Excerpta.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 803, 28 December 1894, Page 2

Excerpta.

—§ — Parting.

Good bye, old year, good bye, Thy course is well nigh run, We mark thy lingering sands, And thy brief stay demands We leave no task undone ; Good-bye, old year, good-bye: Shall benedictions fall Upon thy hoary brow ? Or do we wish thee now Beneath thy funeral pall ? Good-bye, old year, good-bye. O, thou can’st not restore To heart and home again, Those whom the ruthless main Dashed lifeless on the shore ; Good-bye, old year, good-bye. Dread outrage, wreck, and war Have marked thy later sway, Yet gratitude shall pay Thee thanks for all the good ; Good-bye, old year, good-bye. Our hearts to’ards thee enlarge, While many a broken vow That caused us grief, we now Will lay not to thy charge ; Good-bye, old year, good-bye. We’ll think, when thou art uot, Of joys thou did’st afford, While all that wrought discord Wc would it were forgot ; Good-bye, old year, good-bye.

Beautiful Sacrifice.

The author of * Indian Memories ’ tells how it happened some thirty years ago, that after a hard day’s fighting between the British forces and the Sepoy mutineers, there was nothing to be done by the English company except to get a drink as best they could, and then think of the bivouac and the mess-tin. All was hushed in the village, he says, the natives had taken flight, and only a few dead men lay about, the sun laughing in their rigid faces. ‘ Now, my men,’ said the captain, ‘ you’ve done right well. So let’s look for a little shade and water. Has any one seen the village well i” ‘ Beg pardon, sir,’ said one, * but I see it round that corner, just by that big peepul-tree with the temple under

‘Ah, thanks 1 March at ease! Quick march I’ And soon the company was halted by the big peepul-tree, and all hands were looking for ropes of any kind wherewith to lower pannikins into the cool, deep well. The captain got on the well parapet, and was just looking down, when his attention was attracted by a strange si<>-ht. By the parapet crouched an old woman—too old and decrepit to fly —who rocked herself too and fro, mumbling a sort of inarticulate dirge. At that moment the captain’s attention was again diverted by an exclamation from the colour-sergeant, who was looking down in the well. ‘ Great God, sir !’ cried the man, ‘ there’s a head moving down there !’ Sudden silence fell on the parched, water-craving men. What would it mean ‘I Then to the gradually accustomed gaze became visible, not one but many small, round, black heads of Indian babies.

The truth buret upon the captaiu. The Indian woman, in any grave trouble, throws herself into the well; and in this case, mothers bearing babies in their arms had been unable to flv fast enough before the victorious army, and had found the usual refuge. It is undeniable that the first thought of those thirsting men was one of rage because the water had been spoiled. They knew there was no more for miles around, and, in their suffering, they cursed the dead women who had so injured them. Suddenly from the depth of the well came a little moaning cry of weakness and suffering. The captain started; he looked pityingly at his men, but he said nothing, though he poiuled, with

an eloquent gesture, into the black water.

In another instant, those angry men had burst into eager solicitude ot word and action. A sergeant volunteered to go down on the slender rope that had been found, and in half an hour the well was emptied of its terrible prey. Ten dead women and two dead babies lay limp and shapeless on one side of the great peepul-tree, ami eight living babies were writhing and shiveringtogether hard by. The old crone bud ceased her dirge, and was trying to spread her scant rags over the baby limbs.

Very awestriken was the brave sergeant’s face and very low his voice, when at last his task was ended, and the well was clear.

Just then there came a sweet * tinkle tinkle,’ and a herd of goats appeared, browsing their way homeward. With a shout of eagerness and relief, the whole company threw themselves on the herd. Most of them were caught, and streams of warm milk soon filled the pannikins; and then, just as the men were ready to drink, the shivering babies burst forth into a great and doleful cry. Again the captain looked pityingly at his men, and at the babies, too. ‘ Men,’ said he, ‘ you have fought for everything you have, or could possibly get today, and have earned it, I don’t order you—l don't even ask you—only—those children’s mothers are drowned, and those children are starving.’ The men looked upon the children, and something sacred in them cried out and bade them what to do; and iu a twinkling every baby had a big bearded nurse to hold rich draughts of goat’s milk to its mouth, so tenderly, if awkward withal, that the captain turned on one side with a half sob, and then drew his weary form up with pride, to think he had the honour of commanding such men as these. Their food that night was coarse and unsavory. The earth was a rough bed, the water from the slowly settling well was liquid mud. But they were content.

Neuralgia

is the first, surest and most reliable sign of nerve decay ; it is a symptom provided by nature to warn the sufferer of approaching weakness and distress, though in most cases the pain is purely local; the disease is constitutional and local remedies such as liniments, oils and menthols only give temporary relief and do not do the slightest permanent good, for they only act by deadening the sensibility of the affected nerve. The remedy to be of any lasting- benefit must be tissue forming and nerve strengthening- and must have general invigorating properties ; it must also contain the material to restore the lost tissue to the impoverished nerves, and no remedy except Clements Tonic possesses these ■ wonderful powers. Clements ' Tonic has been used for thousands of cases by young and old of both sexes for neuralgia, sciatica, and other nervous complaints, and we have never beard of a case where it has failed to give quick and prompt relief. Read of the case of Mrs Compton, Howing street, Wellington, N. Z., who writes on August 14th, 1893 : —Sir, —l write you a few lines to let you know of the great benefit that I have received from taking Clements Tonic. 1 was afflicted with great debility, arising from indigestion, causing nervous and general prostration and weakness. I applied to medical aid, but without any good whatever. I read about your Clements Tonic and I got some, and the very first dose did me good, so 1 stuck to it until 1 had taken five bottles, now I am happy to say that it has made a complete cure. I can enjoy my food as well as ever I could in my life—it has taken that feeling of languor completely away. I tell all my friends about it. I am willing to communicate with anyone who may write to me.— Yours respectfully, Mrs Compton, Howing street, Wellington, N. Z.