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low growl and struggled to get up, but I
choked him severely until he lay quiet.
The Mexicans had evidently caught a
glimpse of us before we left the road, for
after they halted they conversed earnest
ly together, and one of them got down
from his horse and examined the road for
tracks, but, luckily for me, the road at
that point was exceedingly hard, and my
feet had left no distinct traces upon it.
At length, satisfied I suppose that they
had seen nothing, or that what they had
seen was in reality only a couple of wild
hogs or wolves, they rode on, to my great
relief, as you may well imagine. I am
convinced that my safety in this instance
was owing in a great measure to the fact
that I had on a hunting shirt that was
precisely the color of the dead grass, from
which it could scarcely be distinguished
a few paces off.
When the Mexicans had gone on to a
safe distance, I loosened my grasp from
Flacco’s neck, and let him get up. The
choking I gave him upon that occasion
taught him a lesson that he never forgot,
for ever afterwards when I wished him
to lie down, I had only to place my hands
upon his neck, when he would instantly
crouch to the earth, and remain as mute
as a mouse until I told him to rise again.
Thankful for what, under the circum
stances, appeared to me almost a Provi
dential escape from a cruel death, I took
my way back to the timber, resolved in
my mind that henceforth I would keep a
better look out, and travel as little as pos
sible by daylight through the open prai
ries. When I got to the woods, the sun
was about setting, and as it was too late
to think of returning to “my house,” I
picked out a suitable locality, built up a
fire, and encamped for the night.
During the night several bears came
around the camp, and kept Flacco in a
constant state of excitement. The next
morning I retraced my steps, and about
mid-day got back to my old quarters,
where I found everything just as I had
left it the day before. After feasting
again on fried chicken, sweet potatoes
and hot coffee, feeling somewhat fatigued
from my walk, I retired to “my library,”
and selecting a volume of “Don Quixote,”
took a seat upon a sofa, and, cocking my
legs on a chair, I “ made myself at home”
for the balance of the evening. I had
never read Don Quixote before, and I be
taine so much interested in its perusal
that I did not lay it down until it grew
so dark I was no longer able to distin
guish the letters. I then retired to my
sleeping apartment ” and stretched my
self out luxuriously on my double “ bed
stead.”
BURKE’S WEEKLY.
Little Fingers.
BY A GEORGIA LADY.
SUSY little fingers,
, Everywhere they go ;
Rosy little fingers,
The sweetest that I know !
E°w into my work-box,
All the buttons finding,
Tangling up the knitting,
Every spool unwinding,
Now into the basket
Where the keys are hidden,
So mischievous looking,
Knowing it forbidden.
Then in mother’s tresses,
Now her neck enfolding,
With such sweet caresses
Keeping off a scolding.
Darling little fingers.
Never, never still,
Make them, Heavenly Father,
One day to do Thy will. Little Gleaner.
A Word for Boys.
RUTH is one of the rarest
gems. Many a youth has
been lost to society by
uiMa allowing it to tarnish,
and foolishly throwing
IfC\ awa Y-
My If this gem still shines in your
‘njk bosom, suffer nothing to displace or
w). dim its lustre.
Profanity is a mark of low breeding.
Show us the man who commands the best
respect; an oath never trembles on his
tono-uc. Read the catalogue of crime.
Inquire the character of those who depart
from virtue. Without a single exception,
you will find them to be profane. Think
of this, and do not let a vile word dis
grace you.
Honesty, frankness, generosity, virtue
—blessed traits! Be these yours, my
boys, and we shall not fear. You will
claim the respect and love of all. You
are watched by your elders. Men who
are looking for clerks and apprentices
have their eyes on you. If you are pro
fane, vulgar, theatre-going, they will not
choose you. If you are upright, steady,
and industrious, before long you will find
good places, kind masters, and the pros
pect of a useful life before you.
A Jolly Life. —Insects generally must
lead a truly jovial life. Think what it
must be to lodge in a lily! Imagine a
palace of ivory or pearl, with pillars ot
silver and capitals of gold, all exhaling
such a perfume as never arose from hu
man censer! Fancy, again, the fun ol
tucking yourself up for the night in the
folds of the rose, rocked to sleep by the
gentle sighs of summer, nothing to do
when you awake but to wash yourself in
a dew-drop, and eat your bed clothes.
JThe Two Apprentices.
BN a carpenter’s shop were
two boys. One determin
ed to make himself a tho
rough workman ; the oth
er “ didn’t care.” One read
tudied, and got books that
help him to understand his
Yiyp iruu e. He spent his evenings at
1$ home reading. The other liked
fun best. He went off with other boys to
have fun.
“ Come,” he often said to his shopmate,
“ leave your books; go with us. What’s
the use of all this reading?”
“If I waste these golden moments,”
was the reply, “ I shall lose what I never
can make up.”
While the boys were still apprentices,
an offer of two thousand dollars appeared
through the newspapers for the best plan
of a State House, to be built in one of the
Eastern States. The studious boy saw the
advertisement, and determined to try for
it. After careful study he drew his plans
and sent them to the committee. I sup
pose he did not expect to win the prize,
but there is nothing like trying.
It was not long before the committee
of gentlemen arrived at the carpenter
shop and asked if an architect by the
name —mentioning the boy’s name—lived
there.”
“No,” said tlie carpenter, “no archi
tect , but I’ve got an apprentice by that
name.”
“ Let us see him,” they said.
The young man was called, and sure
enough his plan had been accejited, and
the S2OOO were his.
The committee then said he must put
up the building; and the employer was
so proud of his success that he willingly
gave him his time and let him go.
This studious carpenter’s boy became
one of the best architects of our country.
He made a fortune, and stands high in
the esteem of everybody; while his fel
low apprentice can hardly earn, bj his
daily labor, bread enough for himself and
family.
Who loses a youth of improvement,
loses the best beginning which a boy can
make in life.
A gentleman in Peteisburg has
succeeded in teaching four chickens to
draw a miniature wagon, in which a big
rooster rides. They rattle over a lawn
with great speed, while the rooster looks
as grave as a bishop.
j&sgr A failure in a good cause is better
than a triumph in a bad one.
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