Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-04-10

surface rs class of work which is espc-
cially Objectionable. Reading and study
ing in railroad cars is known to be II fruit
ful source of injury. But insufficient
light, perhaps more than any other cause,
ment of the vision. This is not confined to
the schools. Sadly frequent us it is found
to be there, it is believ' d to be yet oftener
illustrated at home, both by daylight and
in the evening, in preparation for the
school and otherwise. Artificial illumina-
ton is faulty at best, but, even in the most
favored homes, the elder group is apt to
monopolize the shaded drop-light or stu
dent lamp. while the school boy, with his
text books, is found somewhere in the out
er circle.-Popul'u Science NonMly.
A BEAUTIFUL CoUNTERPANE.-To make
Il beautiful countcrpane for tAe bed, with
very little expense, buy two and three
quarters yards of fine unbleachcd ten
quarter sheeting; f.sten in quilting frames
in tho same manner as bed quilts were
fastened in former days. Then, with II
common sail needle, or very coarse yarn
needle, draw candle wicking through the
cloth in any design previously drawn upon
the cloth with II lead pencil. To follow
the lines of the flowers, stars, wheels,
crosses, or whatever the designs may be,
draw or set the wicking through with the
coarse needle in small stitches, leaving it
quite loose on the upper side in little uni
form loops. When the pattern has all
been worked in this way by the wicking,
cut all the loops on the upper side with
sharp scissors. Rather II homely bed
spread it now looks to be, but take it from
the frames and shake it well, and you will
be surprised at your own work. The
wicking will form itself into little tasses,
which, however, may need little trim
ming and evening with the scissors, if this
is the first attempt; after little expert
ence the stitches can be made very even
and true. But how yellow and frail it
looks Then dip in oold water, and lay it
on the snow or grass to bleach, two or
three days, or until very white. After
this. the cloth will be sufficiently thick,
and the tassels of wicking shrunken in,
till they nc firm as embroidery, and the
appearance upon the bed is attractive and
beautiful. Those who do not know how
they are made would never suspect from
what ordinary materials they were put to,
gether. If the stitches are put in ut II dis
tance of an inch apart all over the surface,
in uniform way, the whole has very
pleasant eff C. when finished. and it is well
for inexperienced persons to try this way
at first and the more complicated patterns
afterwards.
Can the horse run fast?' asked boy OF
milkman the other morning. No,
sonny" replied the purveyor of aqueous
lacteal fluid; " he can't run very f.st but
he can stand the fastest of any horse you
ever saw"
A Georgetown (Mass J man has been
absent from home without having been
heard from for over twenty years and has
just returned. His folks say they should
have begun to worry about him if he had
stayed mnch longer.
A new industry is said to be rapidly
extending in France. 1t consists in the
manufacture of cloth five times lighter
and three times warmer than wool, from
the feathers of domestic and other birds.
The material is waterproof and takes dye
readily.
The CHARIOT OF FIRE.-An indnlgent
parent has been in the habit of singing
nightly to his little boy. The nursery
rhymes had often been hummed, and the
conundrum AS To the whereabouts of the
Hebrew children, and the Journey of the
Prophet Elijah in The chlriot of fire, were
familiar to the little fellows ears. One
evening he asked his father to sing. Well,
what would he sing? The little fellow
didn't care, he said: but he did care. He
wasn't satisfied with any song and asked
for " the other one" continually. AT last
the little fellows patience gave out, and he
said. q Papa sing the other song; one you
always sing, bout the fellow that went up
in cherry tree to fret having reference
to the case of Elijah.
Nor QUITE DEAD.-An old Union
soldier tells this story of IL mules last
kick:
In the first division. second corps, we
had mule noted for his wonderful kick
ing powers. In fact, he was ready to give
any one kick, upon all occasions. On
the road to Richmond he got his leg bro
ken in Il bridge, and was taken out Of the
team and shot, and was, to all appearances,
dead, when II soldier ran up, seized the
mule by the tail. and exclaimed,-
Nov kick!
And the mule, having Just one kick, let
him have it, breaking the soldiers jaw,
and sent him rolling in the ditch. The
soldier never heard the last of being kick
ed by dead mule.
RECKLESS ADVENTURE. An exchange
relates that u drummer for Pittsburg
house, considerably under the influence of
liquor, mistook his rout and drove his
team upon the trestle bridge of the Edin-
burg, Summit and Clarion railroad, Just
this side of the Clarion river, supposing it
to be the wagon road. The trestle bridge
is sixty feet from the ground and about the
same length, but the horses made the GROSS
ing, feeling their way in the darkness step
by step, every foot striking u Tie securely,
until the distance was travelsed and they
stood in safety on the other side; and just
in the nick of time too, AS the express
came laundering by in five minutes after
the drummer and team had left the track
1t is easy to imagine tho terrible catastro-
ply that would have resulted had the
train overtaken the man and horses on the
bridge, The watchman at the end of the
trestle halted the drummer rs he drove off
The track. but was told to mind his own
business. The drummer was right; he felt
the same fearlessness that marks an expe.
rieuced insurance canvasser. He knew,
of course, that he might fall but then he
knew, also, that nine chances out of ten he
would strife on his cheek.