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is In the way of one's learning to ride a Bicycle. One of the things in the way has been the price, We are now pre- ared, however, to offer a First-class ieyele as perfect as faultless. material and human skill can make for the low sumof . ~<_ $50.00 --a IT am also handling Columbia, Cleye- land, Imperial and Eagle wheels, Alum- inum Kims, Puncture-proot Tires. J i. SOC ne, LISTOWEL, ONT. Agent G. T. R. Licenses. Issuer of Marriage COMMUNICATIONS. A California Letter. Mr. Editor, will -you kindly insert iu Tus Arwoop Bers, for the benetit of your readers, the following letter : To Miss Maggie Thompson. DEAR CousiIn,--L now answer your welcome letter that I received some time Ago, hoping this will tind you all well and uncle's health is better since the weather has got warm; we are all wellhere. I mustsay we have had a very disagreeable spring here, A heavy froston April 20th killed all the vines and ruined 75 per cent of the grape crop for this year, also about 25 per cent, of the fruit, and killed all the vegetables aud part of the strawberries, For the last six weeks, we have had almost a continual sand storm, the wind drifting the sand up like snow, You ask me to tell youif times were 'still hard here,well they are jast about as hard as they can be, we can hardly | sell anything. L will give you prices: | Alfalfa hay in the field is ¢2.50 per ton ; raisins 1%¢ cts. perlb., dried prunes 2 cts.,, per acties 21¢ cts., apricots 5 cts. butter 10 cts. and can't sell it at that, eggs 8 cts. per dezen, honey in comb Sets. per ib, stri wwherries 5 cts. per basket. Everything else very low, groceries pretty high. Land is cheap now, land unimproved that sold 4 years ago at $125 per acre, can now be bought at $40. We are taking care ot a 20 acre vineyard, vines 7 years old, and get all we can grow on it for our labor, the person that owns it even paying the. tixes, tuisins cannot be yrown and seld for 14g ets. per 1b. as it costs nearly that to pick and dry them. 'The man that owned this 2 neres 4 years ago refused S4.000 in cash for it, it can now be bought for 31,400 on time, So you can form some idea of the condition of this part of the |' world. 'There are hundreds of acres } of vineyards that haye never been |' pruned or cultivated; as there is not} 'enough inthe raisins-to pay--b0ern-day | fer labor that wouid be done on them; now I have told you as near as I can just now how things are here. We are all living in hopes of better times. Waiting p: itiently fora Moses to ap- pear and lead us out of the wilderness, Qar winters here are beautiful, no cold and no storms to speak of. They ure the oue redeeming trait_of. this country. Your equaty, mp Oleander, June 5rd, 1896. D. ALRY NO TES. THOMPSON. Listowel, June "11.--Seven factories. Doarded 1,087 boxes white cheese to-day Most of Mays had been sold previously: two luts of May were sold at 6% and ' "gc, Milverton. The masons have started the stone work on the new school house, Milver- ton. Wm. Hartmeier is preparing to build a house on the vacaut lot on Tem- perance stree M. McBeth, of the Milverton San, left on Monday for Walkerton to at- tend the tharriage of his eldest sister to Joba Schaefar, of l'reston. Listowel. The Listowel council are getting granolithic waiks laid down for 12c.a oot. The wool season has opened up brisk- ly at the Listowel Woolen Mills. On Tuesday of last week over 4,000 Ibs, were tuken in, and each day since the quantity handled has been large. Messrs. Brook & Sen are paying from 19u. to ic, a lb., Which is a cent higher | ¢ than the market price at other - points. The "Mother Goose Auction" held in the skating rink, Listowel, last Finday evening ee the auspices of the lad- ies ot Chtist's church was a great suc- cess for which much credit is due to' the ladies. The gross receipts amount- ed to about $125, Bill Nye's History of England. Chronicles of a a Pair of Un- popuiat 7 Reigns. HAROLD |! AND D HARDICANUTE. CHAPTER VIt. Let us now Jook for a moment into the reigns of Harold [ and Hardican ute, a pair of unpopular reigns, which, although brief were yet long enough. Queen Emma, o 3, ired the coronation of Hardicanute: but, though supported by Earl Godwin, man of great influence and educated to a high degree for his time--able indeed, it is said, at a moment's ee. se add up things and reduce things to common denominator--it could not be. Harold the compromise candidate, reigned from 1037 to 1040. He gain- ed Godwin to his side, and together they lured the sons o mma by Ethelred-- viz, Alfred and Edward--to town, as a sort of royal practical joke, put out Alfred's eyes causing his eath, Harold was a swift sprinter and was called "Harefoot" by those who were intimate enough to exchange calls and coarse anecdotes with him He died in 1040 A. D., and nobody eyer had a more aorerel approval for doing so than Harold Hardicanute now came forth from his apartments and was received as xing with every demonstration of joy, and for some weeks he and dyspepsia had it all their own way on Piceadilly. (Reports say that he drank! Several times while under the influence of li- quor he abdicated the throne with a dull thud, but was reinstated by the police. Enraged by the death of Alfred, the king had the remains of Haroldexhum ed and thrown intoa fen. This a-fen sive act showed what reat big, broad nature Hardicanute had; also the kind of timber used in making a king in those days. Godwin, however, seems to have been a good pouice acrobat and was on more sides of more questions than any body else of those times. Though con nected with the white cap affair by which Alfred lost his eyesight-and--his life, he proved an alibi, or spasdomdic paresis, or something, and, having stood a compureatien and "ordeal trial, was released. The historian very truly but inelegantly says, if memory seryes the writer accurately, that Godwin was sucha straddle bng 'that he early nbandoned the nse of pantaloons and returned to the toga, which was the only garment able to stand the strain sf his political cuttings up. The shire mote, those days, was composed of a dozen jstate of complete vacancy. thanes or cheap nobles, who had to swear that they had not read the paper and had not formed or expressed an opinion and that their minds were in a It was a sort of primary jury, and each #@ould point with pride to the vast collection he had made of things he did not know and had not formed or expressed an} opinion about. If one did not like the verdict of this court, he could appeal to the king on a certiorari or some snech thing as. that. The acensed could clear himself by his own oath and that of others, but with- ont these he had to stand what was call- ed the "ordeal," which consisted in walking on hot plowshares without ex pressing a derogatory opinion regarding the plowshares or showing contempt of court, Sometimes the aceused had to ron his arm into boiling water. after three days the injury had peared, the defendant was discharged and costs taxed against the king. Hardicanute only reigned two years, andin 1042 A. died at a nuptial banquet and cast a gloom over the whole thing-In those times it~ was = } common thing for the king or some of the nobility to die between the roast pig and the pork pie, It was not un- usual to see each noble with a roast pig tete'a-tete, each confronting the other, the living and the dead. At this time it is said by the old set tlers that hog cholera thinned out the uobility a good deal, whether directly or indirectly they do not say. The English had now wearied of the Danish yoke. "Why wear the Danish yoke," they asked, "aud be ruled with a rod of iron? Edward, half brother of Edmund + Lronside, was therefore nominated and chosen king. Godwin, who, seemed to be specially gifted as 'a versatile con nosseur of "crow," turned up as his political advisor, Edward, afterward called "the Con- fessor," at once stripped Queen Emma of all her means; for he had no love left for her ,as she had failed repeat- edly to assist him when he was an ont cast, and afterward the new king placed her in jail (or gaol, rather) at Winches ter. This should teach mothers to be more obedient or they will surely come to some bad end. Edward was educated in Normandy and was quite partial to the Nor. mans. He appointed many of them to important positions in both church and state. Even the see of Canterbury was given toa Norman. Theseesaw how ' was going, no doubt, and accepted he position. But let us pass on rapid- ly to something else, for thereby yariety may be given to these pages. and as one fact seems to call for another, truth which for the time being may be appar- ently crushed to earth, may rise again. Godwin disliked the introduction of the Norman.tongue and Norman cus- msin England, and wher® Eustace, count of Routonge and author of the sausage which bears his name, commit- ted an act of violence against the people of Dover, they arose as one man, drove out the foreigners and fumigated the town as well ag the ferry running to | Calais, or county court of | If} disap- | special prices, and get your Supplies en a cash basis. fore in this town. lar attention. doubtful book aecounts. New Summer Corsets a great luxury for hot weather. Waists all sizes for the Ladies, and a large range of the newest patterns. Belts, Belt buckles, Parasols, Gloves, Hoisery, Dress Muslins, Challies, Lawns. We have never had a larger selection of the Newest Millinery and New- est Lines of Dress Goods, all well bought and to be sold very cheap. Gome This Way Before The Election Day -- Hot Weather Goods! CARSON & McKEE I a ty cs a gaps a Are now showing an Elegant Range of Goods for the May Month Trade at Very pretty Shirt New New Carpets.-- The Bargains we are offering in Carpets are just wonderful, those who know values say we are offering more for the money than eyer be- We are certain to give you bargains. Our Pretty Dress Stuffs and summer washing fabrics are attracting particu li our prices are arranged on the basis of cash, that is what makes lower than the long winded credit stores, where they add profit to cover bad and We invite inspection all the time. 8 ( 9 CU For Weak People having Heart and Necve mbes. Fluttering, palpitation, smothering feeling, throbbing or beating of the heart, dizziness, shortne: exertion, spasms or pain through the breast and heart, morbid con- dition of the mind, feeling of anxiety, etc. THEY ARE INVALUABLE irregular 3 of breath, distress after a eh lh he FOR WEAK AND NERVOUS PEOPLE ' : f i f Q ' E f : : troubled with sleeplessness, nervousness, anemia, wees: after-effects of grippe, loss of appetite, etc. They represent a distinct advance in medical diseases of the heart and nerves unequalled for prompt.dnd effective action. } NE ENSNENENENENENENIEO OBNENENSNENNINSN 4h _For Sale by Douglas & Co. scieh providing a cure for | i. 4 > me ¥ and Godwin, whieh led tu the deposi- nn of the latter, who, with his sons, was compelled to flee, Bat later he re- | king to re-establish him Soon afterward Godwin died, Harold, his son, succeeded him -success- fully, Godwin was an able man and} got several earldoms for his wife what they needed. An earldom then was not a mere empty title, with noth ute authority over one and was also a good piece of property. These historical facts took place in about the year 1054 A. D. Edward having no children, together with asort of misgiving about ever having any to speak of, calied home Edward the Outlaw, son of Eumund lronside, to succeed tothe throne, but scarcely had he reached the shores of EK nes ig when he died, leaving a son Edg: William of Normandy, a cousin of the king, now appears on the scene. ile claimed to be entitled to the first crack at the throne and that the king had-promised to bequeath it" to" him. Ile even lured Harold, the heir appar- ently, to Normandy, and while under the influence of stimulants compelled Harold to swear that he would sustain William's claim to the throne. The wily William also inserted some holy relics of great potency under the alter used for swearing purposes, but Harold recovered when he got out again into the fresh air and snapped his lingers at William and his relics. Jan. 5, 1066, Edward died, and was buried in Westminster abbey, which _ just been inclosed and the roof put ead, who had practised a little while as earl, and so felt that he could reign easily by beginning moderately and only reigning forenoons, ascended the throne Edward the Confessor was a goo od, durable monarch, but not brilliant. He was the first to let people touch him on Tuesdays and Fridays for scrofula or "king's evil." He also made a set ot laws that were an improvement on some of the old one le was canonized about a century after his death by the pope, but as to whether it "took" ornot the historian seems strangely dumb. He was the last of the royal Saxon line, but other self made Saxons reign- ed after him ip torren Edgar Atheling, son of Edward the Outlaw, was the only surviving mate of the royal line, but he was uot old enough to succeed to the throne, and Harold If accepted the portfolio. He was crowned at Westminster on the day of King Edward's burial, This infuriated William of Normandy, who reminded Harold of his first degree oath and his pledge that he would keep it"or have his salary cut from ear to year." - (Oh, how irritated William was! -He got down his gun and bade the other Normans who desired an outing to do the same, Trouble also arose with Tostig, the king's brother, and bis Norwegian ally, Hardrada, but the king defeated th allied forces at Stratford bridge, a fase' turned and his popularity 1n---Engiand al ith him: among the home people compelled the | my and jastate,t and | wonils to that effect. 'relatives ata time when that was just; fight go on! g ; # couple of hard boiled eggs from his* | pocket and cracking them ing in it but a blue sash anda scorbutic | pommel of his s temperament, buat it gave almost avsol lt eaten a alia but a broiled shote more shires, sines break fi or|cupied a double grave on | This cansed tronble batween Edwa id} York, where both of these misguided leaders bit the dust. Previous to the battle there was a brief parley, and the king told Tostig the best he could do "And what cai you give Wardrada?" queried the astute Tostig. "Seven feet of English answered the king roguishly, "or possibly more, as IHfardrada is rather taller than the average," or "Then let the answered Tostig, takin ally, rad on the addie, for he had not That HiBhe bath he and Hardrada oc- the right hand side of the road Jeading to York. Bitt NYE. Sure to Win. The people recognize and appreciate real merit. That is why Hood's Sar. saparilla has the largest sales in the world, Merit in medicine means the Sowek to cure. Hood's Sarsaparilla cures--absolutely, permanently cures. It is the One True Blood Purifier, - Its superior merit is an established fact, and-merit-wins: s ' Hoov's PILLs are easy to take, easy to operate. Cureindigesfion, beadache. We haye a beautiful assortment of Dress Goods, Prints, Shirtings, Cottonades, Cottens, Cretomnes, Art Muslins, &., &c. --_- '8 HIIS Season, 'as before, we are Eastern "The Watch-Spring" is the best known Corset ney In the market. (Our Specia' sold for the a 'Boots x Shoes In Boots and Shoes we have a fine, new stock purchased from J. D. King & Co,, a firm second to none in Canada; and to see and inspect these goods is sto ensure for us their sale. OUR GROCERY STOCK ls Fresh and Complete, Solicited. A Call *} Anaesthetics administered BUSINESS DIRECTORY. DENTAL. J. J. FOSTER| DENTIST, ANY ANAESTHETIC KNOWN. TO the profession used for the . painless extraction of tecth. Satisfaction guaranteed. Office over Fleming's clothing store, Main street, Listowel "W. M. BRUCE, L. D. &., DENTIST. GAS, ELECTRICITY, OR LOCAL for sp less extraction. Artificial teeth gua anteed to be of the best iva terial and of first-class workmanship, Of- fice over Thompson Bros'. store, Main street, Listowel. Will not visit At wood until further notice. LEGAL, MORPHY & CARTHEW, BARRISTEKS, SOLICITORS, NO- taries Public, Conveyancers, Com- missioners, etc., Listowel, Ont, Money to loan. OUftices over Carsop & Mc- Kee's store. H. B, Morphy, J-. M. Carthew,. ° DARLING & BLEWETT, BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, NO- taries, evc., Wallace street, Listowel Solicitors for Bunk of Hamilton and Scott's Banking House. Office over Scott's -- real. THOS. DOUGLAS, M. D., Medallist and honor Trinity University, 1893. Office in Dr. Hamiiton's cid stand. Residence, tirst house south side of Drug Store. Special attention given to diseases -of uose and throat. graduate of D. A. KIDD, M. D. CRE TM, Cs Mt. C,: P. PHYSICIAN, SURGEON, ACCOUCHETR. Fit, MG, of Trinity Medical Coi- lege, ag & 5.0. . M. of Trinity. University, M. C.P.&S. 1888. 'Three years of practical hospital bed- Side clinies, besides nine years in a varied and active practice. Office in the stand forme rly occupied by Dr. Rice, Residence seven doors north of offiee ind across street. 0., of Medical Council, AUC oe FORES Rs. C. H. MERRYFIELD, LICENSED AUCT ae sie FOR THE County of Verth, ton, Ont. Rates moderate. ply at this office. lor particulncs ap BAMWEDL DT Sr. J.W. Scott, Banker, Listowel, Palmerston and Clifford. YENERAL Banking bu si oa "85. Aer bought J. and sold, pa : parts of the De minion, United States and Great Britain. in al! Notes Discounted. Deposits received, and curreyt rate of interestallowed. Also Issuer of Marriage Licenses. A sores amount of Priy ae Fands to lend on good farm sec urity at Fiv ent. with Bt priviieas of repaying annus ily. 52-96 STAR LIVERY, The Star Livery is is first-class rigs, fast DARE & DUNCANSON, Proprietors, ce | ROBT. MOORE, ~----- DEALER IN---- Shelf and Heavy Hardware, Paints, Oils, Glass, Table and Pocket Cuplery] : Silverware, Lamps, Cross - Cut Saws, Axes, &c., W. RB. ERSKINE. Main Street, Listowel, , é