these declined to take action, the Czar resolved 
to act Independently, and having completed the 
military preparation*, which had been lor months 
In active progress, on the 24th ot last April, he 
Issued a declaration ol war. 
The Ilusslan plan ol operations embraced two 
distinct movements—one against the Ottoman 
provinces In Asia, for which an army, under the 
Grand Duke Michael and General Mellkoff, had 
been collected on the east of the Black Sea, and 
the other against those In Europe by an army 
concentrated, on the frontiers or Koumaula. Im¬ 
mediately on the declaration ol war, both these 
armies advanced rapidly, and within a fortnight, 
that In Europe had taken possession ot the chief 
strategical points In Koutnanla, that govern¬ 
ment having at once formed an alliance with 
Russia, and soon afterwards placed an auxiliary 
army in the Held. Here, during the first, two or 
three weeks the military operations were con- 
lined to the march forward of the Muscovites to¬ 
wards the Danube, which separates Bulgaria 
from Koumaula. The Russian Asiatic army, 
numbering 130,000 troops and 300 guns Urst met 
ihe Turks at Alexandcrpol, on the coniines of 
Georgia, and although they suffered a loss of 800 
men, they forced the enemy to retreat and on the 
16th of May achieved a decided success by the 
capture of the strongly fortltlod town of Ardahan, 
which opened the way to them to Kars and 
Krzeroum lurtber to the west. At the outset 
they carried everything before them, as the 
forces under Moukhtak Pasha, the Turkish com¬ 
mander, were lar Inferior in numbers. While 
one division ot their army laid vigorous siege to 
Kars, another advanced ugalnsl iiatoum on the 
Black Sea, and a third pushed forward towards 
Krzeroum, gradually forcing back Mouiiktar 
1’asua, and defeating him on his attempting to 
withstand them in the Soghuull Pass. These 
movements necessitated that their forces should 
bo spread over so large an extent of territory 
that the different sections were not, wltliln sup- 
portlng distance of each other. This gave the 
Turks an opportunity of concentrating their 
forces against, each division and on t.lie 23d of 
June Dkbviscu Pa.sua completely routed the 
right, wing In the neighborhood of Jdatoum. On 
the 21 st, ot the same month Mocktttah Pasha, 
having received considerable reinforcements, be¬ 
gan a forward movement from Krzeroum, and 
after obtaining several successes, Inflicted upon 
Gen. Mkukoi'k a decisive defeat at Zewln on the 
25th of .Time. Advancing still further to the 
cast, he opened communication with Kars, into 
which he threw 4,out) men, and finally forced the 
Russians to raise the siege and retreat, Into their 
own territory, 'There they were heavily rein¬ 
forced, and the subsequent movements of both 
armies, ending In the recent oveiwhelming 
CHARITY 
MY BROTHER 
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE RUSSO 
TURKISH WAR. 
Only a drop in thr-. bucket. 
But every drop will toll ; 
The bucket wonld soon be empty 
Without the drops in the welL 
Only a poor little penny. 
It wag all I bad to (rive ; 
But as pennies make the guineas. 
It may help some cause to live. 
A few little bite of ribbon 
And some toys—they were not new 
But they made the sick child happy, 
Which has made me happy, too. 
Only eonio outgrown garments— 
They were all I had to spare ; 
But they’ll help to clothe the needy, 
And the poor arc everywhere. 
A word now and then of comfort, 
That cost me noth nig to say ; 
But the poor old man died happy. 
And it helped him on the way. 
God loveth the cheerful giver. 
Though the gift be poor and small 
What doth he think of his children 
When they never give ot all ? 
Who was it picked up all the chips, 
And strewed the floor with strings and whips, 
And in the washtub sailed his ships? 
My Brother, 
Who was it ate the currant-jell, 
Aud threw my kitten in the well. 
And made me promise not to tell ? 
My Brother. 
Who was it taught mo how to skate, 
And sat me on the ice to wait, 
W'hile he went home with Cousin Kate ? 
My Brother. 
W T ho was it, when he older grew, 
To tops and marbles bade adieu. 
And tried, but could not learn, to chewi 
My Brother. 
W ho does a tiny|moustaehe wear, 
And oils and colors it with care, 
And in the middle parts his hair ? 
My Brother. 
Who is it tumbles up my curls, 
Aud buys me bracelets, rings, and pearls. 
And flirts with all the pretty girls ? 
My Brother. 
Aud talks to me about his clothes, 
Aud all my little secrets knows, 
And teases me about my beaux ? 
My Brother. 
W'ho is it that I love the best 
Of all the boys iu east or west, 
Although he is a perfect pest ? 
My Brother. 
The Immediate causes that have led to many of 
the bloodiest wars that have cursed humanity 
have often been of a trivial nature; hut In such 
oases there has generally been, between the bel¬ 
ligerents, either a prior roeltng of hostility or u 
clashing of interests which disposed one or both 
or them to exaggerate trifles Into Justifiable pre¬ 
texts for gratifying their passions or ambition by 
Inflicting on the world the calamity of war. Be¬ 
tween the Muscovite and Turk there has been, 
for generations, a fierce spirit oi animosity, tin- 
blttered by fanatic religious differences, growing 
opposition of interests, aud the revengeful re¬ 
membrance of many former eonlUcts. since the 
combined forces of England. France and Sardinia 
aided the Turks to defeat the Russians In the 
Crimean war, It, has been an open secret tb.it the 
Colossus of the North has been waiting only for 
the union of a favorable opportunity and plausible 
pretext te avengB that humiliation, and prose¬ 
cute the projects or ambition and aggrandise¬ 
ment then thwarted. The friendship of Germany, 
the compulsory inactivity of France, and the 
HEAVEN NEARER 
“ Now is our salvation nearer than when we be¬ 
lieved."—Rom. xltt. 11. 
Paul appeals to the Christians ul Rome to be 
faithful In service and submissive to their trials, 
by reminding them that their salvation was near¬ 
er than when they first believed aud entered 
upon the now life. It, Is an appeal that does not, 
often influence us as It. should, or ub It would If 
we prayerfully meditated upon It. 
The nearness of final, complete salvation in 
heaven, Is adapted to animate and comfort the 
heart under Its varied burdens of trial and sorrow. 
Many are the afflictions or t he righteous," but 
in the heaviest pressure ot them there Is hope or 
deliverance, of final entire exemption from them, 
and ot surpassing gracious reward In that land 
where “the wicked cease from troubling aud the 
weary are at rest..” 
“ Now is our salvatlou nearer" than when we 
entered upon the new lire. This Is a comforting 
truth. Even “ now" many or our appointed trials 
are actually over and dono with forever. They 
are now fewer than when we first encountered 
them.. Soon the very last cne of all will alone 
remain. 
Surely we should not faint with such a prospect 
of the termination of all our troubles. We strive 
for a glorious prize. So far from being dispirited, 
every new trial should bo met with cheerfulness, 
because there Is one less to encounter. Every 
victory gives new strength and added skill; every 
success makes the burden lighter, the foe less 
formidable, and the conquest easier; and we are 
thus the more prepared for the final struggle and 
the victor’s triumph. 
We are nearer te the prize. If we were told that 
the very last trial had come, how should we be 
braced to meet it, and especially If we were as¬ 
sured or success! We have that, assurance. “This 
Is the victory that overcometh the world, even 
our faith" In the infinite merits of the Lord Jesus. 
Our armor la of heavenly temper, and the Cap¬ 
tain of our salvation Is with us; the joy of the 
Lord Is our st rength. When we eorne to the clos¬ 
ing conflict, “the last enemy shallbe destroyed 
death shall have no sting, and the grave no vic¬ 
tory over as. 
Let us he steadfast and patient, and hope until 
the end. Let us work while the day lasts, In 
faithful love to all with whom we have to do. The 
end draweth near. Soon the last trial will be 
past, the final affliction ended. 
ANXIOUSLY WAITING, 
Peak Mu. Kuitoh.—W ill you let me have a few 
words to say to the boys and girls who write for 
and read your paper? 1 can’t quite class myself 
as one of them In years, but If they are willing, I 
would like to write with and te them sometimes. 
What do you say boys and girls ? 1 ’ve passed my 
teens, will you take me In ? f read your letters 
with a great deal ot pleasure, and living In the 
country myself, take a great deal of Interest lu 
you all. on three sides of me now 1 can see the 
waters of the boauiliul river on Which 1 live, 
which with Its never ceasing flow and high banks 
of constantly changing verdure makes the coun¬ 
try anything but the lonely place some poor city 
cousins try to believe It. You and I know better 
than that. Why I’ve never laughed so much as I 
have since 1 lived here, aud as tor luu, why it’s 
the very place for It. 
Why Is It that I see no let ters In the paper this 
week, my young friends? Perhaps you are aU 
getting ready for those prizes Uncle Tuck has 
offered. Now, though I don’t suppose T’d bo at- 
untrustworfchy nature or these, they refused to 
accept them, and secretly aided by Scrvla and 
Montenegro, both of which pi ovlnces were ambi¬ 
tious of freedom from Ottoman rule, continued 
the unequal conflict. 
Meanwhile, Russia had constituted herself the 
champion of the oppressed, and urged Urn Powers 
to take action In t heir behalf, and oo the 3rd of 
January, 1870, the famous Andrassy Note, drawn 
up by Austria, Germany and Russia, and con¬ 
sented to l>y England, was presented to t he Forte, 
demanding certain specified reforms In the treat¬ 
ment of its Christian subjects, and requiring 
heavy guarantees that tliese should he faltlitully 
carried out. While negotiations on this basis 
were still In progress, a LuiuUoal crowd of Mos¬ 
lems attacked and murdered the French aud Ger¬ 
man consuls at Solonlca; aud so great became 
the excitement throughout the country that a 
general massacre of the Christians was foi some 
weeks seriously apprehended. 
Following quickly upon this excitement came 
the dethronement and suicide of Sultan Abdul- 
Aziz. who was succeeded by his nephew, Murad, 
whose reign only lasted a couple of mouths, 
when he lu turn was deposed, on the ground ol 
hopeless mental Incapacity, and succeeded by his 
brother Abdul Hamid 11. the present Sultan. 
During these domestic troubles, negotiations 
were necessarily Interrupted, and those provinces 
DOUBLE ACROSTIC 
1. Grecian games celebrated In honor of Her¬ 
cules. 2. One of the Muses. 3. The destroyer of 
the Temple of Diana at Ephesus. 4. A word ex¬ 
pressive of usefulness. 6. A celebrated game or 
undent times, c. A peninsula of Central Amer¬ 
ica. 7. A woman turned Into a spider. 8. One of 
the leaders ot the French Revolution. The In¬ 
itials read upwards will name a favorite poem, 
and the finals read upwards will name Its author. 
Answer In two weeks. n. b. 
GOLDEN MAXIMS 
Oct. 26 . We ought as much to pray for a bless¬ 
ing upon our dally rod, as upon our dally bread.— 
Dr. Owen. 
Oct. 29. If we accustom ourselves to self-denial, 
we break tbe force of most temptations.—Bond. 
Oct. so. Few Christians perish rrom the cutting 
winds at adversity ; while many wither and fall 
away beneath the burning sun of prosperity. 
Oot. 31. Affliction is a powerful Incentive to 
prayerwe need a refuge In distress, and we And 
It at the mercy-seat.—Bruce. 
November l. None shall be saved by Christ, but 
those only who work out their salvation ; we can¬ 
not do without God, and He will not do without 
us.—if. Hem'y. 
Nov. 2. There la no eloquence like that of a 
heart burning with the love of Christ; such a 
heart speaks in words of flame.— T. Jackson. 
Nov. 3. 1 have always observed this, that the 
people of the world never speak well of It at part¬ 
ing.— Airs. Savaye. 
HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE 
1. A town 01 Massachusetts. 2. A city of South 
America. 3. A cape of the Virginia coast. 4. A 
river of Minnesota. 5. A vowel. 6. An animal. 
T. A shade tree. 8. A country ol Europe. 9. A 
city of Holland. Centrals form a luscious fruit. 
ggr Answer In two weeks. Utile One. 
HIDDEN FOREIGN COINS, 
l. How many of you are taking seats In the car ? 
Linda, Minnie and I will walk. 
•2. Rub Leo’s arm with the liniment; It will re¬ 
move the pain. 
3. Dr. St. Iver has left Dr. Gemmer the care of 
his patients tUl his return from Europe. 
tif Answer In two weeks. l. w. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Oct. 20 
Hidden Lakes.— 1, Balli: 2, Ngaml: 8, Saratoga; 
4, Champlain; 5. Saranac; 6, MemphremagOB ; 7, Lake 
of the Woods ;S,Pontchartrain ; 9, Sohodie; It), Mask; 
11, Geneva. 
STAR PUZZLE.— 
