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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. 147