OUR YOUNG FOLKS OUR CLUB. We're going to have the moatest tun ! It's going to be a club; And no one can belong to it But Dat and me and Bub, We thought we'd have a Reading Club, But couldn't, ‘cause, you see, Not one of us knows how to read— Not Dot nor Bub nor me. And then we said a Sewing Club, But thought we'd better not; Cause none of us knows how to sew— Not me nor Bub nor Dot. And so it's just a Playing Club; We play till time for tea; And, oh, we have the bestest times !— Just Dot und Bub and me, Jarolyn Wells, DOG ANECDOTE, a very ordinary looking horse har- nessed to an old wagon stood by the curb, and on the board that served for a seat lay a small dog made as to his breed. apple bounded off and before it stop- ped rolling doggie bounded across the street, picked it up with his teeth, and with wagging tail, rushed back to his horse, where he stood up on his hind legs while the apple was * taken from his mouth. As the horse munched the apple he made the pe- culiar little noise that horses make when pette d, pad doggie replied with little barks which plainly told what a pleasure it was to g-t that apple, and then went back to his interrupted nap on the wagon seat SIBERIAN AND RUSSIAN. Thomas G. Allen, Hele or ‘‘The Boys St. Nicholas. Mr. Allen says: To begin with, the Siberian boy is not a Russian, I insist upon this distinction, because 1 know he would be sure to make it if he were here to speak for himself. ‘‘No, I am not a Russian,” one has often said to in polite correction; I'm a Siberian.” And he speaks in a way that leaves no room to doubt the sin- crityof h The reader may perhaps, think this a distinction with- out a difference; but from my personal observation, | should say that there is justification for it, even aside from the questioa of intermixture of native bicod with the Siberian Russian. Generally speaking, the Siberian boy as compared with the boy of European Russia, is by far more energetic, and specting. He has many qualities that in th try's need go to make or patriotic soldier. They say it takes a smart make a rascal. Whether ¢ or not, certain it is that the class of men who have been sent as exiles to Siberia, especially the political pris- oners, have generally been taken from the more intellectual classes of Euro- pean Russia. The of these exiles, the otl be- ing born and raised in Siberia, away from the harmful in of a crowded population, have inherited natural $intelligence without the in- centives to misuse it. Furthermore, they know nothing about the disgrace of exile, and regard Siberia only with genuine pride as the land of their na- tivity writes an ar- Siberia'’ for ir., of sir; me, is pride, the quicker-witted, more saif-re- more of the e hour of his coun- up the hero man fo is be trae descendants on er hand, fluences CAPTAIN JACK, Jack Barton sat on gate post watching the soldiers as they marched through the street, They had an- swered their country’s call and were about to go to the front, Jack's heart beat high at sight of the brave boys in blue with their flags and ban- ners flying. He waved his cap and shouted as loud as he could until they disappeared from view, **[ just wish I was big enough go and help lick the Spaniards,” said, half aloud. His Uncle Ned, who was standing beside him, heard this remark, but be paid little attention to it, for his thoughts were far back in the past He was thinking of the summer day long ago when he marched away to the southland. The empty contsleeve hanging by him told the story of the four dreadful years that followed. Jack knew by the far-away look in his uncle's eyes that he was thinking of the war, ““I say, Uncle Ned,” he began, “‘wouldn’t it be jolly to go to war an’ come back a hero? I tell yon it'd be nice to have all the folks talking about yon aud calling you captain ?”’ *“Ye-e6,” suid Uncle Ned, hy wild} to he Some of them are crippled for life, others,’’ he continued, never come back at all, sadly, But, Jack, hero; you can do that by overcomiug | your enemies right here at home,” snd Uncle Ned looked sharply at his nephew, * “*W-why, what do you mean ?” “Perhaps you will know when I tell you that the hardest battle I had to fight was not Gettysburg, or Shiloh, but it was the battle with myself.” Jack opcned his eyes still wider, He was now very much interested, and begged his uncle to tell him all about it. ‘*Yes,” said Uncle Ned, gravely ‘it is much easier to face shot and shell than always to have the courage to stand up for what you know to be right. When I left home mother gave me a Bible und told me to read achap- ter in it every mignt. It was easy enough to do this in ny little ae! cimamber at home, but [ found it very a different in camp amid the jeers of comrades who looked upon it with contempt, I am sorry to say that sometimes J beat a retreat, Very often, after a long march, the boys wonld have to have a drink, and [ thought it didn’t look manly for me not to take a little with them. But by and by I saw the folly of all this, and [ firmly resolved to be just as ready to stand up for the right as was ready to stand up for my country. | kept a sharp lookout for the enemy, and the boys in camp dubbed me ‘Captain Ned.” And, my boy, if you want to, you can be Captain Jack right here at home.” “Oh, uncle! if I only conld,” said ! Jack, hisface beaming. *‘‘But, then," | he added soberly, *‘l can’t be in camp like you were." **No, but if you are on the alert, you will find plenty of enemies. In fact, you will very likely havea skirm- ish every day. Only yesterday I saw where Captain Jack might have won ia victory, but he just let the enemy capture him and surrendered on the spot.” Jack knew very well what his uncle meant, and he hung his head in shame, { “Yes, while you thought I was doz- ing on the porch, Isaw you young rascals sneak around behind the barn and puff away at those nasty cigar- ettes,”’ “I know I ough to ha' done it," admitted Jack, much fun of me. I got paid for it though. Really, Uncle Ned, 1 thought I'd die, and my head feels kind o' queer yet.” ‘Served you right,” said Uncle Ned, laughing in spite of “If you had only had the courage defeat the first enemy, yon would not have met the second.” “What was the first ?' ‘Bad company. If come that one you will dozen others on your hands, you get into the wrong kind of com- pany, you will be induced to lie and steal, to drink and read bad books. And now," he adde Lh ashe took Jack’ hand in his, mission Once Ba captain, feel that the enemy is about come you just remember that battle fought and each victory won makes yon stronger.” Captain Jack reverently bowed his head. Somehow, afterwards expressed it, he . to each as he felt very *“‘solemn 3 ’ HK e, From mander that time the j was ever on daty, saw the enemy approaching, say, ‘Captain k, marshal forces and zo to Of course he wasnot always victorious S suffered Bat the battle so bravely, tha ext birthday he ¢ book from his Utz in wh was written: “To Captain bravest comm young d