LADIES' EXPRESS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 233, 23 December 1874, Page 2

LADIES' EXPRESS.

o [_The Editor will be glad to give insertion to any local contributions from his holy frienas that may be considered interesting in the family circle, or to the sex generally.]

THE CROSS-ROAD.

(by ALICE HORTON.) Where the roads crossed we met,

My love and I; In the near bay the ships Tossed heavily ; Lamps were gone out on earth, But those in heaven Trembled'for two more hearts That God had riven.

His accents broke the pause— My tongue was tied ; He found last words to say—

My sobs replied ; Then he drew my white face up to the light, Aud said, “ Farewell, poor love, Dear love, good night 1” At the cross-roads we kissed, I stood alone ; His was the seaward road, Mine led me home. He called, “ I shall return 1” I knew—not so ; Not one in ten returns Of those that go. Dreary the great world grew, And the sun cold ; So young an hour ago, I had grown old. Our God made me for him — We loved each other — Yet fate gave him one road And me another 1

THE HORRORS of EAR PIERCING. An inquest held the other day, say’s the Reading Eagle on the body of a little girl, aged eight years, the daughter of a sailor, conveys a lesson with regard to ear-rings. The unfortunate child, whose death formed the subject of inquiry, about three weeks ago, underwent the operation of having her ears pierced with a stocking needle. After the ears were pierced, two ear-rings belonging to her mother were put in them. A few days later a blister came behind one ear; then the jaw began to stvell, worse symptoms ensued, when the child died. The medical evidence wa s to the effect that death had resulted from exhaustion consequent upon the intense inflammation caused by the piercing of the ears, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. Of course, if women choose to have their ears pierced, it would be impertinent on the part of men to remonstrate against the self-inflicted torture; but there can be no harm in suggesting that children might be allowed to reach years of discretion before they are called upon to follow' the example of their elders and betters in this respect.

Burmese Marriages.—Marriage among the Burmese is a most peculiar institution, and the “marriage knot” is very easily undone. If two persons are tired of each other’s society, they dissolve partnership in the following simple and touching, but conclusive mannei - :—They respectfully light two candles, and, shutting up their hut, sit down and wait until they are burned out. The one whose candle burns out first gets up at once and leaves the house (and for ever), taking nothing but the clothes lie or she may have on at the time; all else then becomes the property of the other party.