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Show An Amateur Nurse. By John Worno. The object of this picnic which Jack had promised to Join was to see som famous ruins; but it was not the ruinj which Jack had come to eee. He was quite aware that the number of women in the world was largely in excess of that of the men, and that, creaking generally, one proposal In a lifetime was the most that a woman In the abstract could look forward to. Therefore he knew, a priori, that if he proposed to the partioular one in question she ought to accept his offer with Joy: He was very badly hit in fact, Muriel was the only' girl he had ever really loved. He was seized early in the day by an elderly person whom he loathed. She talked incessantly till she discovered that he was gazing at Muriel in- stead of listening and then lost interest in him. He did not mind that. He made himself Tery useful in conveying hampers and keeping the 'chaperons amused. He wondered at the smail-ncsof the things which seemed to amuse them. He tried to light a fire for the kettle and burnt his fingers and got a black spot on his nose. Muriel laughed; he thought that was not kind of her and that she would not laugh if she only knew how he felt The Are would not light, and everybody began to be impatient and came round with useless suggestions. At last, after he had been struggling with it for a quarter of an hour, a man named Kingston, who had been talking with Muriel, knelt down and made the damp wood barn in about tnree seconds. Everybody was grateful, and Jack felt that. In dome subtle ray, he waa in disgrace. During the whole of lunch he did not dare to approach Muriel. It was Kingston who handed her everything she wanted. It was Kingston who lay on the ground at ber feet and kept the whole party merry with his cheap jokes; Che fellow was in infernally high spirits, and Muriel was enjoying hugely. Once Jack passed het something and she refused it Kingston persuaded her and she took it She said she did it for his sake, and Jack writhed. Oh, why had he come to this LciriLle entertainment at all! After lunch it was the intention of th party to visit the famous ruin. Cigarettes' had been lighted for some time, when Kingston suggested that it was time for exercise. He said he krew all about ruins and would explain everything to Muriel. Jack had looked up the history of the place, In ori'er to have Intelligent conversation of his tongue, but could reat the-timember n6thing. He was sure Kingston knew nothing about it, but didn't dfrfc to suggest Minself as a better gu'de. He mentioned timidly the date of a f amour sirge. But Kingston said dates were no fun, and Muriel agreed that she never thought much of detes. Kingston said it was beauty aa had come to study, not antiquity; and again Muriel agreed with him. Jack ht-r&e- tr.'ed boldly to utter a pretty compli- ment as a counter-stroke- ; but It into something .bout being reminded of old ruins when he saw her, which wasn't In the t the way he meant to put It They had gone oft together before his erplanatlon was complete. The rest of the party followed in twos and threes. He said he would look after the clearing away of tho lunch and Join them in a few minutes, o they left him tlone. With a heavy heart he put a couple of dirty plates in a basket and then sat domn to think. The Attempt only convinced him that It was no good thinking; it was also no good doing anything; nor was It any good staying where he was. Kingston had captured Muriel for the whole afternoon, and tho was shallow enough not to mind that. He fcad determined to go on and find the station, no matter how faraway It and ragged was, when he met a palwrman with a very dirty baby In her arms. She was just an ordinary beg-g-woman, and she asked him for a crpper. He was thinking of other thmgs and panned on without heeding ber; but she turned, and. In a whining vc!ce, said she had walked about fifteen miles that day and had had no food since yesterday. He stopped and looked at her. So far as the dirt upon It allowed it to be sern, her face was glestly white, and she was nearly drooping from exhaustion. It certainly was a very hot day, and' from her pprarance she might have been walking forever. He put Ms hand Into his porket to give her some money, 'when he staggered and fell In a confused le-ts- - .i -- heap In the middle of the road. He reached out quickly and caught the dirty little baby, and his first feeling was one of astonishment at the weight she had been carrying. His second was one of alarm. This was deuced awkward. The woman had fainted and the baby woko, He looked round for water to put on the woman's forehead. He believed that was often done with success. There was no water anywhere near. Ha knew of no house for miles, and was on the point of going off to look for one. when the baby began to howl. This really was deuced awkward. He looked at the little brute doubtfully, end nearly ran away altogether. Then he thought that would not be fair. With a very red face ha approached the creature and picked it up delicately It was such a dirty little baby! Babies he had seen were, at any rate, white, and endurable, so long as they were quiet; this was all kinds of colors and very noisy. The baby howled violently and reached out its grimy hands towards the bottle which lay near it "Oh, you want that, do you?" he suld. "Very well; I leave the responsi'bility with you. The baby was willing to accept these terms, and he carefully uncorked the bottle, held the mouth of it to the grubby lips, and poured a little in. There was a splutter and a gasp; the child looked a-- little surprised the taste was not that of ordinary milk but, after a little hesitation (as became a lifelong teetotaller), it smiled and chuckled. "Thank Heaven!" said Jack, as there followed a blissful silence. "Have some more, If you won't get drunk." The baby had some more and seemed pleased. It began to clap Its hands ana gurgle with delight The dirty fingers found their way to Jack's chin, and entered into the spirit of the thing. "Now you've decided to behave, I don't mind letting you see the wheels go round," he said, taking out his watch. Tis Immediately brought a look of Intense interest to the child's face, and both heads were bent over studying the machinery, when Jack heard a cough behind. He thought tho woman had recovered, and said, "Ha, ha! Mummy's better now," ami "- "Thank heaven!" said Jack. "I was afraid it might be worse." Kingston returned with two other members of the party, and Jacn dropHe had ped into the background. given up for the moment his plan of returning by train. The woman had now quite "recovered and was taken into the shade, where preparations were being made for tea. Muriel, who had not uttered a word since her last order to Jack to bring water, carried the baby. Somebody had already lit the fire, and the kettle was boiling. Many inquiries were made of Jack a3 to what had happened, but hs was not very talkative on the subject. Nothing had happened, except that f. woman had fainted, which was a very oidlnary event. "Oh!" said Kingston. "Was thxt all? Do tell us some more." Jack retired with a hot face Into a corner. That fool was going to make himself unpleasant again. "If I had been the only witness," said Kingston, laughing, "you wouldn't have believed it; but Miss Wynlan saw it; didn't you?" He turned to Muriel, who was busy s and the baby and made no answer. "You tell them. Miss Wynlan " Muriel said, very quietly, "No, thatk with tea-cup- you." So Kingston embarked upon the story and told it with infinite humor and many embellishments. The feeling of the baby out of the champagne bottle was brilliantly described, and Jack writhed with helpless fury whll everybody roared at the descr ptlon of his hot and muddy face as the baby fingered his cheek and called him "Dada." "You ought to have seen the smile of motherly affection of your countenance, my dear fellow, and you'd have taken to nursing as a profession, you really would; and we didn't expect it In you, you know we all thought you abeve that kind of thing." He roared with delight but stopped suddenly with astonishment as be caught Bight of Muriel. She was looking at him with an angry gleam In her eyes and a very white face. "It did not appear to me at all funny." she said, quietly. "I I I'm awfully sorry," gasped stopped Kingston, and everybody looked round. Mummy was not better. laughing. "I can't understand why, when a It was Muriel and Kingston. They had come quietly through the wood man does something that is that and had stood there looking on for She checked herself in fear of what nearly a minute. Jack leapt up with a face of flaming she might be led to say, and turned crimson, his arm round the baby and av.ay in confusion. It Jack felt more than gratitude; the bottle in his hand. was He could find no words to express rapture. "I I beg your pardon," stammer-ehis feelings. The baby most tactfully brike the Kingston. "I only meant it in fun, one so knew si!ence. It only It you know. I only wish I could man-agword, a baby si well myself. I I " to Jack's cheek and put Its hand up But he had gone disastrously far, said "Dada!" no and roared vilh apolngios could save him. Kingston laughter, and, The a of for the Jack but picnic dragged a little after presence lady, would have flung the bottle at his that, from an outsider's point of view. head. M ardor was In his eye, but a But to Jack it lacked none of the qualmoment's reflection convinced him ities which make a picnic the most that his case was hopeless. He could magnificent entertainment on earth. It was Kingston who kept the chaponly smile feebly and say, "I I erons to see the had amuscl, not very successfully, gone you thought on the way home, for Muriel was talk ru!ns." "What," said Kingston, "and miss Ing quietly ell the time with Jack. From which It Is evident that the thisr Muriel was not laughing. She was fondling of a dirty baby Is as sure a not even smiling. She said nothing, way to the heart of a woman as it Is but walked quickly up to Jack and supposed to be to the vote of a took the child from him. worklngman. "Poor little dear!" she said. "What A Fragrant Memory. la the matter?" merrl-tr.en- t The In travelling salesman for a New Kingston's During a "tune York out Jack ammered perfumery house was a guest at one I fainted of woman the local hotels the other day the "I suddenly, In was and and ok) or to boost his product he and the little beggar howling, I I couldn't find anybody. 1 I didn't distributed rample bottles of the stuff The bell hops managed to corral the know what to do." said "Never mind," Kingston; "you largest portion of the output aad ImWe didn't think It mediately proceeded to sprinkle everydid It beautifully. wa In you." body connected with "the establishMuriel's face was flushed. "Will ment with the result that guests beyou hold htm a little longer, Mr. Bar- came lmprcvl with the Idea that she said, handing back the they were at a backwoods dance. The clay proprietor of the place did not take baby. Jack took It sheepishly, and she kindly to the scheme and advised the krelt down by the fainting woman anl help to don different apparel before began loosening her dress at the neck. rtportlng for duty the next day Al"Oh, I say," said Kingston, "en I bany Journal. help?" "Run for somebody else to help, Butter Test Was U ufalr. said Muriel, abruptly, and he harried The Ioa dairy people hare protectoff. ed against the first competition In trot"Is there any water?" said Muriel. ter at the St Louis exposition. The "Yes," said Jack, "I tried that Minnesota people were rllowed to seme tim ago. Do you 'Aink she is send their butter several days afvr dangerously " the time had closed for entries. This d "Please bring tone." gave them an advantage and this "I'll put here." hs replied, laymuch higher than Iowa In ing the baby down, and be went and June test The July test showed tl.a filled the now empty bottle. lows was practically even with MinMuriel softly bathed the woman's nesota. Now the butter Is being got forehead, and after a little time, much ready for tl e August competition. It t the reliof r.t both, she opened her Is all shipped to Waterloo and frwa eyes and looked round la wonder. there is sent to St Louis. Is" d o s. -- r thv-score- THE FARM IN POLITICS. Sons of the Soil Who Have Gone Seals of tho Mighty. 6'OME VALUABLE te Gradually, but surely, and with never a backward step, does the farm advance. Not in the old sense is ita Importance made manifest Statistics are wanting; but it is probable that the farm, as the birthplace of famous men, Is no busier now than it was, say, fifty years ago. It acquires ita heightened significance wholly from the fact that having long been the fav- Ita birthplace, It is fast becoming the filing place of fame through the ,.dlum of politics. 'ihe Hon Charles W. Fairbanks, second in command of the republican expedition, lingers mentally with fondness, no doubt, la the Big Darby country of northern Ohio; but bodily be lingers there no Jonger. The junction of the farm La bis case was-i- ts oldtime function that of training and nourishing the youthlul stalk, and sending it up, strong aud straight, six feet several inches into the world. But to the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, the Hon. Alton B. Parker, ttie Hon. William J. Bryan and the Hon. Thomas C. Piatt the farm has a present and far from a reminiscent meaning. From the sunny slopes ot Sagamore Hill the president supplies his summer table. The hay, the Newton pippins and the red poH cattle are as much" a part ot Rosemount and Rosemount daily news as the judge himself. At the Fairview stock farm in Lin cola. Neb., the Hereford calf, the Angus cow, the Durham bull and the Poland-Chinpigs dwell together with the farmer In precious Jcffersonlan simplicity. And at Highland Hill one can almost hear the cool drip dripping of the wheels the senior Benator of the Empiro state finds rest and rakes, solace and sweet peas. Thus is the' farm distinguished uplifted. More so even than In ages past when Cincinnatus pushed his willing pTow, or when Webster tossed the Incense-bearinhay. d a ad g A Shade Too Much.' "Whatever in the world Is this, tumMaria?" asked Mr. Tompkins, ball-wafh a over the great parcel bling when he came Into supper after the day's work. "Awning?" he echoed. "Awnings for what?" "Why, for the windows, of course!" "What did you suppose they were for? returned Mrv Tompkins, Impatiently. The tool clu'St or the coal bin? All In the village have got the big hon. 'em. The aont who came here today told me so himaelf, and everything about our house here is so old and eomrn place" "But, Maria," began Mr. Tompkins, mildly, "if all the big houses have got 'em it's only because they're so new that their shade trees haven't bad a chance to any ffgure yet It's Just because this house Is old that the trees father planted and now I come to think of !t, Maria, It was only the the othor day that you complained jf the upstairs room being musty for want of more sun." "And so I did." replied Mrs. Tomk-kinwith asperity. "I can't see that that's got anything to do with twnlngs." "Why, awnings keep out the tun, 1on't they?" "Cmph!" returned Mrs. Tompkins. "If that Isn't just like a man taking everything for granted and never Investigate' anything on his own oo count! Awnings keep out the sun If you want en to, but they don't If you lon'tt The agent himself told me they roll up flat as the wall, and he fixed one on the guest room window to show last how It's done. And so It does, lust as he said." "Well then "Now, It's Just like you Hereklah. to go on finding fault but I'm just that tired of being behind the times la everything! You might about as well cot have a progressive wife, for all the good It does you!" Youth's Companion. y . ct s, The ArchiRhop of Canterbury, Randall Thomas Davison, wbo is coming to Boston in the autmn to attend the Convention of the Protestant Ppl'crpal Church lu America, is the right-fiftArchbishop to bear that title and bas an Income of $75,000 a year. triennial Gt-ner- The oomrrands we give to the Dome our call to the cow are the same by the prehistoric men of our ,tce. In all probability the Arab calls to his camel in the same words aow aa in the days of Abraham or Noah. -- o-1 Built on rocks National banks. VOLUME3. Copies of Dickens' Works That Will Bo Worth $1,000 Each. Tho costliest books ever printed are now being published at Cambridge, Mass., the typographical work being dona by the University Press plant and the binding at the Boston Bindery, in the vicinity of Harvard CoLee. They comprise the complete works of Charles Dickens and will cost 11,009 each, reports the New York Times, of lecent date. There are 130 volumes to a set, maktng the total cost of each subscription $130,000. Only ten sets are to be issued, however, and all have already been Bold, J Pierpont Morgan and the Duke of Westminster being cmocg those to whose librarnes thes-expensive volumes will be added. There is one feature of these cosily volumes which makes them of unusual interest to all who have to do with the printing or collection of books. They are being printed on real parchment, such as was used four centuries The permanent qualities of ago. parchment are known and appreciated everywhere, but all efforts to do successful printing on that material In recent years have failed. Since the secret died with the printers of 400 years ago all attempts to successfully print a book on parchment have proved failures until the process was rediscovered at the University Press and a successful experiment made !n the case of these rare and costly volumes. A set of books of this character cannot be produced In a day, or a year .'or tha matter. Although only 1,300 volumes In all are to be issued, eight years will be required to complete the wcrl: upon them. The books will be bound In the most perfect levant, wjth exquisite colors Ir.iaid in beautiful designs. Much of the ornamentation will be done In gold. The entire edition is hand ni.'irined by expert American, Frcaci blg Italian artists, who have used the most entrancing colors Inl weaving Uf.imy and fanciful designs upon the parchment pages. The Boston .Bindery has been at work upon several other costly and attra tlvo volumes during the past few months.' Among them were the beau-t'.fpresentation copies sent by the famous ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston to King f and President Roosevelt containing the history of that orgacira-sol-1.- 1 ul t'.cn. Arotbor 'cgant volume neccnt: turned out was the book published by Va! University and sent to the Iv'mg of Portugal as an expression of tLe Unlvertity's appreciation of a gilt ' the Portuguese ruler. This was a try bpantif.il and attractive volume which will prove an ornament to even a King's Hi rary. One of the most interesting of the many rare books Issued from this nt was one of almost inrtnit-j,t.iE- l r',zo. lound for a profesaor at Harvard College, wbo desipno-- l It to . i . a weiding prfsrnt for bis II Is a revelation to the ordinary man to walk through this bindery and it. poet do expensive bool)4 being placed In covers of costly satin and exquisite Inlaid leather for men and women of wealth who love to see 'gorgeous and rare volumes upon the r libraries. sLclveg r The owner and manager of the bindery as brought up In a circle which give him good preparation for h's life work. Noran II. White, who Is yet In his early thirties, was prominent at Harvard College aa a fraternity man and an amatuer actor. He was graduated In the class of S5. He has traveled extensively, and while In London discovered at the British museum the little look which Henry VIII wore In Ma watch charm. He had a sketch made of It, and now shows It, together with pictures of some fifty other famous books as a lantern slide. f.-cr-a brl-lo- Abolishing the Billboard Nuisance. The war the bill board nuisance goes on with uncasing vigor and success. Action In the matter has recently born taken In the city of Seattle, Omaha, Kana City and Akron, O., Id the direction of the mitigation or the supprrsion of bill board In Prattle bill boards have brn f lrd out of the city enUde-land the snprrintendent of public works in Ka-sCity bas refused to allow their erection anywhere withla lh city limits. Akron prohibits thorn within fet of any school bou and Omaha requires that the consent of all property owners within 200 foet of the fite proprsed for bill boarla shall first be obtained. Let the good work go on. afrat abom-Instlnfi- g. y 2-- |