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c e pt the offer of those who have, for this
would be giving us three drinks apiece
to their one; for I see that Simpson also
is supplied. But I cannot help thinking
how quickly and super-abundantly the
necessities of the world would be supplied
if a like liberality prevailed in all things.”
“Yes, and in that case there is many a
lazy fellow who would never strike an
other lick of work,” added Wheeler.
“Which of course must not be encour
ao-ed,” replied I)r. Gordon, “ for those who
refuse to furnish their share in work,
when they can give nothing else, should
be refused their share of the comforts.”
The question about water was settled
for the night. It was understood that
the next day’s supply should be sought
the next morning. But the adventures
for the night were not quite over.
“I have often heard,” said Magruder,
“thatit is an ill wind that blows nobody
any good; but I’d like to know what
good is blowed to anybody by the tire to
night ?”
“This good, at least,” said Wheeler,
quickly, “though I am sorry to buy it at
such cost, that we shall have no trouble
from mosquitoes . There were plenty of
them when we landed.”
“And another good,” added Jones,
looking rather mischievously at Thomp
son, and alluding evidently to what had
been said in the story, of there being no
snakes in Ireland, “ is that we shall not
have any trouble from rattle-snakes.”
Scarcely had ho said this, however, be
fore Tomkins sung out : “ Take care,
men ! there is one now !” and, sure enough
there, within a yard of Thompson, lay a
huge rattle-snake, drawn up into his coil
and shaking his rattles at a most signifi
cant rate. He had been driven from his
hole under a burning log, and had come
into the cleared circle to escape the fire.
The scared Irishman, with an exclama
tion of horror, leaped instantly away,
and Avas barely in time to escape the fangs
of the venomous reptile, which threw it
self forward a full yard and a half to
strike him. The next moment, howe\ T er,
it lay motionless under aAvell-timed blow
across the neck from Jones’ ramrod —for
it is very easily killed by a bIoAV on that
part. On being examined, it Avas ascer
tained to be fiwo and a half feet long, and
to Aveigh about ten pounds. Its tail con
tained fourteen rattles.
This incident closed the history of the
n ight. All hands worn out with unusual
labor and late hours, were ready for sleep,
and all slept soundly, except Thompson,
whose occasional movements and mut
tered exclamations proved that he was
dreaming of snakes.
BXJIiKE’S WEEKLY.
A Short Sermon.
BY ALICE CARY.
Children who read my lay,
This much I have to say :
Each day and every day,
Do what is right!
Plight things, in great and small;
Then, though the sky should fall,
Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
You shall have light!
This further I would say:
Be you tempted as you may,
Each day, and every day,
Speak what is true !
True things, in great and small;
Then, though the sky should fall,
Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
Heaven would show through !
Figs, as you see and know,
Do not out of thistles grow ;
And, though the blossoms blow
AVhitc on the tree,
Grapes never, never yet,
On the limbs of thorns were set;
So, if you a good would get,
Good you must be !
Life’s journey, through and through
Speaking what is just and true ;
Doing what is right to do
Unto one and all ;
When you work and when you play,
Each day, and every day.
Then peace shall gild your way,
Though the sky should fall.
Thirty Seconds Too Late !
Mr. Bell was always
pimctaal. Whoever might
Bo ate at meet ”h?j at tbe
funeral, o r anywhere
felse, they all knew that
j Mr. Bell would not. If called to
attend a wedding, his foot was on
'/Q& the door step and his hand on the
bell-handle Avhen the clock Avas
striking the hour. It AA’as, at first, quite
annoying to his flock to go, according to
their old habits, to a funeral and meet it
on the Avay to the grave, or to go to a
Avedding and find it all over before they
thought of getting there. So old Mr.
Sloav Avaited on the minister to ask him
w hy he “ avas always in such a burr a , and
so afraid of being too late.”
“ Well, my good friend, I will tell you ,
and if, after hearing me, you do not think
I am about right in this thing, I Avill try
to alter.”
“ That’s surely fair,” slowly said Mr.
Sloav, as if afraid to commit himself.
“When I was a young man, and had
been preaching only a teAA r months, I Avas
invited to go to a distant mountain tOAvn
and preach to a destitute people. I went
for some Aveeks, and then returned home
for a feAV days, promising to be back, aa t i t h
out fail, the next Sunday. Well, I had a
pleasant Aveek among my kind relatives,
and was so much engaged that I hardly
thought of my solemn duties, till Satur
day returned, and then my sister and a
beautiful friend of her’s persuaded me to
go out a little while in the little white
boat, Cinderella, on our beautiful lake.
The day was fine, and Cinderella spun
and darted under my oars as if a thing
of life. W hen Ave got ashore, I found it
two o’clock, and I knew the cars started
in fifteen minutes.
“ I left the ladies and ran homo, and
caught up my carpet-bag and ran for the
depot. I saAv the cars had arrived. I
heard the bell ring. With all mv strength
I ran. I saw them start. I redoubled
my efforts, and got within fifteen feet of
the cars ! Oh, for thirty seconds more !
Thirty seconds too late ! Ho more ! The
next day Avas a fair, still, sweet Sunday.
My mountain people gathering, coming
down from the glens and folloAving the
rills, filled the house of Avorship. But
there Avas no minister; and the hungry
sheep had no shepherd to feed them ! lie
was thirty seconds too late !
There was a poor, old blind man, who
li\ T ed four miles from the church, and sel
dom could he get to meeting. That day
he ate breakfast early, and his little
grand-daughter led him all the Avay down
the mountain to the church. lloav weary
and sad, and disappointed he Avas ! There
AA r as no minister to speak to him. lie
was thirty seconds too late!
There Avas a great gathering of child
ren to the Sunday-school. And their lit
tle eyes glistened, for their minister had
promised to preach them a £ little sermon
to-day ;’ but he Avas not there. He Avas
thirty seconds too late !
“ There Avas a sick child up one of the
glens of the mountain, and she had been
inquiring all the week for her minister.
She was so anxious to see him, and have
him pray Avith her. How she hailed the
day when he would be there I But no!
he was not there.
“That poor, ohl blind man never came
to the church again. He Avas too feeble,
and never heard another sermon or prayer.
The minister was thirty seconds too late!
“That little girl was dead before I got
back, and I could only shed tears over her
corpse! I had been thirty seconds too
late!
“On my bended knees I asked God b
forgiveness, and promised Him, that if
possible, I would never again be thirty
seconds too late!
“And now, Mr. Sloav, am I not right in
my punctuality ?
“ Well. 1 guess-it-don’t look quite-so-un
reasonable-as-it-might!
. -——
Industry and frugality are the roads
to wealth. They never fail. Earn and
save, and you may expect leisure and
dividends in time.
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