Year: 1875

thu trump OF the Archangel sounds the resurrection
morn. Then We shall meet around the white throne
and love forever In the blissfu realms Of eternity.


SCHOOL IN WEST vIRsNIA-AGE. THIRTEEN


II was the purpose OF OF my friends at me
for the m nlstry attended tho Cathedral school
initiated into the good graces Of the ruling spirits
OF the Church Professor Pike took particular fancy
to me, and the good Bishop, now dead, honored me
with bis friendship. Through little avors, presents
and Communications extended me- was fast getting
the inside track OF sacerdota manners. Even the
white sisters and gray nuns stumbled, accidentally,
presume upon my walks about tho church. parsonage
aud through the nunnery grounds How little did the
Mother Superior think that time that young vandal
like myself entered the sacred precincts Of those
neat little cells where the Virgin Mary, pearl beads
ard Christ cruched upon altar, exemplihed the de-
v0ton Of Sister Agnes To lad OF thirteen she pos
sessed the most celestial charms imaginable she was
OF wealthy prominent Virginia family, crossed In
love seeking that peace that earth cannot give In
this dismal nunnery sho hid her disappointment
and endeavored to bury her love. renamed IN her
cell whole night for the reason that the bolts and
bars could not be loosened outside until morning.
Great was our trepdaon lest should be discovered
Reconciliation soon set in How that saddened heart
poured out 10 mo the deepest Of her soul while
sitting on her iron She purely and fondly pressed
me 10 her heart and bade put my trust ~ God who
comiorted the weary and heavy laden. Her angelic


face shone ii the moonlight like splr let loose from
heaven an6 those great gray eyes and youthful form
h my heart TO this day with ray OF her immaculate
purity Eow few men there in this world who have
had the good look into the heart and cell of
a nun How LITTLE is known Of their lives How cruel
the world IN corrupt insin nuations If every nun
occupying secluded cell to-day can boast
Of the pure soul or Sister Agnes they,


tf,~otx. rtafp
that God viii calm their in life and cherish their
spirit beyond the cold and silent grave. often met
my dear sister when the stars and our God
witnessed the holy inspiration that blessed our lives
She would frequently tho outward world, and
seemed ngcr upon the lone and cruel fate that
separated her from the hearthstone OF family affection
But again she would blot out all memory Of the past,
and with sublime eoauencc gather consolation from
the present, trusting In Heavenly Father for his
future forgiveness and love vouchsaled to those who
do His will on earth. Was sho happyH All that is
the enigma Twenty years have passed II living, let
her heart speak the truth OF the coister and If dead
pray for as at the feet of our Redeemer.


STEAMBOAT ExPERIENcE--AGE, FIFTEES


NY first experience after leaving home gained in
the kitchen Of the City Of Wheeling OF the finest
steamers on the Ohio River. l boarded the craft at
Belmont where she taking in a cargo OF nails for
Cincinnati. l had only SO in my pocket The boat
rounded TO- and after dappcr looking clerk
came down on deck searching for waits like myself
was snugly seated bale Of hay near the long
shaft reading yellow back novel which pictured in
glowing colors the heroic conduct of Nancy Downs,
who killed live Indians and panther with her little
hatchetl Suddenly a quick commanding voice rang
out, 'Helo, Johnny where arc you goingf" This
familiar address won at once and with conading
smile mantling my countenance replied to the nice
young man that was bound for Cincinnati and should
be pleased render him any assistance in my power.
Book and pencil in hand and, gazing on me with
look Of supreme power he simply said, Six dollarsi
hurry upln This was sumner, for he saw my pile
and doubled the blind told the young that
was unable 10 respond TO his demands. He then re-
marked, go ashore; knew you wharf rat"
He seemed to know more than did, for mp TO that
moment was ignorant OF the term ''wharf rat" /
aerward learned however that this peculiar animal
foraged freight piles and wharfboats during the
day slept sugar hogsheads and cotton bales
night picking up his "hash about steamboat kitchens
and laying wait for the happy cry OF Scrub pilen
You often found the ''wharf rat' rgged a
black. newsboy, dcck sweeper knife sinner
tender on some floating craft He could whistle, sing
and dance for the edihcaton OF the passer by while he
was continually pressed for cash he never lost his
humor or heart but ko the Arab, when dissats





The clerk finally took me by the collar, introducing
me TO the mate in style that was all compli-
mcntary, punctuatng his remarks with pair OF "long
nines that seemed have been made for that special
business Although young and weak resented the
insult by heaving the head OF the nice young man
stick Of stovewood that lay near the kitchen door 1t
barely missed his classic counenance and unceremoni-
ously aroused the slumber OF an innocent deckhand
who had bunked up among the wheels and pipes Of the
engine room. / TO be put ashore at the next land
ing and chastised by the mate, in whose charge was
left Soon after the nice young man went above ex-
planned George Pepper, the mate, my unfortunate
situation For time he was incredulous as 10 the
truth OF my story but as ncared the landing where


was TO be put ashore his human nature got the better
OF his rough intentions. old Black George the cook,
had been an observer or all that passed. and seeing
that the mate rciented, asked that be allowed
to work my passage by peeing potatoes. There hap
pened to be vacancy in this important position I'm
porant say for the that the 800 cabin passcn
gers depended on the humble potatoe peeer for the
weight OF their dinner. Whenever l caught sight OF
the clerk a scoTl would invoIGntarily pass over his
face He had hard berth, II is true, yet his lack OF
common sense often made him ridiculous and was for
ever getting hum trouble. Tom Taylor for that
his name have been twenty i've years Of age and
had red hair nsh eyes pug nose puckered mouth and
face like an undertaken His position, no doubt, made
him sad FOR no matter how the winds blow rain fell
Tom was always found early and late, checking on the
shipment and delivery OF mountains Of freight He
wore bis pants 10 his boots and supported swallow
tailed coat that was bequeathed him by continental
grandfather. You never petty syrant put 50
much style He would plant himself on the
highest pinnacle OF potatoc piles, hay bales
salt barrels and cord wood and gaze down upon the
sroustabouts" and deck passengers with that supreme
air Of command tina, must have characterized Xerxes
when he surveyed his millions marching on to battle
see him in the cabin when the floating palace glded
swiftly down the beautiful river He was completely
metamorphosed in conduct The beck OF the nrst
clerk whisper Of the captain or Interrogation OF Cen
era Miles tho iron king would settle him at once into
an attitude OF submisson-ha in hand, sycophant smile
and meek a In short he tyrannized over all
below and toaded all above Tom Taylor could have