National Greenback Monitor from Wichita, Kansas • 6

TEE AFTEBTIME. Iturn his neck to look out of the window. By a contrivance of his own, he is able to see the green would stop in Sandy Spencer's and take along a few bottles of Scotch or Bass's ale. Although WestonMs a temperate man in the general sense of the term, he is fond of a glass of good ale or wine. Weston is a shrewd poker-player.

While his opponents are looking at their hands to see what they hold, his keen A wee cot house atmne the knowe, A snod flowr-yaird wl' mony a posie, Where lilacs bloom and myrtles grow Beside a bower fu' snug and cosie. Twas there I woo'd my winsome May; When Spring keeked oot rae bank and brae in mony a Dua ana mony a uuisauw. 'II. An auld kirk stands beside the stream That wimples through the daisied mead ow When cowslins irUnt and lilies srleam fields, the flowers, and the bright sfcy. A small looking-glass is hung on the end of a short stick.

The other end is placed between the contorted fingers of one hand, and the glass is held so that he may see nature's face reflected in that 10 by 12 frame. This is Mr. Rankins's way of "taking an airing." It is a favorite occupation, and the mirror was before him when the reporter entered. Mr. Rankins is forty-one years of age, but looks surprisingly young for a man whose constitution has borne twenty-nine years of unremitting pain.

He has a handsome, intelligent face, which speaks but slightly of his sufferings, and looks as happy and cheerful as human countenance can'. Head, body, legs, Beneath the spreading bourtree's shadow and arms are as clods so far as his power over them is concerned. He can work his ankles a very little. His fin gers and toes' are all disjointed and in one thumb is the only material joint in his whole body. He can produce a slight, rocking motion by working his ankles a little.

His bed is made at night by putting blocks under his chair- rockers, tipping tne cnair oacK a niue, and covering him witn quuts. rvir Rankins's eves and tongue are the only members that he has not lost command of. He told our reporter that he sutler- ed continually, without a moment's intermission, a severe pain in the marrow of his bones. This continued pain brings on violent attacks of vomiting about once a week, in which his suffer ings are intense. He can move his hands a few inches up and down his breast.

When he was first stricken he was able to whittle images and make small articles of wood with his hands, but this 'Twas there I wea my Donnie Driae, When Summer light was fain to linger; 'Twas there, while nestling at my side, I placed the goud ring on her finger. in. A lonely kirkyard 1 the glen, Where mony a pearlie tear has fallen, Where silence seals the strifes o' men, Wbate'er their rank, whate'er their call-in' When Winter's blast piped i' the grove, When lingering blooms had fa'n aad perished, Twas there I laid my early love, Beside a babe we balth had cherished. IV. But there's a lan' ayantthe blue That kens nought o' our kittle weather, Where a' the leal and guid and true, Though parted lang, may yet forgather, There Pits she by the gouden gates For there I hae a tryst to meet her; But love that strengthens while it waits Makes a' theaftertime the sweeter.

Good Words. SWEET SIXTEEN. You think the world is only made For you, and such as you," he said, Laughing aloud in boyish scorn, Of boyish mirth and mischief born. She never turned from where she stood Prinking her little silken snood Of silken curls before the glass; She never turned to see him pass. Nor answered him, save with a laugh That half confessed his boyish chaff." But left alone, confronted there, With her own image fresh and fair.

A sudden blush lit up her face With newer youth and fresher grace, And eyes that were demurely fixed A moment since, with thought unmixed Upon the smoothing of a tress, Now sparkled soft with consciousness. Why not, why not?" she lightly cried, Out of the gay, exultant pride, The sweet, wild innocence of youth Why not for me, for me, forsooth, And such as me, the world be made For me its glories all arrayed? For since the world and life begun, What poet's measures have not run Through all the strains of minstrelsy In praise of me, and such as me? For youth and beauty, in its day, Has ruled the world, and will for aye. One greatest cf them all has sung In verse that through the world has rung. And here's my day to live and reign, To take the joy and leave the pain From this old world that's made for me, For me, for me, and such as me Gay laughter rang through every word, And yet beneath the laughter stirred A something more than jesting play-Just sweet sixteen that very day. She half believed, in sober truth, In the sweet insolence of youth, That all for her a foolish maid The world's gay glories were arrayed.

Norah Perry. TWENTt-TIiREE TEAKS IN A CHAIR. ojfca orrccjj uuo Silvio lia.o a uwui tm look of satisfaction or disappointment appears on a player's face, he notes and acts on it. Coolly raising a bet, his usual expression is "If you think there is no hereafter, call me." The pedestrian generally manages to hold his own, although he has often risked his last dollar on the uncertain draw. After one successful walk at the rink Weston purchased a cottage in Westchester County and bought a trotter time, 7:11.

Weston was very hospitable, frequently inviting the boys to ride out with him and dine at the cottage. He never made himself round-shouldered by carrying his money for any length of time, and when he departed for England he was advised by one of his poker companions not to play his hand for more than it was worth on the other side; beat the Englishmen on the sawdust track, which he could do if he used proper judgment, and then return with tresh laurels and a chance for big money. That he has won on square deal is now a matter of history. A "Cotton-mouth's" Bite. The Memphis Avalanche says: Mr.

Robert G. Pillow, son of the late Gen. Pillow, who is now running a plantation over in Arkansas, and who came over yesterday to take a look at the Fourth of July, had a decidedly narrow escape from death not long since. Accompanied by Aleck," one of the colored men on the place, he was out hunting a wild hog that had been seen in the vicinity. Mr.

Pillow had a gun and Aleck had armed himself with a pint bottle filled with whisky. The hog was found and shot, and just as Mr. Pillow went up to the writhing animal an immense cotton-mouth" snake, whose bite is fatal as that of the rattlesnake, fastened its fangs on the calf of his leg. As his Memphis friends know, Bob is not easily frightened. He took in the situation in a moment, and instead of exhibiting alarm he turned to his companion and quietly remarked Aleck, I think I'll try a little of that whisky, now," whisky being considered an infallible remedy.

He poured every drop down his throat without stopping to venture any remarks as to its quality. Then shouldering his gun, he rapidly walked to the house, a half-mile distant, where he drank the contents of three ordinary glass tumblers filled with whisky. Of course it stupefied you," chimed in a Memphis friend to whom he was relating the facts. Of course it was the reply. I don't know how it happened, but so far as intoxicating effects' wt re concerned, the stuff had no more influence than water.

But it induced a regular Niagara falls of perspiration, which rapidly expelled the poison and the wound healed and gave me no trouble. A day or two afterward, however, I was the sickest boy in Eastern Arkansas. I swallowed enough to kill half a dozen unsnake bitten fellows." Bob's appearance justified the comment that he had experienced no permanent injury from the bite of that terror of Southern plantations, the dreaded cotton-mouth" snake. privilege has been taken from him. He can, however, both read and write by means of ingenious contrivances which he planned after much thought, and which friends made according to his instruction.

Aboard with a sliding edge is fastened to the arm of his chair in a me and they used to hold prayer-meetings in my room. When my acquaintances get low spirited or in trouble and need advice they come to me. I have leisure to think and plan for them, and they seek my counsel. Some day, I shall be as well off as the rest of you. My lot is to sit in this chair, and I would not get out until it was God's will.

Some friends once called on me and asked my consent to hold a special prayer-meeting to pray for my recovery. I told them I was willing that they should pray that I might get well if it was God's WESTON'S WAYS. Reminiscences of the Great Pedestrian as a Reporter and Poker-player His Ridiculous Improvidence From the New York Sun. When a man accomplishes a feat of courage and endurance greater than was ever known before in the world.men turn to him with wonder and admiration, looking upon the man as a hero and any thing relating to the hero's life becomes a matter of interest. Edward Payson Weston now occupies this position before the people of two continents.

The first time I saw Weston was in the composing-room of the Sun office about 10 years ago. He dashed in with nervous haste, shaking hands with the foreman, assistants, and compositors, and nodding a jerky "How'ddoP" all round, at the same time presenting tickets and inviting all hands, with their wives and children, to come up to the rink and see him walk 110 miles in 24 hours, or something of that sort. Turning back with a hop, as he was about to depart, Weston remarked to Mr. Watkins, the foreman Oh, say; I'm going to give a dinner after the walk. Horace Greeley, the Rev.

Dr. Hepworth, Prof. Doremus.and many other gentlemen have promised to be there, and I want you all to come." Weston was in funds at that time. His whale-bone legs were encased in natty pantaloons, he sported a white vest, London cut-away coat, nobby Derby hat, and swished a little gold-headed cane as he walked. He was blithe and chipper, his determined jaw was in working order, his keen eyes lighted up his sharp face, while his smoothly combed, well-oiled hair gave a sleek finish to his spruce outfit.

He resembled a light comedian on good terms with himself and all the world. After this my relations with Weston were intimate, his eccentricities often affording amusement after hours of labor. His money would flow through his hands like water. Although sharp on making terms during a walk, he possesses no calculation or management as to the care of money after it is earned. This trait ha3 used up his profits in England.

He was declared a bankrupt there to the amount of several thousand dollars some months ago. During lulls in the pedestrian fever, when there was no money in the business, Weston turned his attention to gleaning city items for an evening paper through the day, and the Sun during the night. In this capacity he would cover the east side stations from the Harlem River to the City-hall, including a pop into Ludlow Street Jail in an hour after midnight. Disdaining to take a street-car, he would dash along like a phantom. Once a policeman arrested him as a suspicious character, when a roundsman who knew Weston came up, saying, Let that man go he's Weston, carryingnews to the Swn." Weston frequently rushed into the office about 1 a.

m.t da3hed off a few pages of manuscript, handing it to the night editor, who hurriedly revised it and sent it up-stairs as the latest news. Then Weston would lie back in his chair, push his hat from his forehead, throw his feet and legs over his desk and ejaculate: "By George, boys, we've got the Herald sure this morning. Ripping murder in Harlem." Or it might be an important case in Ludlow Street Jail, whe the arrest had been made late at night. riirino art of this time Weston oc nearlv perpendicular position. His well worn ouarto Bible is laid on thi3.

A metallic hook, with a wooden handle, is placed betwsen the finger and thumb of one hand, and with this hook, by a peculiar jerk of the wrist, he is able to turn tne leaves, lie reaas consider ably, giving much time to the Bible The Lewistown Journal is his favorite newspaper. For reading a newspaper he has a hooked stick upon which the sheet is hung. When he wants to write a longer board is placed before him wiiu a uunuivanuu iul uuiuiug a ouccu of paper. A penstock, two feet long, holding a pen, is placed between his hnsers, and, without moving a muscie, save those of the wrist, he is able to write a perfectly legible nand. He is unable to dip his pen into the ink-stand, which hangs on the board, but fills his pen by catching a drop of ink on his hook," in the other nana, ana toucn insr it to the nib of the pen.

He writes a great deal. He is cared for by his sister and his niece, a young lady of sixteen years, waiting upon him chiefly. The fortitude with which this young girl cheer The Sad Case of Matthew Ranking of Lewistown, Die. From the Lewistown (Me.) Journal. fully forsakes her companions and youthful pleasures to give the best part Twenty-nine years aero two boys, of her life to her sunering uncie, is an nfFprxMncr fnstn.Tip.A nf Thfl about a dozen years of age, were playing "tag" in Lewistown.

They were merrv and active lads, and were rolick in" with school boy enthusiasm and carelessness. One lad caught the other. young lady is unremitting in her attentions to the invalid. Mr. Rankins's mother, a lady eighty-three years old, was very sick when the reporter called.

Mr. Rankins could devotedly watch his parent and brush with his stick the troublesome flies from her pillow. "Clergymen often call on brother," struck his heels, and playfully tipped him over. His whole weight came down upon his falling playmate, whose spine was seriously miureu in consequence He was conveyed home, and it was said Mr. Rankins's sister, "and go found, tnat ne was a pnysicai wrecK.

For two years he was able to walk around a very little, and then, as the results of his injuries gradually grew away saying that they have been taught an impressive lesson." Mr. Rankins has been frequently mentioned in the Lewistown pulpit as an exponent of true more serious, he was obliged to be car A youth, even though he be a titled ruler, finds it bard to resist "good clothes," and especially regimentals. When Prince Alexander, newly of Bulgaria, called upon the Emperor at Berlin, he naturally wore the uniform of his rank second-lieutenant in the Prussian Army. It was, of course, unreasonable that a mere second -lieutenant should be cordially received by an Emperor, so that potentate dubbed the young man Major" on the spot. The Prince hal guessed what the Emperor might do, and accordingly had a major's uniform ready at his hotel.

He dashed out of the palace and to the hotel, changed his lieutenant's for his major's uniform, and dashed out again, to finish his round of state and official calls. ried from one place to another, entirely Christian piety and resignation. A visit to this gentleman is a lesson for a losing the use of his lower limbs. At i -V i i- i i i i lifetime. The man who imagines that all creation is at swords points with such an insignificant atom of the uni lengin nis wuuie uuuy vvvaiuv he was powerless.

For 23 years Matthew Rankins has sat fixed in his chair verse as himself will feel happier after a call on Mr. Rankins. No one cupied a room in the Astor House. It but God and myself know what I suffer," said he, "but I guess I am about as happy as they make 'em. I might have been tne one wnere ueurge W.

Kendall won money enough at poker don't believe that time passes more rapidly with a school-boy than with me. as in a vise, night and day. A Journal reporter called on Mr. Ran-kins, at his residence on Summer Street, the other day. Mr.

Rankins was in his low rocking chair by a pleasant window when the reporter went into the room the tame chair in which he has passed the Jast 23 years of his life, from sunrise to funrise. His head is turned to one side by a contraction of the muscles of the Leek, which can not be relaxed.and is impossible for him even to to start the New Orleans Picayune. At all events, Weston was fond of taking part in the game. After the paper was sent to press a party would sometimes mppt with Weston to have a quiet bout 1 have a great many visitors every day, and my friends include a good part of "Those twins were an eventful period in my life," said a happy father a long time after the event. A printer who boarded at his house thought a would express the idea better than a McGregor News.

the population of Lewistown. Sunday at draw-poker. As the Astor I louse bar was closed after midnight the party visitors to the cemetery frequently call upon me. Sometimes they sing with.