THE CHAMBER OVER THE GATE. BY HENRY W. LONGFELLOW. Is it so far from thee, Thou canst no longer see, In the Chamber over the Gate, Is it so long ago, O Absalom, my son ! There is no far nor near, To that cry of human woe, From the ages that are past Somewhere at every hour The watchman on the tower O Absalom, my son! He goes forth from the door O Absalom, my son! That 't is a common grief THE GERMAN CORNFLOWER. -Cornflowers figured largely among the decorations that graced the recent golden wedding of the Emperor and Empress of Germany, and these flowers are great favorites with the royal family. The cornflower of the Germans is nothing but our American bachelor's button, which, every one knows, is not a distinguished member of the floral family. It is not, therefore, for its stately bearing or intrinsic beauty that the humble flower has found favor in royal eyes. Years ago, when Prussia lay crushed under the Napoleonic rule, the beloved Queen Louisa and her family lived in exile in a village near Königsberg. The young princes often gathered the flowers growing among the corn. These they carried to their mother, who wore her children's offerings as ornaments, in place of the jewels she had been accustomed to wear as Queen of Prussia. The children never forgot these happy days, and the cornflowers associated with them. The beloved mother and queen has become a memory of the past, but her son William has always cherished the cornflower as his chief favorite during his long career as Prince William, King of Prussia, and Emperor of Germany. The flower has held the most prominent place in the floral ornamentations during the celebration of three great events in Kaiser Wilhelm's history, all occurring within less than a year, — in the thanksgiving festivities which commemorated his escape from assassination last fall; in the jubilee over his eighty-second birthday on the twenty-second of March; and in the recent celebration of his golden wedding on the eleventh of June. - Providence Four nal. CAREER OF A BOSTON INVENTOR. these inventions is the transferring to women by these machines of the whole operation of drawing and arranging the hemp fibres and spinning them into yarn, a work formerly performed by men alone. Nearly all the bagging at the West is made from yarn spun in this way. Few persons realize how much these machines have done for our mercantile marine, or even know that they exist; and fewer still know the name of the inventor. Mr. Treadwell became a professor in Harvard College, and taught the application of science to the useful arts. While thus engaged he invented and perfected the process of making heavy ordnance of wrought iron. Several of his guns were made for the United States army and navy. They are now made after the same methods for the British Government, under the name of Armstrong guns. IN the extensive fire on Saturday evening, a part of the large Government ropewalk was destroyed, and with it several machines used in the manufacture of cordage. These machines were invented by Daniel Treadwell, and built under his direction. He was born in Ipswich, Mass., and began his career in Boston as a silversmith. In 1826, after inventing a printing-press worked by a treadle, much like those now in use for card-printing and other light work, he invented and patented a power-press driven by steam or waterpower; upon this the first sheet was printed by other than hand-power on this continent. Upon it the Boston "Advertiser " was subsequently printed for many years. It was as completely automatic as those now in use, with the exception of taking off the paper. About 1830 he invented the machinery for spinning hemp for rope-making, and for preparing and spinning the hemp and tarring the yarn. These processes, which had before been performed by hand, -no yarn having been spun for this purpose by machinery in any part of the world, - were by Mr. Treadwell's invention transferred to automatic machines, with a vast saving in the cost of production and a great improvement in quality. He established his machinery on the Mill Dam in Boston, and there manufactured into cordage a thousand tons of hemp annually; for, in consequence of these improvements, cordage had now, for the first time, become an article of export. In 1838 he contracted with the United States Government for eighty machines for the Navy Yard at Charlestown, which have continued in use to this time, a part of which have now been burned. These machines effected a saving annually to the Government at this yard alone of ten to twenty thousand dollars. Similar machines were afterward erected for the Government at Memphis. They are now used in most parts of the world. The English Government many years ago introduced them in the manufacture of cordage for their navy. Not the least interesting of the changes brought about by AN OLD RELIC. In looking over the improvements being made by Mr. Nesmith, the proprietor of the Cattle Fair Hotel, Brighton District, there was noticed in the large public room an open coal-grate with two firefaces. This old piece of furniture has an interesting history and a thousand associations, which Bostonians of the last generation will recall. When old Zach. Porter kept the Cattle Fair Hotel, some forty years ago, he had this grate placed in the bar-room, and, it is believed, invented it. It was made to set in an iron plate placed in the middle of the floor, with a direct draught from beneath, and an ash-receiver in the cellar. When Zach. left the Cattle Fair, he carried it with him to Cambridge, and upon the abandonment of the cattle-market at Cambridge and the sale of the hotel, it was purchased and brought back to its original place at the Cattle Fair. It is estimated that during its existence hundreds of thousands have warmed themselves and drunk their flip around it. The grate was the great favorite with sleighing parties. It is still in good repair, and gives out heat like a foundry furnace. Traveller. CHRISTMAS, 1878. FESTIVE, merry Christmas Day, Crowned with wreath and holly spray, Now is here! And its presence well may fill Every heart with joyous thrill, Once a year. Hailed in sunshine or in storm, In the cottage, in the hall, 'Tis the time when passions cease, 'Tis the reign on earth of peace And good-will; And the angelic voice of old, 'Tis no time for gloomy thought; Selfish care should be forgot For a while. Every heart should now be light, Every countenance be bright With a smile. Raise aloft the Christmas-tree, Sacred to the family; For 't will bear Fruits of happiness and joy For each little girl and boy, Many a year. Let its branches, spreading wide, Many a precious present hide. Do not spare! For such fruit will ne'er decay, But, when gathered, will repay All your care. Let the stockings still be hung Santa Claus, whose generous hand Amply fill the festive board! Christmas Day may well afford Goodly cheer. But remember well the poor; In your basket and your store Let them share. Thus may merry Christmas bring And each memory be bright AN ANECDOTE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON. - The house which Newton occupied, on the south side of Leicester Square, in London, is still standing, and his observatory is still shown to visitors. When he took up his residence there, his next-door neighbor was a widow lady who was much puzzled by the little she had observed of the philosopher. One of the Fellows of the Royal Society of London called upon her one day, when, among other domestic news, she mentioned that some one had come to reside in the adjoining house, who, she felt certain, was a poor crazy gentleman, "because," she continued, "he diverts himself in the oddest ways imaginable. Every morning, when the sun shines so brightly that we are obliged to draw the window-blinds, he takes his seat in front of a tub of soap-suds and occupies himself for hours in blowing soap-bubbles through a common clay pipe, and intently watches them till they burst. He is doubtless now at his favorite amusement," she added; "do come and look at him." The gentleman smiled, and then went up stairs, when, after looking through the window into the adjoining yard, he turned round and said, "My dear madam, the person whom you suppose to be a lunatic is no other than the great Sir Isaac Newton, studying the refraction of light upon thin plates, - a phenomenon which is beautifully exhibited upon the surface of the common soap-bubble." MRS. STONE'S MUNIFICENCE. MENTION has been made at various times during the past two years of the generous public gifts of Mrs. Valeria G. Stone, of Malden. These have reached their limit, and present a total of nearly $1,800,000. This limit is defined by the fact that the estate of the donor's late husband, Daniel P. Stone, which amounted to upwards of $2,000,000, has now been fully distributed, excepting such comparatively small reservation as Mrs. Stone has made for her own support. Mr. Stone was a retired Boston merchant, who died at the age of eighty years, at Malden, Aug. 14, 1878. He was born in Topsham, Me., and in early life was engaged in the retail dry-goods business in Brunswick in the same State. About the year 1825 he removed to Boston and established a drygoods jobbing trade, his store being on Kilby Street. The firm at first was Bartlett and Stone, and later D. P. Stone and Co. and Stone and Page. Mr. Stone retired from business about the year 1850 with a handsome property, which by shrewd and cautious investment gradually swelled to the sum already indicated, $2,000,000 and upward. The maiden name of Mrs. Stone was Goodenow, and she is a sister of the late Judge Goodenow of Alfred, Me. Some time prior to his decease the matter of the distribution of this large estate was agreed upon by the two in this way, that it should be distributed "to educational, charitable, or benevolent institutions, causes, or objects." In case he should survive he would so dispose of it, and in case he should not it would, by the terms of his will, come into her full possession, and she in like manner was to see to its distribution. They had no children. The will provided for some bequests to relatives, but so far as the residue and great bulk of the property is concerned, did not impose any restrictions upon her, so that the gifts are practically hers, she having legally the full disposition of this residue. To this end, the minor bequests having been met, the property was placed in the hands of three trustees, Rev. Amherst College, Stone Professorship of Biology. American Missionary Association, for Institutions at Nashville, Atlanta, Talladega, Tougaloo, and New Orleans. Bowdoin College, Professorship of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, and to finish Memorial Hall. Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. $53,000 50,000 150,000 75,000 10,000 53,000 . 35,000 55,750 10,000 10,000 30,000 22,500 50,000 100,000 Andover Theological Seminary (additional). toward a new Building. To Relations and Friends, about. To aid struggling Churches and Students, and to save Mortgaged Homes, about. Boston City Missionary Society. Boston North End Mission. 110,000 25,800 25,000 600,000 150,000 THE ROSE AND THE RING. BY FREDERICK LOCKER. A very pretty specimen of Mr. Locker's poems is the one on Mr. Thackeray's story of "The Rose and the Ring." It seems that in the winter of 1854 Mr. Thackeray wrote this story in Rome, and brought it chapter by chapter to read to the daughter of Mr. William W. Story (the sculptor), who was then recovering from a severe illness. When it was published, Mr. Thackeray sent the child a copy of the book, with one of his own caricatures of himself in the act of presenting her with the work. On this Mr. Locker has written as follows: SHE smiles, but her heart is sable,~ He penned for her while she was ill. And when it was printed, and gaining She will study the Rose and the Ring. It pleased the kind Wizard to send her She reads, I may vainly endeavor Her mirth-checkered grief to pursue; For she hears she has lost and forever A heart that was known by so few. But I wish on the shrine of his glory One fair little blossom to fling; And you see there's a nice little story Attached to the Rose and the Ring! JOHN MACKAY'S GRASSHOPPER BET. [From the Carson (Neavda) Appeal.] SOME weeks ago John Mackay was sitting in the Gould and Currie office, reading about the "Jumping Frog of Calaveras," when an idea struck him that some sort of trick like that would be a splendid thing to ring in on Maurice Hoeflich, the mining expert. Hoeflich is around the office a good deal, and whenever he takes a lunch with Mackay he is sure to get in some sort of dispute and offer a bet. Mackay does n't like betting, and frowns it down, unless he thinks people are trying to bluff him. At last he determined to cure Hoeflich of his habit, and find where the weak spot in his armor lay. One day he saw Hoeflich on the stoop playing with an enormous grasshopper, which he was teaching to jump. Hoeflich's grasshopper could jump twenty-three feet, and it was not long before he remarked to Mackay: 66 "I'll bet you two dollars dot you can't find a hinsect to peet him!" Mackay bet ten dollars that he could beat it, and Hoeflich raised it to twenty at once. The bet was closed at these figures, and Mackay said he would have the hopper there in a day or so. He then sent a trusted emissary down to Carson Valley to secure a contestant for the winged steed of Hoeflich. The man spent nearly a week roaming in Carson Valley catching hoppers. He finally sent an official report to Mackay, stating that he had caught over three thousand grasshoppers and put them through their paces. The best gait any of them had was seventeen and three-quarters feet. He doubted if a bigger jumper could be secured. On receipt of the letter the bonanza prince telegraphed to the man to bring him up anyway. The next day he arrived with about a dozen hoppers from Farmer Treadway's, and Mr. Mackay gave them quarters in his room as Vanderbilt would stable his stud. Each hopper had a cigar-box to himself, and every morning they were taken out and put through |