A New "excelsior."

It was about half-past 7 o'elock in the evening when ayouth created something of a sensation by passing through an Alpine village, in a driving snow-storm, carrying a banner, upon which was inscribed the strange device, " Excelsior." His brow was sad, but his eye (according to all accounts he had but one eye) flashed like a falchion from its sheath, whilo he pushed on, looking neither to the right nor the left, but not forgetting to cali loudly, " Excelsior ! " At first the villagers thought he had been drinking, and a policeman was started on his track ; but, finding there was nothing disorderly in the boy's conduct, he was permitted to go his way unmolested. In happy homes the young fellow saw the light of household fires gleam warm and cheery, although eoal was away up out of all reason, as it always is in cold weather; above, the spectral glaciers shone, and from his lips escaped a sigh that was heard all over town, to this effect, "Excelsior!" " Try not the pass," the old man said ; 'Tve lived here for ninety years; I'm the oldest inhabitant, an' I never saw the signs more favorable for a big storm. Besides, the roarin' torrent is wide and deep, an' if you get across you can't get back for a week, unless you go around by Rabbit-hash an' cross on the bridge. Take my advice, young feller, an' stop overnight; you'll find the Washington right over the way, the cheapest house in town. Shall I take your baggage ? " The boy turned up another street, indicating that he intended to climb the hill on the west side of the town. "Oh, stay," the maiden said, "and rest your weary head upon this breast." And right here the condnct of the young man became inexplicable. He did not accept the maiden's invitation, although she was comely, about 16 years of age, and evidently belonged to the best society. He simply said that he was in a lmrry, and would prol ably stop the next time he was in town. The maiden passed into the house, slammed the door, and remarked to her mother that if she ever offered to assist a man in distress again she hoped she might bi: llenfel. The young lady was quite indignant, indeed. "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch ! beware the - " " Oh, give us a rest ! " screamed the boy, who was getting out of patience, and the well-meaning peasant retired without completing the warning, which was no doubt something about ' the awful avalanche." At break of day, as heavenward tiie pions monks of St. Bernard uttered the of t-repeated prayer, they were startled, nay, shocked, to hear a young man shouting " Excelsior," and cursing the country black uid blue for being the ronghest, coldest and most-forbidding of any he had seen since he left New Jersey. " How far is it to the next village?" he asked; "for I have something here that will knoek the wcks off of anything in this country." With that he passed on, still grasping in his hand of ice that banner with the strange device, while in the other he carricu a little tin box labeled " Excelsior Oorn