Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-03

my ways are SO black. But I'm glad
I've seen ye, my good child, for you've
stirred up my conscience bit, and
I think I'll be all the better for it.
Good.by. You did mighty reckless
thing in asking me in but you've
done yourself no harm by it. Good
by.
He left himself out of the door, and
was gone before Maggie realized what
she had done; then with great sense
of relief, for the mystery Of the noise
above was explained by the cats COM
ing out. 1t seems that when Mrs.
Allen had gone to the wardrobe for
her dress for the evening, pussy fol-
lowed her, and, not being observed,
was locked in. Easily explained !;
but how great a trouble might have
arisen from the triaing accident.
Mr.. and Mrs. Allen listened with
interest to Maggie's recital of the
evenings adventure, and declared
that if it should ever be in their pow
er to help him, they would do some
thing for Midnight Joe.'
THE CAMpHoR TREE.-One of the
most useful and magnificent produc-
tious of the vegetable kingdom that
enriches China, and more particular
ly the provinces of Kiang.si ard Can,
ton, is the camphor tree. This stu
pendous laurel, which often adorns
the banks of the rivers, was in several
places found BY Lord Amhert's EN-
bassy above fifty feet high, with its
stem twenty feet in circumference
The Chinese themselves affirm that it
sometimes attains the height Of more
than three hundred feet, and a cir
cumference greater than the extend
ed arms OF twenty men could embrace.
Camphor is obtained from the branch.
es by stepping them, while fresh cut,
in water for two or three days, and
then boiling them till the gum. in the
form of white jelly, adheres to a
stick which is used in constantly STIR
ring the branches. The fluid is then
poured into a glass vessel, where it
concretes in few hours. TO purify
it the Chinese take quantity of fine
ly powdered earth, which they lay at
the bottom of copper basin; over
this they place layer of camphor,
and then another layer of earth, and
so on until the vessel is nearly filled,
the last or topmost layer being of
earth. They cover this last layer with
the leaves of a plant called po oho,
which seems to be a species of the
meutha (mint) They now invert a
second basin over the first and make
1t air tight by luting. The whole is
then submitted to the action Of reg
ulated fire for certain length Of
time, and then left to cool gradually.
On separating the vessels the camphor
is found to have suolimed and to have
adhered to the upper basin. Repeti-
tions of the same process complete its
refinement. Besides yielding this
valuable ingredient, the camphor tree
is one of the principal timber trees Of
China, and is used not only in build
ing but in most articles Of furniture.
The wood is dry and of light color,
and, although light and easy to work,
is durable, and not likely 20 be in-
jured by insects.
How HE SERVED HIM.-General
Mattoon, of Amherst, Mass, formerly
sheriff of Hampton county, on start
ing one snowy winter many years ago
to drive to Northampton to open
court, met team and shouted to the
driver, Turn out am high Sheriff
Of the county
Then the man pulled his coat collar
up around his ears and replied Il