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10 THE YOUNG SOUTHERNER That Was All. Only a little shriveled seed— It might be flower or grass or weed; Only a box of earth on the edge Os a narrow, dusty window ledge; Only a few 7 scant summer showers; Only a few’ clear, shining hours. That .was all. Yet God could make Out of these, for a sick child’s sake, A blossom "wonder as fair and sweet As ever broke at an angel’s feet. Only a life of barren pain, Wet with sorrowful tears for rain; Warmed sometimes by a wandering gleam Os joy that seemed but a happy dream; A life as common and brown and bare As the box of earth in the window’ there; Yet it bore at least the precious bloom Os a perfect soul in a narrow room— Pure as the snowy leaves that fold Over the flower’s heart of gold. —Christian Observer. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and ihe man that getteth understanding. For the merchan dise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Id a recent issue of the North American Review the editor of that periodical took occasion to make some very uncomplimentary statements regarding i;ie American girl of today as compared with tne American boy. Among other things he said: “We find little that is interesting in the Ameri can girl of today between the ages of fifteen .ml I wciity-two. She has failed to keep pace in ary respect with the American boy. “Indeed, if the blunt truth be spoken, she is an intolerable bore, self-conscious, ignorant, and con • cerned chiefly with matrimonial aspirations.” With this opinion one of the editors of St. Nie i olas, in a letter to the Review, takes issue. He siy; that in the capacity of editor of a department to which young persons of every age up to eighteen contribute, he has had exceptional opportunities for comparing the intellectual capacities and accom plishments of the American boy and girl, and his observations have resulted in “conclusions some- w r hat different from those set down by the editor of the Review 7 .” In proof of the correctness of his deductions he quotes some very good poetry and some really ex cellent prose written by girls. He further says: “I think we may set it down as a fact that, so far as general intellectual advancement and at tainments are concerned, the girls between the ages of fifteen and eighteen have them (the boys) bea'en, 1 hands down.’ ” But the editor of the Review is not convinced and thinks that the specimens quoted by the ediiie of St. Nicholas are “of the exceptional charac'er which tends to indicate the rule.” New, here we have expressed directly opposing opinions of two men, each the editor of a high class publictaion. One says the American girl 'in “failed to keep pace in any respect with the Amer ican boy.” The other claims that in intellectual attainments the girls have the boys beaten, “hands down.” Which is right ? What do the readers of t T m Yeung Southerner think about it? From far away Nebraska I, this week, receiv ? i a letter filled with kind expressions of apprecia tion of the Young Southerner, and I take tins m*ans of thanking the writer, who is a regular reader of The Golden Age, for his kindly words aal good wishes. Conducted by Louilse Threete Hodges. I trust he will continue to find pleasure and en tertainment in the perusal of this page. Occasionally we hear of a rich invalid expressing the wish that he could enjoy his meals or leisure as some poor but robust laborer enjoys his cold lunch or hour of rest after a hard day’s work, and we are inclined to pity the poor rich man. Bat did you ever think what an evidence of superlative selik-hness this wish is on the part of the rich man? He has his wealth and his luxuries, but he envies the poor man who has neither, even his ability :o enjoy the few simple necessaries of life. He won'J not, if he could, exchange conditions with th® poor 1“ borer, but he would, no doubt, take from him, for his own added comfort, “erven the little tha,3 he hath.” With Correspondents. Dear Mrs. Hodges: It has given me much pleasure from week week to read the letters of the Young Southerne :s who contribute to your page. These young persons manifest intelligence anl e thoughtful consideration of what they are to mal* of their lives. They seem to realize the importance of high ideals and of the steadfast endeavor t > reach the standard which they set for themselves. This is a hopeful sign and argues well for an irjn ciable career for each of these bright young V’) ‘ters. I have been pleased to note that so many of th-m are proud of their native states and are so v ell informed as to the history of them. This is pair.iotic and eminently praiseworthy. I hope to see a growing interest among our am In’ous young friends in the page set apart espe cially for them, and shall continue to watch each week for their interesting letters. With sincerest good wishes, (Mrs..) M. L. P. Jones. Laar Editor: I would like to ask the boys and girls who ait fond of reading what books they have enjoy r 1 most. I like to read and would be glad to k i'»"v a hat others read and enjoy. I have recently read a book which I found very interesting. It is called “The Texas Doctor and the Arab Donkey,” and is a description of the author’s travels in Europe, Asia and Africa, lie tells of many interesting places, scenes and inci dents, and as I read the descriptions I almost im agined myself in the places described. I especially eni -yed the descriptions of the Holy Land and the pyramids in Egypt. I think it is a great privilege to be able to travel and see so much of the world and learn how the people of other lands live. Some day after I have finished my education, I hope to travel over these same countries that the Texas Doctor describes in hi* book. Hoping that some of the boys will comply with my request and tell me of some good books, I will close, with best wishes for all. Yours very truly, John Roy Trotword. Dear Editor. I wonder if any of your numerous correspon dents among the girls have ever been ’possun hunting? I have been once, and it was fine spirt. I was in the country spending some time with seme of my cousins. One night the boys announce ! that they were going ’possum hunting, and invite I us girls to go with them. Os course we were de- Iglted to go as it was a new experience for us. The boys carried torches of rich pine, whi *'i flared and wavered in the wind and gave a weird ap pearance to the thick, dark w’oods. I would have L’ftn afraid if there had not been so many of us, but as it was we were all quite merry as we stum- The Golden Age for November 29, 1906. bled over stones and fallen limbs while watching out for the ’possums in the branches of the trees. Once the dogs barked so furiously that we fe't sure they had “treed” a ’possum, but we fount we were mistaken (I suppose the dogs were also) and we did not get any game after all, but we had the fun, which was our main object, anyway. I enjoy “our page” very much, and hope it will continue as good as it has been. Your true friend, Susie Ellen Martinen. Our Neighbors. Somebody near you is struggling alone Over life’s desert sand; Faith, hope, and courage together are gone; Reach him a helping hand: Turn on his darkness a beam of your light; Kindle, to guide him, a beacon fire bright; Cheer his discouragement, soothe his affright, Lovingly help him to stand. —Central Star of Empire ; A Dog With a Wooden Leg. T r ”ce knew a little woolly poodle in the Philip pines, which was a regimental mascot. During a fight near Cavite, its left hind leg was shot off and the little fellow was carried as tenderly to the rear as if he had been a human comrade. The surgeon dressed the stump. The dog was nursed by the surgeon’s wife, and eventually recovered. Being unfit for further campaigning, it then be came her pet. She had made for it an artificial hind leg, fitting neatly over the stump with a laced glove top, and having a little rubber pad for a foot. On this the dog soon walked with ease, and by de drees learned to use it readily, as if it were an ac tual leg, even scratching with it. One day, how ever, as he was scratching behind his left ear, the w’ooden leg hung in his hair and pulled off. The poor little fellow’s perplexity was ludicrous, but with a violent shake of his head, the wooden leg flew off. He then took it in his mouth and hob bled on three legs to his mistress to have it put on again.—Southern Churchman. There Is Still Time. A Dream. Once upon a time, the devil is said to have sent out his wicked angels on an important errand. Each one was to devise some scheme with which to mislead and bring to ruin men and report it to their master. “I will tell men that there is no God.” said one. To this the devil replied, “You can save yourself that trouble, for the earth and sea and sky will teach them differently.” “I will convince men,” said another angel, “that there is no moral government in the world and that therefore there will be no day of judgment.” “That too is useless,” was the answer, “ for every man has a conscience which tells him that God will some day have a reckoning with him.” “I will teach men,” said a third, “that men can get to heaven through their own good works.” “And that they will not believe,” was the reply, “for no man is satisfied with his own good works and how can he believe that God will be?” “I know a better way,” said a fourth. “I will tell men all truly: I will admit that there is a God, that there is a heaven and a hell, that man must repent if he would escape hell; I will tell the whole truth and only mix one little lie with it; I will say, ‘you must repent, but you still have time; you can wait for a more convenient season and take up the matter in good earnest later.’ ” “Excel lent!” exclaimed the devil. “That is the trap in which you can catch millions of souls. Go forth and conquer.”—From the German.