The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-04

time way which always has an especial
charm.
"When 1 was a boy, lived in the
large city of P. When L had an
opportunity of going to the country, it
was a great treat, for everything was
great novelty, just as it is when you go
TO the city. One time / went to Yer
mont 10 spend fortnight with an uncle
VINO mad fiye as fun-loving boys as you
ever saw. L was so green that there was
no end to the tricks they played upon
me. One day uncle sent us all up the
mountain with barrel of guano to scat
ter IL one of the fields. We had the
greatest fun rolling it up; it was hard
work, but there were so many of us that
we made play out of it. When our work
was done, we sat down in the shade of a
great elm tree TO rest, and the subject of
our conversation was-the Black Art
The boys had read some books upon
magic and slight-of-hand, and were well
posted in many tricks. looked on in
amazement as a silver dime appeared
and disappeared in Cousin Georges
palm. l never mistrusted that there was
rubber attached to the dime that
witched it up his sleeve. / was sure
Harry made nail disappear in his hair
and come out at his nose, instead of
being carefully concealed between two
fingers. Then there was the pea trick;
the thimble trick; the string and moose
trick; the handkerchief trick-one of
Hcudin's, L think, and so on indefinitely.
With wink that did not understand,
Harry exclaimed.
ooh, did you ever see stars in the
daytime 2"
"No," 1 replied.
"Would you like to real science you
know"
OF course I said eyes"
"Well, just crawl into this empty bar
rel, head first, it'll be dark you know,
an then you'll see EN-"
L did as he told me. l was no sooner
fairly inside than L felt myself moving
then / heard their shouts L understood
how it was. Down, down the hill / went
faster and faster, bounding over the
stones, humping my head from side to
side, for 1 was helpless. The nails in
the barrel tore my flesh and my clothes.
l saw stars enough, for L grew dizzy, and
then tainted. So / went on my John
Gipin ride until the barrel struck stone
wall and flew all to pieces, and let me
out of prison. l lay stunned and bleed
ing. When l came to myself, my uncle
was bathing my face, and the boys look
ing woefully on. %
Willie" said Harry, eve didn't
mean to hurt you we thought we could
stop the barrel after it had gone little
way +; but we couldn't. Why, it went
like lightning %
/ am sure there was smile crept over
his face, though he always denied it. My
uncle, now l was better, went to a bass
wood tree near, and cut several ominous-
looking whips. The boys understood
their meaning; so did L. L got up as
quick as l could, for / still felt faint, and
going to uncle's side, begged for the
boys until l conquered. knew they
did not mean to hurt me, and | could not
bear to have them whipped. They made
a chair Of crossed hands and carried me
to the house. That evening we were un-
usually quiet indeed, / had seen stars to
my hearts content, and my head did not
feel very clear; but l have never forgot
ten my uncle's words, when, with Bible
in hand, he said
"Boys, L wish you to remember there
are more kinds of BLACK Art than one,
and many of them bring death to both
soul and body. If you are asked to take
glass of wine, do not look at it; there
is a BLACK Art concealed there you
cannot understand; but at last it bitteth
like a serpent and stingeth like an adj
der When tempted to use profane
language, remember it is Black Art
that will change your face and soul into
that of fend.
Uncle turned over the Bible leaves
until his finger rested upon "Avoid pro-
fame and vain babblings, for they will in
crease unto more ungodliness."
Again he turned the leaves, saying,
" If tempted to speak an untruth, re-
member the Black Art, though hidden
for time, will be found out"
Then he read, THE lips of truth shall
be established, but lying tongue is but
for moment"
1 never forgot the lesson. Whenever
I see any of these things, / think,
"Black Art, and warn you all to be-
ware"
"I'm rather glad, said Jimmie, "that
Frank played that trick upon me, for we
might not have had uncle's 'sperience."
Interior.