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2
EE KIND.
DT AN UNKNOWN W1UTEII.
Ho kind to tliy father for when thou wcrt young,
Who loved thee so fondly us he?
Uo caught tlic llrst accents that fell from thy tongue
And joined In thy Innocent glee.
1)0 kind to thy father for now he Is old,
Ills locks intermingled with gray;
llis footsteps arc feeble, once fearless and bold,
Thy father is passing away.
He kind to thy mother for lot on her brow
May traces of sorrow be seen;
Oti, well niay'st thou cherish and comfort her now,
For loving and kind hath she been,
ltcmember thy mother for thee she will pray,
As long as Ood glveth her breath;
With accents of kindness, then, cheer lior lone way,
E'en to the valley of death.
Be kind to thy brother his heart will liavc dearth,
If the smile of thy Joy be withdrawn.;
The flowers of feeling will fade at their birth,
If the dew of affection be gone.
Be kind to thy brother wherever you are;
The love of a brother shall bo
An ornament, purer, and richer by far
Than pearls from the depths of the sea.
Be kind to thy sister not many may know
The depth of pure sisterly love ;
The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below
The surface that sparkles above.
The kindness shall bring to thee many sweet hours,
And blessings thy pathway to crown.
Affection shall weave thee a garland of flowers,
More precious tliau wealth or renown.
KA1SLNG THE "OLD BOY!'
IT WAS a dark and tempestuous night
a night to fill the soul with fright ;
the thunders pealed, the lightning flashed,
the wild beasts squeallcd aud the elements
clashed, while the rain from above iu tor
rents dashed, when a poor preacher of
the gospel wended his way through the
dismal intricacies of a Western forest
many years ago.
The poor man felt anything but com
fortable, for he was wet through to the
skin, aud almost tired to death. Ho had
been tramping around since . morning,
besido ho had lost his way, so the reader
can guess the stato of mind ho was in,
and also appreciate the- sudden transition
from despair to hope which ho experi
enced ou seeing the' glimmer of a light
ahead. He quickened, his flagging loot
steps and soou came up to the light
which issued from tho only window of a
solitary log cabin in the forest.
Remembering tho scriptural injunc
tion, " knock and it shall be opened unto
you," he did so; but without meeting
with any response. He wrapped again
louder than before, and this time a gruff
female voice asked :
"Who's there?"
" It's I," was the definite reply of our
rain-soaked parsor.
" Well, who are you and what do you
wau't?" asked the voice, gruffer than be-
lore.
" A poor, beuighted preacher of the
gospel who has lost his way, aud who
wishes to stay hero to-night," answered
the parson, in a dolorous voice.
" Well, stay there I dou't seo what's
tu hinder you !.
11 Rut I am almost starved, aud I will
pay you liberally for some supper," he
responded, chattering with cold aud not
m the least appreciating the joke.
Tho words "liberal pay" acted like
open sesame ! and after a few moments
of' delay, occasioned by 'the unfastening
of the door, it was opened aud our parson
entered.
He lound himselt. in a rough apart
ment with a large fire place at one cud
ou which a great log liro was blazing;
a rough deal table and three chairs, be
sides a box tilled, with dry flax, comprised
the lurniture.
Rut all minor deficiences seemed to be
more than made up by tho lady of tho
house, for she was fully six feet iu height
aud weighed nigh unto three hundred
pounds.
After having placed Borne food on the
table she turned to tho parson, who stood
shivering before tho . fire, making futile
attempts to dry himself by alternately
turning one side, then tho other to the
fire.
" Now I want you to eat this grub as
quick as you know how, and theu tramp
for it's perfectly impossible for me to
Keep you were over nignt.
" Rut, my good woman," said the par
son, anxiously " I shall perish iu this in
- clement weather ; I have been wandering
m this feurlul storm ever since morning
and if you. have any compassion or pity
at all you will try and give me some
place where I can bo sheltered from this
storm for tho night," aud ho offered her
a five dollar note.
" Well," said the woman, avaraciously
clutching the money, " If you think you
can stay in tho garret, maybe you can
stay; but hurry up, for I expect my hus
band homo every minute nnd it's as
much as your life is worth if he should
find you here, for he's a very devil in
carnate aud would think no more of
murdering you than ho would of shooting
a grizzly I"
The woman produced a short ladder
as she spoke, and bade tho parson to get
up iu tho garret.
There was a small " drop" or trap
door in the ceiling, which' raised of its
own accord on the parson's head press
ing it upward, and not without sonic
difficulty he managed to squeeze himself
through the aperture.
Alter he was up, the woman told linn
to shut the trap and uot make ary noise
for his life, and then taking the ladder
away, the parson was left to his owu re
flections. Wet and uncomfortable as he was, such
was his fatigue that he had almost fallen
asleep when ho was disturbed by some
one's knocking at the door.
Rcing somewhat curious to know what
sort of a man his unknown host was, he
arose and peered through a small crack
iu the fiowr into the room beneath.
Ho saw the woman open the door cau
tiously, and after admitting a short, thick
set man, in a heavy cloak, lock and bolt
it drain.
I'rom the mysterious actions and whis
perings that ensued, our parsou rightly
concluded that the person who had just
entered was not the woman's husband,
but her paramour, who had taken advan
tage of the husband's absence to pay the
woman a nocturnal visit.
After whispering together for awhile
the woman went to a cupboard and pro
duced a bottle of whisky and a plate of
ham and bread, which she set upon tho
table, and the twain were soon engaged
in a loving repast.
While the parson was watching the
guilty couple there came a thundcriug
knocking at the door, which caused them
both to jump to their feet in the greatest
consternation. W ithout a moment s loss
of time, tho woman ran to tho large box
of flax and emptied its contents upon the
floor ; she then bado the man, who was
almost scared to death, to get into the
flax, which he was only too glad to do,
and when he was in she rapidly covered
him up with the flax. The woman then
ran to the door and unbolted it, all tho
time rubbing her eyes as if just awaken
ed out of her sleep.
" Why the devil don't you let a fellev
stand out there all uight !" exclaimed
tho new-comer, a tall, powerful, villainous
looking man, clad iu a hunter's garb, as
he dealt her a ringing box on the car.
" I was asleep and didn't hear you 'be
fore !" whimpered tho woman. " And
don't, for God's sake curse so much, for
there's a Methodist minister in the gar
ret 1"
" Who cares for Methodist ministers,
I'd like to know ? Rut I'll soon have
him out of his hole ! Here, you old
canting hypocrite, come out o' this and
bhow yourself, or I'll make you '" ho ex
claimed, with many imprecations, as he
set the ladder before the trap door.
The poor parson, almost dead with
fright, slowly descended the ladder, look
ing as white as a ghost ; for from the ruf
fian's manner, ho expected that ho would
be a ghost shortly.
" l)oii't hurt the poor man ! Seo how
sickly he looks," exclaimed the woman,
pitying the poor parson's distress.
" You shut up and mind ycr own busi
ness, or it'll be worse for you," was the
gracious reply of her lord ; then, turn
ing to the trembling parson, ho asked :
" Arc you a Methodist preacher, and
do you believe in hell and the devil ?"
The parson replied in tho affirmative.
" Well, then, by the eternal, I dou't!
and if you believe iu the devil, you'll
either make him appear, or I'll cut yer
lying throat and make you appear before
him !" and he drew his bowio-knife iu a
threatening manner.
The poor preacher was in anything
but an enviablo situation, and thoughts
of the other world began to fill his mind
with anxious forebodings ; for it is a re
murkable fact that however much clcr
gymen may prcuch aud talk ot tho joys
and bliss ot the other world, they prefer
to nave otners go and enjoy it.
This may bo self-abnegation or puro
uusellishuess Heaven knows I
" Are you most ready?" asked tho
ruffian, raising his knife as he saw how
tho other hesitated, " I'll give you just
throo minutes, and if the devil is not
beta then, you'll be with, tho dovilr
"My friend," said tho parson, into
whoso head a bvilliant idea had popped,
" that there is a hell is a well established
fact, ns I can provo by hundreds of wri
ters, aud that the devil exists allows
no contradiction, and that I have the
power to make him appear is also true ;
but dreadful for you will be the conse
quence if he does 1 Rotter if you had
never been born than to seo Satan face to
face iu the wicked state which you arc
in 1"
" P n you, stop your preaching and
call the old boy. I'll stand the conse
quences; and be quick about it, for time's
up !"
The parson went to the fire-place and
took thence a burning brand, which he
applied to the box of dried flax. It
blazed up almost like gunpowder, and
the unearthly yell that issued from the
poor devil in the box was truly appalling.
With au acrobatic power of tho pos
session of which he was himself una
ware, he leaped out of tho box covered
from head to foot with the burning llax.
With roars and howls of agony he made
straight for the door, but he was not so
quick as the owner of tho promises, for
wjth one look of terror at tho burning
figure he fled out of tho house, closely
followed by his " Santauic Majesty."
When they wero both gone, the parson
gave his hostess a short but effective lec
ture on connubial duties, after which he
seated himself comfortably before tho
fire.
When the woman's husband returned
he treated the parson with the greatest
respect, fully convinced that ho had the
power to raise the devil at will.
An Amusing Incident.
AS a drayman was furiously beating
his lank, half-starved mule, near
the Government Square, Havana, he was
astonished to hear the animal exclaim :
" Enough, you brute !"
The drayman looked aghast, and search
ed under his dray and around his niulo
to find tho origin of this sepulchral voice,
when ho was again horrified to hear from
the animal, to all appoaranccs:
" You are a brute !"
Tho drayman was dumbfounded, and
trembled like an aspen leaf, aud dropped
his whip as if stung by an adder. He
blessed himself, and was about falling on
his knees, when ho again heard :
" I was your mother once upon a time."
This capped the climax, and a gentle
man from the crowd, that had gathered
around, endeavored to explain to tho terror-stricken
drayman, that sometimes
disembodied spirits return . to tho world
in the form of animals. Just this mo
ment Signor Rlitz, aeompanicd by his two
friends, who had bcon looking ou the
strange scene and enjoying the fun, ad
journed to tho Union Coffee House, on
the neighboring corner, and left the
crowd endeavoring to induce the animal
to speak again, and the drayman embra
cing tho mule in a most filial manner.
A Dishonest Trader Out wilted.
A Sailor from one of tho lake fleet
vessels went into a shop iu Milwaukee
'and purchased goods to tho amount of
tilty cents. Jhrowmg down a bill, he
said : " There is a two dollar bill give
me the change," A glance showed tho
storekeeper that tho bill was a "X," and
hastily sweeping it into the drawer, he
gave back the change After Jack was
gone tho man went to the drawer and
found that the bill was a " V," to bo
sure, but was the worst counterfeit ever
seen. Indignant at the treatment, Jack
was found by the storekeeper and threat
ened, but Jack was ready, and showed by
a comrado that he received but a dollar
and a half in change, so that ho could
not have given tho man the bill. After
a little talk tho matter was allowed to
drop by tho storekeeper, who had proba
bly learned something ho did not know
before.
"Sound on tho Goosc.',
A pious old negro woman was once
caught by her master stealing a goose :
and tho next Sunday she partook of the
communion, after which her master ac
costed her as follows : .
" Whv. Hannah. I saw vou tn-dnv nt.
the communion table 1"
" Yes, tank de Lord, massa, I was
'lowed to be dero wld do rest ob his fami
ly." " Rut, Hannah, I was surprised to see
you there I" he said. " How is it about
the goose ?"
She looked a little - surprised, as if
she didn't comprehend the cause of his
wonder; but soon catching the meaning
exclaimed :
" Why, sat, do you tin k I'so a goiu' to
let an old goose etand between uie and
my Maker ?"r
j. '
A Bold American.
rilllK Mexican Republic has become
JL tho thcutre of most extraordinary
exploits, nnd one hears in his travels
marvellous tains of robbery and of the
habits of those who live by theft. A
story was recently told the writer which
is quite interesting, and besides, it has
the advautagc of being well vouched
for.
A diligence was on its way from tho
capital to Vera Cruz. It was well filled
with passengers, all of whom were Mexi
cans except an American aud his sister.
At a certain point in the road a platoon
of greasers presented themselves, guns in
hand, and hailed the coach. No reply
was made to the brigands until they ap
proached quite near. Then the Ameri
can, who was. riding outside with the
driver, quietly raised his gun, which
had been lying across his lap, oocked it,
and at once presented it at the robbers.
He cried out to them to stop, and, threat
ened, in case he was not heeded, to fire,
the brigands were astonished at tho bold
ness of our hero, and seeing that he was
firmly resolved to fight, began to parley
" Why stop us, what do you want?"
cried the robbers. " Stop at once, or. I
will fire," retorted tho traveller. The
Mexicans who were inside the coach,
half dead with fear, begged the American
not to fire, as they would, in such event
not only lose all their effects, but their
lives also. Rut boldly ho confronted
the party aud answered all questions
asked.
At this moment tho leader of the Mex
icans asked of the American, " How
many trunks have you ?" " I have threo ;
two are my sister's, one is mine," " Well,"
exclaimed the captain of the band) " we
propose this : Wo will not rob you ; your
sister's baggage shall be likewise respect
ed ; but you must not interfere, as we
shall take all that those other fellows have.
You agree not to shoot ?" " pone," re
plied the American, aud the bargain was
concluded. The Mexicans approached
the boot of the stage, but our hero kept
his eyes all tho while on their movements
and his hand upon his rifle. " Is this
your trunk, sir?"oue of the robbers ask
ed. " That's mine." " All right," ex
claimed the robbor ; " it shall not be open
ed," in this way they continued the in
vestigation, lying out on the roadside
every trunk that did not bear the initials
of the brother or sister. "Very well,"
cried tho robbers ; " and now to work."
They took out of the remaining trunks
and bundles everything, and having fin
ished the job, turnod to the American
and said : " You are a good fellow and
an honorable man ;" and ho likewise iu
turn, complimented them for tho exceed
ingly gentlemanly manner in which they
had conducted themselves. "And now
we are so much charmed by your bravery
and resolution that we should like, each
of us, to embrace you," said they. " No,
gentlemen, I am .much obliged to you;
consider that as done. I have never met
a more agreeablo party of high-toned
gentlemen in my life. And now Mr.
Driver, go ahead ! Good day, gentlemen."
Enthusiastic adieus wero waved by our
hero and tho brigands, and the diligence
was soon out of sight. The Mexicans in
side, who since tho near approach of the
robbers had not uttered a word, now re
covered their self possession, and railed
at their bravo fellow traveller for not hav
ing saved their trunks and effects as well
as his own.
A Curious Custom.
IT was the custom of Rabylon, fivehun
dred years before tho Christian era,
to have au annual auction of tho unmar
ried ladies. In every year, on a certain
stated day, each district assembled all its
virgins of marriageable? age. Tho most
beautiful were put up first, and the man
who bid tho highest gained possession of
her. The second in personal charms
followed her, and so on, so that bidders
might gratify themselves with haudsomo
wives, according to tho health of their
purses. There may yet rcmaiu iu . Raby
lon some for whom no money was offered,
but t& provident Rabylouians mauaged
that. When all tho comely ones are
sold, the crier orders tho most doformod
to stand up, and after demanding who
will marry her for a small sum, sho is ad
judged to him who is satisfied with tho
least; and in this manner the money
raised frqm sale of the handsome, serves
as a portion to those , who are either of
disagreeable looks, or that have any oth
er imperfection.
To Adam, Paradise was home; to
the good, among .his descendants, home
ia.r&radisa. .
SUNDAY SEALING.
Xaucy's Secret.
There onco lived in an old brown cot
tage a solitary woman. She tended her
little garden, ind knit and spun for her
living. Sho was known everywhere as
" Happy Nai icy." Sho had no money,
no family, uo relatives, and was half
blind, quite lr.me, and very crooked.
There was no comeliness in her, and yet
there, in that homely deformed body, tho
great God, who loves to bring strength out
of weakness, h. id set his royal seal.
" Well Nat c y, singing again '(" would
the chance vis ii or say as he stopped at
her door.
" Oh yes, I'.m forever nt it."
" I wish you'd tell me your secret
Nancy. You at e all alone, you work hard,
you have nothing; very pleasantsurround
ing you; what is the reason you're so
happy f
" i'erhaps it's because I haven't gofc
anybody but G od," replied tho good
creature, looking upward. " You seo
rich folks like to depend upon their fam
ilies and their liouses ; they've got to
bo thinking aboc.t their business, of their
wives and childre n ; aud theii they're al
ways mighty afn i d of troubles ahead. I
ain't got anything to trouble myself
about you see, ';a use I leave all to tho
Lord. I think, well, if he can keep this
great world in such, good order, the sua
rolling day after layy and the stars shin
ing night after nigh';, and make my gar
den things como up the same, season af
ter season, he can certainly take care of
such a poor thing n.s I am; and so you
see I leave it all to the Lord, and the
Lord takes care of ro.c."
"Well, but Nancy, suppose a frost
comes after your fruit trees are all in
blossom, and your plants out; suppose
" Rntl don't suppose, I never can sup
pose, I don't want to suppose, except that
the Lord will do everything right. That's
what makes you people unhappy ; you're
all the time supposing;. Now, why can't
you wait till the suppose comes, and then
make tho best of it V
Let Him that Hearclu Say ' Coine."
It is the duty of every one who knows
tho good news of salvation through
Christ to tell tho Ood Dews, as he has
opportunity and ability, to his companion
who docs not know it, that he too may be
saved. It is the duty of every Christian
who can, to tell the good news to a Sun
day School class of children, or of young
men, or of adults, or to a meeting of
prayer and conference, or to any other
appropriate meeting, where it will pro
mote tho glory of God and the good of
men, and to exhort men to couieto Jesus.
These duties aro done daily by cav-nest,
working Christians. They are done in
accordance with the divine injunction :
Let him that heareth.say, 'Come.' "
A Time to Laugh.
Reccher says : " There is a time to
laugh. When it comes, every Christian
should improve it. Moreover, it is par
ticularly incumbent on ministers to set
the flock a good example in this respect.
A merry heart docth godd like a medi
cino, and is much easier to take. The
minister has uo right to wear himself
out by unnecessary friction, when the- oil
of gladrrcss is dropping upon the pas
tures from every side. To maintain
cheerfulness, even in the face of real dif
ficulty and trouble, is one of tho crown
ing graces of Christianity, and the min
ister even beyond other men should seek
for it."
Things to Remember.
Leisure is the time for doing something
useful. This leisuro the , diligent man
will obtain, but the lazy man, never; so
that, as poor Richard says, " A life of
leisuro aud, a life of laziness are two
things."
It is not what people eat, but what they
digest, that makes them strong. It is not
what they gain, but what they save, that
makes them .rich. It is not what they
read, but what they remember, that
makes tho learned. It is uot what they
profess, but what they practice, that
makes them rightoous.
BST" He who cannot find time to con
sult his Riblu, will One day find timo to
bo sick ; ho who has not time to. pray
must find time to dio; ho who can find
no time to reflect is most likely to find
time to sin j he who cannot find time for
repentance, will find an eternity in which
repentance will be of no avail; he who
cannot find time to work for others, may
find an eternity ia , which to suffer for
hhnself.