Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-19

was shivered to pieces But the darkest
hour comes just before the dawn. The
glow above gradually subsidized and died
out, the people grew less fearful and
went back to their homes, the real night
/ came on and when next morning dawned,
everything was bright and clear, and the
| world was as natural as before. The
phenomenon was noticed in greater or
less degree from Quebec to Kingston, and
far into the states, but Montreal seemed
its center. 1t has never yet been ex-
| planned" an
The Venerable Sledge.
LIB. P. Shillaber's Partingtonian Patchwork.
When the Venerable Sledge joined the
Tweedlevill Church there was sensa-
ton. He had been set down as one OF
the hardest headed and hardest-hearted
among the inevitably doomed; and though
he had done well by the church and had
helped to support it, they had long since
come to the conclusion that the Venera-
| BILE Sledge could not be pointed to as a
living light illustrative of the efficacy OF
| their labor. It was told of him that at
one time committee was appointed to
wait on him and expostulate with him on
some practices that would not, they con-
ceived, help him to any moral elevation.
| to take something for the stomach's sake,
| listened to all they had to say, and with
out replying, asked them if certain pew
that he named was for sale, sending them
back with the assurance that he thought
he should buy that pew, which he did.
The Venerable Sledge joined the
church, and though those who knew him
best could not see any particular change
| in him. his few associates were aware of
a wonderful transformation. His jokes,
| in which he occasionally INDUCED, were
no longer the fruits of levity, but of inno-
cent playfulness, and his laugh which,
before his joining, was the outward ex-
preston of an unclean spirit, was now
| the bulletion of cheerful temper.
There was picnic in grove, got up
| for the delectation and benefit of the small
| fry of the parish, and the old were all in
vited to give counsel to the young by
presence and word; and they all went,
| the Venerable Sledge among them. 1t
was delightful to see him trudging toward
the depot with his capacious basket, and
his coat pockets full to repletion with
| good things. Even the dogs looked
pleased es he went along, and turned and
followed him few steps, as if looking
for an invitation, and then ran away, lick
ing their chops, and, undoubtedly, regret
ting that they belonged to some other
| parish. The picnic was a great affair.
The sponge cake and doughnuts were the
lightest that were ever made, but the
speeches were very heavy-at least the
| children thought so-and the day passed
nominally happy, though, in reality, all
that thought anything about it, as ever
| since picnics were invented, said to them
selves it was bore, to be tolerated,
| however, for the sake of the children.
The Venerable Sledge thought for a
long while that he was happy He
premenaded and swung, and played
Copenhagen with a truly delightful tenn
per, but at last his laugh was forced and
his legs were weary; his patience gave
out and large black ant, crawling up
one of his feet handles, broke him up
completely He vowed he never would
be caught in like scrape again [
should like to know one who has not
| made the same resolution, and [ should
like to know one who has ever kept it.
In mood far more placid, with his
hands thrust deep into his pockets, as if
he were trying to keep something from
| jumping out, the Venerable SleGge roam
ed about like perturbed spirit, whistling
| s'Ever be happy an injunction in wide
| contrast with his real feelings. The day
had seemed very long to him, but he
knew it must come to an end-he had
never known one to keep more than
twenty -four hours, apd the reflection had
| touch of joy in it. A voice accosted
him.
''Mr Sledge," said the Seductive Dea-
con Tung, touching his arm, 1--WE are
about taking up a contribution for our
Sunday-schOol, and would like to have
yonr name for five spot"
''Make 1t ten," said Sledge, in a very
Idemonstrative manner.
| s'Oh, thank you. He that giveth, you
know, lendeth, and so FORTH" replied
Tung. 1a5sa
'sWhat building is that!" asked the
| Venerable Sledge, for the first time OBJ
serving very long building near; ''is it
a rope walk?"
ooh, mol" said the Seductive Deacon,
smilingly, "and [ am surprised to hear
you ask such question. That's bowl
ing alley"
"And now l am foored!" said the Ven
cradle Sledge; spray tell us what bowl.
ing alley isis, it anything like this?"
making his hand as near like wine glass
as he could and pretending to drink.
"Bless you, no. replied the Seductive
Deacon Tung; sit is very innocent and
harmless amusement and exercise, called
by many nine-pins Let us see if we can
not get in, and 1 will show you"
He went to the house near by, and re-
turned with the key, the Venerable Sledge
taking deep interest in the proposed
| lesson.
s"Tis played with balls, is it?" he said,
as he tried to get hold of one of the big
balls, which seemed to evade his grasp
and slip from his fingers.
eyes, ''said the Seductive Deacon Tung.
'sThe pins are set up on the boards yon-
der. We stand at this end of the alley,
and throwing the balls, knock down as
many of the pins as we can, and those
who knock down the most win the
game"
The Venerable Sledge looked at the
Seductive Deacon and the man that owned
the alley, who had come in hoping to get
quarter, and then at the board, and
then he tried to lift the ball again, max
ing awkward work of it.
| SIf you think there'd be nothing wrong
in it, said the Venerable Sledge to the
! Seductivn deacon. tsT think T should like