for go?" "How high up are you?" asked Legrand."Ebber so fur," replied the negro, "can see de sky fru de top ob de tree." "No, massa, dey ain't bin nuffin unpleasant since den—'twas fore den I'm feeml—'twas de berry day you was "lam anxious to oblige ycra'in anyway," I replied, "but do yoirtnean to say that this infernal beetle lias any connection with your expedition into the "Never mind the sky, but attend to what I eay. Look down the trunk and count the limbs below yon on this side. How many limbs have you passi-d?'' The lanterns luiving been lit, wo all fell to work with a zeal worthy a more rational cause, and as the glare fell upon our persons and implements I could not help thinking how picturesque a group we composed, and how strange and suspicious our labors must have appeared to any interloper who by chance might have stumbled upon our whereabouts."When will he be in?' "When he returns from being out, tir."—Atlanta Constitution. dart "How? What do you mean?" "Why, massa, I mean de bug—dare now." "It has." tiills?" "One, two, tree, four, flbe-—I done pass fibe big limb, massa, 'pon dis side." Our utmost united endeavors served only to disturb the coffer very slightly in its bed. We at once saw the impossibility of removing so great a weight. Luckily the sole fastenings of Che lid consisted of two sliding bolts. These we drew back, trembling and panting with anxiety. In an instant a treasure of incalculable value lay gleaming before us. As the rays of the lanterns fell within the pit there flashed upward a glow and p glare from a confused heap of gold and pf jewels that absolutely dazzled our eyes. Cntlreljr Different. "The what?" "Thvn, Legrand, I can become a party m no such absurd proceedings." FngHah village Sunday morning. Little Girl—Please let me have a penny worth of soap. "De bug—I'm berry sartain dat Massa Will b'n bit somewhere 'bout#de head by dat goolebug." "Then go one limb higher." "I am sorry—very sorry—for we shall have to try it by ourselves." In a few minutes the voice was heard again, announcing that the seventh limb was attained. Druggist—I cannot, my dear. There is no soap sold here on Sunday morning."Never mind%" said he at length, "this will answer," and he drew from his waistcoat pocket a scrap of what I took to be very dirty foolscap and made upon it a rough drawing with the pen. Wliile he did this I retained my seat by the fire, for I was still chilly. When the design was complete, he handed it to me without rising. As I received it a loud growl was heard, succeeded by a scratching at the door. Jupiter opened it, and a large iNewtouiidlanU belonging to Liegrana rushed in, leaped upon my shoulders and loaded me with caresses, for I had shown him much attention during previous visits. When his gamlDols were over, I looked at the paper, and, to speak the truth, found myself not a little puzzled at what my friend had depicted. for such a supposition?" "And what canoe have yon, Jupiter, "Try it by yourselves! The man is surely mad! But stay! How long do you propose to be absent?" •'Now, Jup," cried Legrand, evidently much excited, "I want you to work your way out upon that limb as far as you can. If you see anything strange, let me Wo dug very steadily for two hours. Little was eaiCl, and our chief embarrassment lay in the yelpings of the dog, who took exceeding interest in our proceedings. He at length became so obstreperous that we grew fearful ot his giving the alarm to some stragglers in the vicinity, or rather this was th-j apprehension of Legrand. For mystlf, I should have rejoiced at any interruption which might have enabled me to get the wanderer home. The noise was at length very effectually silenced by Jupiter, who, getting out of the hole with a dogged air of deliberation, tied the brute's mouth up with one of his suspenders and then returned with a grave chuckle to his task. "How is that? I saw you sell a stick of licorice to a girl a few minutes ago." "Claws enough, massa, and mouff too. I never did see sich a deuced bug—he kick and he bite eberyt'ing what cum near him. Massa Will cotch him fues, but had for to let him go gin mighty quick, 1 tell you—den was de time ho must lia' got de bite. I didn't like de look ob de b ig moulf myself nohow, so I wouldn't take hold ob him wid my finger, but I cotch him wid a piece ob paper dat I found. I rap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff— dat was de way." | TO UK CONTINUED ] What shall we say in reply to this let* ter? "Probably all night. We shall start immediately, and be back at all events Few of Ezra Hinckley's friends and few of the village poor had ever taken a meal at his house, yet he was rich enough to have fed the hungry often "without feeling it," jis his neighbors used to say. But one day a Frenchman, who did odd jobs about the town, found his way to Ezra's heart. Polite. "Oh, that's different. She is going to eat it in church."—Schalk. In liis division of books of course he has made a mistake. Instead of dividing books into good and bad books, I should divide them into books which will or will not elevate a child if used at table in the proper spirit. Even lude books may dc this. by sunrise." By this time what little doubt I might have entertained of my poor friend's insanity was put finally at rest. I had no alternative but to conclude him stricken with lunacy, and I bee dine seriously anxious about getting him home. While I was pondering upon what was best to be done, Jupiter's voice was again heard. know." "And will you promise mo upon your honor that when this freak of yours is over, and the bug business (good God!) settled to your satisfaction, you will then return home and follow my advice implicitly as that of your physician?" Natural History. "Johnny," said Johnny's little brother, "a fly is a fly because he flies, isn't he?" "Yes, that's it." I shall not pretend to describe the feelings with which I gazed. Amazement was of course predominant. Legrand appeared exhausted with excitement and spoke very few words. Jupiter's countenance wore for some minutes as deadly a pallor as it is possible in the nature of things for any negro's visage to assume. He seemed stupefied—thunderstricken. Presently he fell upon his knees in the pit, and burying his naked arms up to the elbows in gold let them there remain, as if enjoying the luxury of a bath. At length with a deep sigh he exclaimed, as if in a soliloquy: I had sent mo at one time a large, beautiful book called "The Guilty Crime" and written by a young girl. It was not a lude book, though it went into the so cial problem a little deeper than I had, being a busy man anyway, with no timi to be morbid, but my son for three yean at table used that book to elevate himself, and now he is what's called a hall back at one of our best colleges. "And a flea is a flea because he flees, isn't her Ezra rebuffed him once, but after that he gave orders that whenever Antoine came he should have the best the kitchen afforded. "Shouldn't wonder." "Then, why are bees bees?" "Because they be," laughed Johnny,— Harper's Young People. "Yes, I promise. And now let us be off. for we have 110 time to lose." With a heavy heart I accompanied my friend. We started about 4 oclock—Le» grand, Jupiter, the dog and myself. Jupiter had with him the scythe and spades, the whole of which he insisted upon carrying, more through fear, it seemed to me, of trusting either of the implements Within reach of his master than from any excess of industry or complaisance. His demeanor was dogged in the extreme, and "dat deuced bug" were the sole words which cscaped his lips during the journey. For my own part, I had charge of a couple of dark laterns, while Legrand contented liimself with the scaraba-ns, which he carried attached to the end of a bit of whipcord, twirling it to and fro with the air of a conjuror as he went. "Mos' feered for to ventur 'pon dis limb berry far—tis dead limb putty much all de way." "Did you say it was a dead limb, Jupiter?" cried Legrand in a quavering voice. "And yon think, then, that your master was really bitten by the beetle, and that the bite made him sick?" One night at dinner, after the soup was removed, he sat for some moments looking in pleased anticipation into the face of a beautifully browned little roast pig. Suddenly he heard a movement. He looked up. There stood Antoine. The Proper Man. "I don't t'ink nuffin about it—I nose it. What make him dream 'bout de goole so much if tain't cause he bit by do goolebug? I'ze heerd 'bout them goolebugs 'fore dis." "1 wish to ask you something, sir," said one ef the employees to the proprietor."Well," I said, after contemplating it for some minutes, "this is a strange scarabaMis. I must confess: new to me; never saw anything like it before, unless it was a skull or a death's head which it more nearly resembles than anything else that has come under my observation." When the time mentioned had expired, we had reached a depth of 5 feet, and yet no signs of any treasure became manifest. A general pause ensued, and 1 began to hope that the tarce was at an end. Legrand, however, although evidently much disconcerted, wiped his brow thoughtfully and recommcnced. We had excavated the entire circle of 4 feet diameter, and now we slightly enlarged the limit, and went to the farther depth of 2 feet. Still nothing appeared. The gold seeker, whom I sincerely pitied, at length clambered from the nit. with the bitterest "Yes, massa, him dead as de door nail —done up for sartain—done departed dis here life." "Pardon, monsieur, I see I interrupt a tete-a-tete!" said the Frenchman and retired,—Youth'B Companion. When we speak of books, we should define the question of what we are going to use them for. "Ask on." "But how do you know ho dreams about gold?" "What in the name of heaven shall I do?" asked Legrand, seemingly in the greatest distress. "Ib Harris authorized to discharge me?" "Tea He's the shipping clerk."— Pittsburg Chronicle. "And dis all come ob do goolebugt de putty goolebug! de poor little goolebug what I boosed in dat sabage kind ob style! Ain't you shamed ob yourself, nigger? Answer me dat!" I had a second cousin killed in Mains two years ago by n blow on the head with a book which was pronounced by Mr. Winter to be "flat, inane and utterly weak." "How I know? Why, 'cause he talk 'bout it in he sleep—dat's how I nose." Mot to UK imputed L'pon. "Do!" said I, glad of an opportunity to interpose a word, "why come bonie'anu go to bed. Come, now, that's a fine fellow. It's getting late, and, besides, you remember your promise." "Jupiter," cri'49 he, without heeding me in the least, "do you hear me?" "No, sir," exolaimed the determined old lady from Cpthecreek, putting her purse back into her pocket. "I just won't pay 85 cents for two doughnuts and a cup of coffee. Cyrus, hunt up that Fisheries buildin and see if you can't get ft can o* salmon fur 15 cents."—Chicago Quite a Difference. "A death's head," echoed Legrand. "Oh—yes—well, it has something of that appearance upon paper no doubt. The two upper black spots look like eyes, eh? and the longer one at the bottom like a mouth—and then the shape of the whole is CDyal.,, "Well, Jup, perhaps you are right, but to what fortunate circumstance am I to attribute the honor of a visit from you today?" Husband—I think I will run over to Chicago for a week during the fair. Wife—Then I think I will go with you. What is fair for one is fair for two. It became necessary at last that I should arouse both master and valet to the expediency of removing the treasure. It was growing late, and it behoved us i to make exertion, that we might g$t I had a set of encyclopedias once, 80 volumes of it, with no information in them, and yet when I was lying with a broken leg on an old hospital bed in my own room, and the bed broke "What de matter, massa?" "Did you bring any message from Mr. Leexand?" 1 ■ _  Husband—No, my dear. What is fare for one is far from being fare for two,— New York Herald. , "Yes, Massa Will, hear you ebber so plain," - When I observed this last ulain evi- Tribune.