Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Carolina people, except what I sec in Jones himself, it is very much like what I have heerd of them, to be eating all sorts of queer things.” «I Jo not know how believable that story of the dinner is, when told of a North Carolina man,” said Magruder; (< for, if lam not mistaken, it was told me soon after I landed at Quebec, live years ago, about somebody not far from the lines.” “ Well,” returned Jones to these inuen does, “ I didn’t give the story on my own knowledge, but only as I got it from oth ers. I know that it was told in my neigh borhood about the man I mentioned, and as for Magruder’s having heard it in Can ada, I don’t see why a good thing of the kind happening in North Carolina might not travel to Canada, and be told of some one there, as well as that it should have happened in Canada and traveled to North Carolina. It certainly is no farther from North Carolina to Canada than it is from Canada to North Carolina.” This closing argument of Jones was so like a demonstration that the discussion stopped rig li t there. Thompson was now called up on for his story; and, evidently aiming to animate the drooping spirits of the company by some thing light, he gave an account of himself, of which a brief ab stract will be furnished in the fol lowing chapter. Singular Promptness. A boy borrowed a tool from a neighbor, promising to return it at night. Before evening he went on an errand and did not return until late. When he went he was told that his brothers would see the tool returned. He was much distressed to think his promise was not fulfilled, and was finally persuaded to go to sleep, and rise early and take it home. By daylight he was up, and nowhere was the tool to be found. After a long and fruitless search he set off for his neighbor’s in great distress to acknowledge his fault. But how great was his surprise to find the tool on his neighbor’s door. And it ap peared from the prints of little bare feet on the mud, that the lad had got up in his sleep and carried the tool home, and went to bed again and knew it not. Os course, a boy who was so prompt in his sleep was prompt when awake. He livdd respected, had the confidence of his neigh bors, and was placed in many offices of trust. —Bible Class Magazine. B U RKE’S AV E E KEY. Written for Burke’s Weekly. COCK ROBIN AND JEANNIE WREN. » DOUBT if there is one of my little readers who has not read the history of Cock Robin and Jeannie Wren, as related by that wonderful favorite of the juveniles, Mother Goose. Robin Redbreast was a gallant bird, Jeannie Wren was ** young and beautiful, and of course Robin lost his heart. Here you have a 'picture of Master Robin, with his hat un der his wing, making that memorable speech to Miss Jeannie, in which he prom ised that she should “dine on currant pie, and drink nice cherry wine,” besides dressing “ like a gold finch, or like a pea cock gay.” But, says one of my little readers, “ I O* —V never heard of a bird eating currant pie and drinking wine.” Perhaps not, but 3'ou know this all happened long ago, and times are sadly changed. However, Miss Jeannie seems to have been more fond of the good things to eat than of fine clothes, for, after accepting Master Robin and naming the day, she sings: “ Cherry pie is very good, and so is currant wine, But I will wear my brown gown, and never dress too fine.” Well, to make a long story short, they had a rare wedding. Parson Rook per formed the ceremony, the Goldfinch gave away the bride, the Linnet acted as brides maid, and the Bulfinch as groomsman. “ The Black bird and the Thrush, and the charming Nightingale, Whose sweet song sweetly echoes through every grove and dale; The Sparrow and the Tomtit, and many more were there; All came to see the wedding of Jeannie Wren, the fair. The wedding dinner over, the company began to sing, and the concert is said to have been a very fine one, all doing their best in honor of the bride and bridegroom. This merry beginning was doomed, how ever, to have a tragical ending; for, in the midst of their glee, in came the Cuckoo, who acted in the most shameful manner. Cock Robin became angry, and so did the Sparrow, who, in a great liur ry> brought in his bow and arrow. But he was either frightened or excited, for he aimed so badly that, alas! alas ! “ The Cuckoo he missed—but Cock Robin he killed! And all the birds mourned that his blood was so spilled.” [Bins was a sad ending to poor Jeannie’s married life; but our little readers will see, by referring to the poem in this num ber, that she was not inconsolable, as she afterwards married again, and became the mother of a large family. —Editor of the Weekly .] JBST* Nothing gives more freshness to existence than the consciousness of bein O useful to others. Nettie’s Wish. “ I wish I were a fairy, And had a magic wand: I’d make you all so happy!” Said little Nettie Bond. “ I'd change this cot so humble Into a palace fair, And fill its walls so lofty With treasures rich and rare. ‘‘ Papa should leave his work-shop; Mamma should live at ease ; And Ben should go to college, The dariing roguish tease ! AVe’d have such heaps of silver, With gold in plenty, tool 0, would we not be merry, AVith no more work to do?” “ My dear, the best of fairies My little girl may be. And she can bring us daily Rich gifts most fair to see — Kind looks, and smiles so loving, And duties promptly done; 0, these would make our home-nest As cheerful as the sun. “ Better than kingly palace, Better than gold, my love, These precious plants of kindness, AVhicli take their root above; They'd lighten father’s labor, And soften mother’s care; And, twining round our heart-strings, They’d bloom in beauty rare.” " I thank you, dearest mother; I’ll try your magic wand, And be a real home-fairy,” Said little Nettie Bond. “ And if we can’t have riches, AVe'll have what’s better far — Hearts full of love and sunshine.” “ My pet!” chimed in mamma. Fashion. —A Quaker gentleman, riding in a carriage with a fashionable lady decked with a profusion of jewelry, heard her complain of the cold. Shivering in her lace bonnet, and shawl as light as a cobweb, she exclaimed : “ What shall 1 do to get warm ?” “ I really don’t know,” replied the Qua ker solemnly, “ unless thee should put on another breast-pin .” God gives every bird its food, but does not throw it into the nest, 115