THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
Uo was a connoisseur, a great Jurlgo of pictures 
and sueU things, and his house was a perfect 
museum of art. IIS loved books, too, both for 
their outsides and In. 
Ho was lonely, poring that morning over some 
volume or forgotten law, when his <* female Cere- 
bus,” as he called her, announced a woman and a 
young girl. 
“ Who are they t” ho said. 
“They will not say," sue replied, “but the 
young girl, who Is In deep mourning, says she 
has a letter of introduction.” 
“ Send them in," he answered. 
He stood watching; and, as the lithe, sweet 
figure in deep mourning came Into his presence, 
be started forward as ir to take her hand. 
“ This Is a letter from my late mother, Mrs. 
Marshall," she began, tearfully. 
“From Alice JSstccourt, at last!” he said, 
mournfully. '• She said It would come soon. Itc 
seated, my dear girl, while I read. Mrs. Gibson, 
irt ns nave lauch direct 15 
The letter was soon read, and then he spoke.— 
[To bo continued. 
-♦♦♦- 
ROSEMONT. 
BY PANSY. 
Beaptifui,, oh, so rarely beautiful! Away be¬ 
yond the massive Iron gates stretches a smooth, 
level lawn, of the softest., bl ightest green. Noble 
elms and sturdy oaks mingled with trees of lighter 
form, and shrubs of symmetrical build and beau¬ 
ty dot, the well-kept lawn, and cast cool, length¬ 
ening shadows on t he vel vet grass beneath. The 
rust ic seats, and chairs of fanciful pattern scat¬ 
tered here and there In shady nooks; the large 
marble vases holding exquisite plants and rare 
vines; and the well-kept gravel-walks winding 
through the lawn, show the owner t,o be a person 
of means and cultivated taste. A sharp turn In 
the walk brings the house In view, and we stop 
spe bound by the vision of beauty which bursts 
upon our sight, most fittingly named “ Rosc- 
inont!” 
Before us is a lovely Gothic cottage, almost bld- 
en by the profusion or roses which clamber and 
limb, twist, and twine, around Its pillars, porti¬ 
cos, windows, and doors. Roses, roses every¬ 
where—great creamy-white beauties, rich sul¬ 
phur, palo straw, deep crimson, delicate blush, 
are Provence, bud, blossom, full-blown of every 
sort, kind, and In every form. At the right a 
small fountain Hashes In the clear sunlight; In 
whoso marble ba.-ln stately callas and strange 
water plants mirror their green leaves In Its crys¬ 
tal water, and myriads of tluy gold fish dart, dive 
and sparkle. 
A true September haze filled the atmosphere 
and veiled the far horizon; a sense of peace and 
quietness pervaded the air, as though nature was 
resting, secure and contented, from her labors; 
while the sun soomed to shine lovingly and 
brightly on this charming retreat. 
On the <l!m, cool, shady verandah, a young girl 
lies, lazily swinging in a hammock. The soil, 
perfumed air gently stirs the masses of wavy 
hair so gracefully arranged around the small, 
queenly head, upheld by one dainty hand; and 
the bright, roguish eyes fixed on the fair scene, 
have in them Just now a dreamy, far-away look. 
“It seems so strange there, should be so much 
sorrow, wickedness and misery In the world— 
surely, they can never enter our heautlful homo 1 
I question It Eden ever could have been more glo¬ 
riously lovely!” she mused. Mule did the happy, 
joyous girl know of the dark cloud so soon to en¬ 
velop her In Its misty folds. 
That Neva Germans was wondrously beauti¬ 
ful, and that sue was as lovely In mind aud dis¬ 
position as in person, no one denied or disputed. 
Barely medium size, slender and graceful as a 
fawn, a delicate oval face trained by bands of 
wavy brown hair; low, broad brow, small Gre¬ 
cian nose, a dainty mouth with dimples shy and 
sweet lurking m the corners of the full red lips; 
and a pair or the sauciest, sweetest, softest., roost 
laughing brown eyes you ever saw, completed 
her picture. 
Orphaned at an early age, she was adopted by 
a wealthy uncle, wireless and childless, who gave 
to her the. place of his lost Idol, spirited, lovlDg, 
witty and wl3e; proud, yet. not haughty; tender 
and truo, she won her way at once Into one’s 
heart of hearts. 
On her return from school, two years before, her 
uncle fitted up this place for a summer retreat 
where she, In the joyous calm of her girlish 
heart, fairly revelea; arid to which he. turned at 
nightfall from the crowded city, as a traveler 
turns from the burning sands of a desert to cool¬ 
ing shades and (lowing springs. 
Down the long, dusty roitl, over the hot white 
sands, cluttering and clashing ov r tho stones, a 
hasty rider flashes to the gate, tosses something 
Into a young lad's baud, and Is away like the wind. 
Aroused from her reverie by the sound of hasty 
steps, N'kya slightly raised her head to ascertain 
the cause. Ae she did so, the boy approached, 
and laid In the fair hand, outstretched to receive 
it, a telegram, 
springing from the hammock, and tearing It. 
open, she read; 
•• Your uncle is dead. The body will bo at Roae- 
mont ats.hu 1*. M. L. I>. Lewis.” 
•• Dead!—dead !” she gasped. She gazed around 
with dilated eyes, Into which a horror had swiftly 
crept.; and as the terrible truth burst upon her, 
she aauk down, crushed, silent, benumbed by the 
overwhelming sorrow which rolled Us dark waves 
over her. For hours she sat powerless, motion¬ 
less, her loving heart wrung with anguish; until 
the old Housekeeper, doming to ask some ques¬ 
tion, found her nerveless, calm—tho very four- 
tain of her t ears frozen by Mils great grief. 
On the following day Neva, attended by a few 
old-ttmo friends of her uncle and a motley crowd 
or the country people, paid the last tribute of 
love and respect to the memory of her loved uuclo, 
tenderly laying the precious dusl In the bosom of 
our common mother. 
Mr. Germaine, had Intended that his adopted 
child should Inherit.his vast wealth but by one of 
those strange perversities of men about such 
matters, had delayed the necessary steps until 
too late. Near the el se of the solemn day, the 
old family lawyer requested an Interview with 
Neva, Me told her briefly That, years before her 
uncle had confided a will to his care and that. It 
was now proper It should be opened aud road. 
Neva never forgot the dim, old library, 11/ bted 
by the golden gloss of the brilliant, sunset, or the 
appresslve si Illness or the room, broken only by 
the deep voice or the lawyer, as he told her that, 
she, the loving, cherished, petted child of her 
uncle, was friendless, homeless — alone, — the 
beautiful home she loved so w ell, was a stranger’s 
and she an alien. Gently expressing his sincere 
regret for her mlalortune, and sorrow that the 
property must pass to a distant cousin, and prof¬ 
fering his aid to her If needed, he left her alone 
with her redoubled sorrow. Long and lingeringly 
she gazed over the wMl-kuown home, every ob¬ 
ject telling or the love, generosity, taste, and 
thoughtful kindness or him who had placed them 
there; every plant, shrub and flower reminding 
of hnpp~, joyous hours gone beyond recall, At 
length she hid her face lu the soft velvet cush¬ 
ions, and prayed. What It was that wont voice¬ 
lessly up, to the great, shining Throne, need not 
he told, but it was full of agony nud supplication 
for help and when the little head wps raised 
again, the eyes were bright and shining, lull of 
hope, and the set Ups Indicative of a rigid deter¬ 
mination and purpose. 
Only God knows the terrible anguish tugging at 
her heart's strings, as she bade adieu to her home 
with its cherished associations to t.hc mound 
which covered her more than farther, and turned 
her way out into tho wide world alODe. Ahl 
little did sue know of tho dark, lonely paths her 
little feci must ircf tl, the cruel thorns of heart- 
Iessne88 which would pierce the tender hands; 
the insults and annoyance to which her fatal 
dower of beauty would subject hor. At nightfall 
she reached a well-known city, and with difficulty 
found a quiet lodging from which she might 
search for employment. 
At. school, her masters In painting united In 
praising her talent and wonderful skill In t hat art, 
her taste for which amounted to a passion. When 
tho Href, shock of her misfortune had passed, and 
she began to cast about her for some source of 
support, she at onco determined to turn that 
talent to advantage by becoming a teacher of her 
loved art. 
In her limited knowledge of human mture, 
gleaned from the experience of her sunny life of 
nineteen happy years, she doubted not the 
willingness of old friends to assist her In her pur¬ 
pose. Day after day, shesought friends of former 
Mines, stated her position, and solicited their 
pulronage receiving scorn, neglect, and haughty 
refusals; II ndlng them indeed " summer friends.” 
Night after night, footsore and weary she 
reached home with a discouraged heart, and a 
sad conviction of the selfishness, and hollow- 
hearted ness of human nature. 
Day by day she haunted art galleries, passed up 
and down the busy thoroughfares searching for 
something to give her a foothold; receiving jests, 
Jeers and coarso remarks upon her appearance, 
which shocked her refined nature, and filled her 
timid, shrinking soul with rear. Months passed. 
Uer money, Jewels and clothes were gone; want, 
stared hor In the face; starvation, death seemed 
not far away. The beautiful bloom had fled from 
her cheeks; groat, mournful shadows circled the 
weary eyes; and a tender, pathetic sadness set¬ 
tled about t he perfect mouth, from which the 
dimples had fled, shall she despair and give up 
the struggle ? No, never! “ Every cloud has a 
silver lining," and He who wove It, knows just, 
when to turn It out. 
Possibly this cloud, Impenetrable as It seems, 
ere long may burst, and through tho fissures the 
golden sun come streaming,—the more welcome, 
because or its long delay. As a last resort, she 
called a second time at a popular urt-store, and 
asked for employment. With words of refusal 
upon Uts Ups, the proprietor turned, when hi* 
attention was arrested by the piteous pleading of 
the beautiful face. Instantly there flashed before 
his vision the memory or another such face, dear 
to him, now resting beneath the violets; and 
briefly putting a few questions, he requested her 
to call the next morning. Neva came early the 
next day. The proprietor led the way to a small 
studio, and, to test, her skill, gave her a small 
landscape t.» copy. Nerved by her great need, 
and aided by a strong determination, she not only 
finished t he copy, but improved upon the original, 
to the astonishment of the arUst UlmseLl. En¬ 
couraged by the remuneration given, and by the 
prospect of steady employment, catching faint 
glimpses of tho “ silver lining,” she began to feel 
that the deep waters were becoming more shal¬ 
low, and that she was nearing the shore. 
Her enthusiasm for her art caused her spirits to 
lighten, and she began 10 think the wheel of for¬ 
tune might sometime bo reversed, Some few 
mouths after, a gay party were “ doing ” the gal¬ 
lery. Apart from the others, lingered a Dili, dark 
man, apparently twenty-eight or thirty. The 
Hashing eye and Interested ulr betokened linn 
more of tin enthusiast In art than the others. 
Traversing the rooms, lie came upon a sceue 
which rivaled all others, and held him silent In 
admiration. ( 
In a small room at his right, upon an easel 
rested a magnificent, Madonna, bright and glow- 
tng, with Its rich coloring, and apparently Just 
finished. Before It sat a young girl, the artist. 
The slender form clad In deep mourning was 
slightly bent forward, and so still, so calm and 
motionless, she Heemed scarcely breathing. The 
slight, delicate bauds were resting, closed, upon 
the lap. The small head thrown lightly back, 
and on the pcrfoct features a look of mingled 
roournfuiness, and restful peace reposed. A 
tender, pitying expression crossed his handsome 
face. Quietly retracing his steps, lie Inquired 
the name of the lady, receiving no small shock 
when the proprietor (an old friend) told him ; he 
recognized a name t he owner of which ho, for 
many months, had been engaged In looking for. 
Neva having finished her work came slowly 
down the long gallery, and as she stopped to 
speak to her employer, the gentleman (Nm. 
Mchky) asked and received an introduction. 
Shy and timid as a fawn, sho avoided him at all 
times, and he, with a delicacy equal to her own, 
did not Intrude. Each morning she found on her 
easel, as proof of this kind Interest, a hunch of 
lovely flowers. Slowly, steadily, lie overcame hrr 
shy avoidance of him, by his noble, manly bear¬ 
ing, until she learned to respect and esteem him, 
Unconsciously did ho win upon her, until she 
learned to look to him us a protector, to watch 
tor his coming with pleasure, to listen to his voice; 
telling her of his utter looeltncss In the world, of 
the death of a far-off couslu who had left a vast 
property to him, of all Ids thoughts, hopes and 
feelings; and In turn winning trout her the story 
of her trials, and at. last telling her of the deep, 
love filling his heart. 
Quietly they were married one bright, morning 
in June, and took the cars for his homo (a place 
left him by hla uncle be told her). As they neared 
its vicinity, she noticed familiar landmarks or 
her old home, and flood of bitter memories 
rushed upon her, but as they alighted ut the fu- 
mlllar station wonder and surprise tilled her 
heart. 
Within the carriage, her husband tenderly 
drawing her closely to him, told bet be was the 
cousin, t.o whom Uer unc.e had left his property, 
that he was the stranger who had driven her 
from her lovely home. Tolling her hoiv he had 
returned, Intending to deed all to her, and finding 
her gone, had searched steadily and unsuccss- 
fully two long years for the missing girl, and at 
last, accident led him to the art-gallery where ho 
found his reward. Holding her close to his heart, 
ho pressed a mug, lingering kiss on the sweet 
lips, aud welcomed her to Hosemont again. Du¬ 
ring hla strange narraiive Neva felt that In¬ 
deed the cloud had burst, and through t.be rifts 
the bun poured In dazzling radiance o'er her; 
that tor all l he sorrow she bad ondilrod, three¬ 
fold joy was returned, and a silent prayer went 
up to tho good Father for his wisdom aud guid¬ 
ance through the darkness, Into perfect day. 
■ ■ -—»■»+- 
BEDS. 
One of the best riddles I 11 the English language 
Is on a bed : 
Form'd Iona wo, yet nnuie to-day, 
I’m most in use whilst, others sleep ; 
What few would wish to yive away. 
But fewer still would wish to keep. 
Wh lie all people enjoy their beds, and look lor- 
ward to them every evening of their lives as a 
rest after the toils or the day, as a refuge In sick¬ 
ness, a comfort. In health, a place to bo born In, 
and a place to die In, how various are beds—how 
much do people pf different habits and different 
nations differ In their noUons of what constltutf b 
a comfortable bed! 
it Is curious to notice the habits of different 
nations In regard to beds. However dress, rood, 
manners, cooking, political conditions, may vary 
In other countries, the bedsdlfTer as notably as 
anything does. In Eastern nations the bed Is 
often nothing but a carpet, and la carded about 
and spread In any convenient spot, and the tired 
natlvo lies down In his clothes. I remember a 
child who used to bo puzzled with those miracles 
of our Saviour, who, In restoring an Impotent 
man, directed him to take up btn hod and walk— 
hla idea of abed constating In a four-post bed¬ 
stead, with Its pallalsso, mattruaa, and feather¬ 
bed, besides blankets, sheets, and pillows. But, 
even In very cold countries tho beds are closely 
allied to the Eastern carpet. In taking a furnish¬ 
ed house In Russia, on inquiring for the servants' 
bedrooms and beds, It comes out that the Rus¬ 
sian servants are In the habit of lying anywhere 
—in tho passage, on the floors, on tho mats at the 
room-doors, or even on the carpels in the sitting- 
rooms—generally as near aa possible to the 
stoves lu the winter poaton. But In Russia tho 
houses are kept so warm, by the system of stoves 
through the walls, that much bed-coveilng Is no 
more required In winter than during the heats of 
summer. 
In Germany M 10 construction of the beds gives 
one the Impression that the Germans do not know 
what it Is to lie down. The bedstead la a short 
wooden case; there Isa matlraxs extending from 
head to foit, but so formed that at. the hulf way, 
the upper end la made to slope at an angle of con¬ 
siderable elevation, a nd upon lids are two enor¬ 
mous down pillows, which roach from the head 
or the bed to the half way down to the feet; 
consequently tho occtipunt of M 10 bed lies at an 
angleof at least forty-five degrees, and Is nparly 
loa sitting position all night. 1 n some parts of 
Germany there are no blanket s ; there is a sheet 
tolloou, and another over It, which Is tacked to 
a quilt wadded with down ; and this la the entire 
covering, with the exception of a sort of 
bed, a thick eldcr-dowo quill, but not quilt¬ 
ed, which is placed on the top, and which, 
unless tho sleeper is very quid in Ids sleep, Is 
usually found on tho floor In the morning. In 
hot weather 1 here Is no medium ; either a sheet 
Is the only covering, or one of those over-warm 
eider-downs. 
As the traveler proceeds more and more north- 
erly, the size of the beds seems to decrease, 
and the covering provided to be less adapted lo 
the changes of the seasons. Curtains to beds are 
rarely or never met with In Germany or in Rus¬ 
sia. 
While the bedsteads dwindle down to Mm small¬ 
est possible size In tho northern parts of Europe, 
In the parrs of North Italy near Como and Milan 
urn found enormously large ones. 
Beds have been stuffed with feathers, wool, 
horsehair, what Is called flock, which is an om¬ 
nium gatherum of all sorts of productions, shav¬ 
ings, hay. straw, and in iho south of Europe with 
the soft and elastic dried leaves of maize; dried 
seaweed has also been used, but, pleasant ns it 
was when perfectly dry, the sea-salt abiding 
among It attracted the moisture la every dlrec- 
Mon, from the atmosphere, from t he perspiration, 
&c„, and It became damp unci unpleasant. In one 
or the seasons when hops were abundant, in En¬ 
gland It, is related of a farmer that ho sold tho 
feathers from all the beds In bis house, and re¬ 
placed them with the hops. In another year or 
two, when the hops failed, nnrl the price became 
very high, those b me hops were disinterred from 
their beds, and fetched a considerable sum, far 
more t han sufficient to replace tho former feath¬ 
ers. History does not say whether the. farmer’s 
family slopt more soundly for the hop beds, or 
whether Ilia hops thus preserved were found to 
have any peculiarly line flavor when made Into 
beer. 
There Is no doubt, that a vast, number of people 
In health—we say nothing of Invalids—lie too Jong 
lu bed. It. may also bo said that, they sleep too 
hot, as Well as too long, to be likely to preservo 
Health and live to a good old age. it, has been 
long known that those who have far exceeded the 
ordinary length or human life, whatever their 
other habits may have been, have been early 
risers; also, that, very old people who keep their 
health usually have slept, with very llttlo bnd- 
ooverlng. Young children and people with feeble 
circulations require more clotfling than others, 
but only at, first; and when once warmed, they 
w ould become too liot, tlielrslecp would be broken 
or unrefreshed, unless some of the extra clothing 
were removed. 
The exact character of beds, and the till ness of 
them for the comfortable repose oft heir occupiers, 
will much depend 011 iho habtisot nations, and 
what maybe held to constitute comfort, which 
will vary with Individuals. A Persian ambassa¬ 
dor was once shown lino a bedroom, where a 
grand canopied state bed had been prepared for 
him. lie supposed It whs a throne in Ids audi¬ 
ence chamber, received his visitors seated on It, 
and retired to sleep on the carpet In tho corner of 
the room. 
open windows through the uigbt, are by many 
considered dangerous, and that Isa prejudice to 
some degree founded on truth, that night air Is 
unwholesome. 
Oue may refine to any extent on the luxuries of 
beds and bedrooms for those who have the means, 
but, for the good of tho whole community, certain 
correct principles as to sanitary arrangements 
are fully recognized, and are rapidly coming into 
use. Each nation will have its own Ideas nf com¬ 
fort, hut throughout. M 10 world health Is equally 
important, and the rules which will preserve it 
and promote it cannot be loo extensively known 
or more powerfully recognized. 
To hahltuil Invalids, still more to healthy, act¬ 
ive people conll nod to bod through Some accident, 
the bed Is an Important matter, and not only com¬ 
fort, but. health and life may depend on tho power 
of obtulnlng sleep; and to such the observations 
la this article are addressed. A healthy man, 
act ively employed through the day, with no cares 
to agitato, and no Irritable norvos, can sleep, and 
soundly sleep, anywhere; though the shepherd’s 
boy said he never know what it was to enjoy a 
good night,, as no sooner was his head on the pil¬ 
low than It was time to get up. k. 
---— 
A DARING PEAT. 
Directly opposite the Winter Palace, In St. 
Petersburg!!, and one of tho most conspicuous 
objects on the whole line of the Neva, Is Mie 
citadel or old fortress, and In. reality the founda¬ 
tion or the city, l looked long and Intently on 
t he golden splro of Its church, shooting towards 
the sky and glittering In the biin. 1 his splro, 
which rises tapering till It seems almost to fado 
away into nothing, Is surmounted by a large 
globe, on which stands an angel supporting a 
cross. This angel, being made of corruptible 
sin If, once manifested symptoms of decay, and 
fears were entertained that It would soon bo 
numbered with the fallen. Government became 
perplexed bow to rulfo It; to raise a scaffolding 
to such a bight would cost more than tho angel 
was worth. 
Among tho crowd which dally assembled to 
gaze at It from below, was a roofer of houses, 
Who, after a long and silent examination, went to 
tho Government, and offered to repair R without 
any scaffolding or assistance of any kind. Ills 
offer was accepted; and on tho day appointed ror 
the attempt, provided wlUi nothing but a coll of 
cord, he ascended lusldc to the Ugliest, window 
and, looking fora moment at the crowd below 
and at the splro tap ring away above lilm, stood 
on the outer ledge of the window. The spire was 
covered with sheets of glided copper, which, to 
beholders from below, presented only a smooth 
surface of burnished gold; but t.Ue sheets were 
