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198 little Ketta. “And do you think, Cousin Herbert, that he will visit Savannah ?” “Os course he will, and you may look for him now almost any evening. So you little folks had better look out for him. But I can’t sit here talking all night. I am tired from traveling, and must go to bed.” The next day the children could talk of nothing but Pelz-Nickel and his ex pected visit. At night, they were sadly disappointed because their Cousin Herbert could not be with them, but he was obli ged to be absent during the first part of the evening. He told the children before he left, however, that they must be on the look-out, as Pelz-Nickel might visit them that evening, but assured them that they had nothing to tear from him, espe pecially if they had been good children. About dusk, all the children had their faces and hands washed, and their hair combed out smoothly, and were made all ready to receive the expected visitor.— They were seated, with their father and mother, in the sitting-room, which was warmed and lighted up as on the night before, and all were on the tip-toe of ex pectation. At length Clarissa, the color ed girl, ran up stairs, badly frightened, exclaiming : “Oh, missus, dat old man is a coming. I seed him fru de winder.” Just then there was a loud limrincr at the door bell, footsteps were heard in the entry, the door opened, and in walked Pelz-Nickel. His dress was a wonder. He had on a high cap, made of fur, a great fur overcoat, and immense fur boots, while his hands were encased in fur gloves. Slung over his shoulder like a haversack, was a large bag, and in one hand he carried a long, keen switch. He introduced himself as “Nicholas with the Fur,” (you see, that is the English for Pelz-Nickel,) and said that he had come all the way from Germany to inquire in to the characters of the children, so that he could report all those who were good to the angel of Christmas, who was to come at Christmas-eve. He asked all about their lessons, and told them of some faults which they were surprised that he knew of. But, as these were not serious, he told them if they were careful during the coming week, he would not use the rod, but make a good report of them, es pecially as he had heard of other things which were very much in their favor. For instance, he was glad to learn that 4 they were obedient to their parents, regu lar attendants of Sabbath-School, and were kind to the poor little children around them, several of whom had been comfortably clothed through their efforts, BTJEKE’S WEEKLY. and, therefore, he wonld not make them wait until Christmas for something in return. With these words he put his hand into the bag, and out came such a crowd of apples, and nuts, and cocoanut cakes, and ground-pea candy, as you scarcely ever saw. Every little hand and pocket was filled, and yet there seemed to be plenty more in the bag. Pelz-Nickel then told them that they might certainly expect a visit from the Christkinchen, or Christmas Angel, on Christmas-eve, who would bring them many beautiful things, and then, with a smile and a bow, he took his departure. About a quarter of an hour after Pelz- Nickel left, their Cousin Herbert came in, his face all flushed from walking in the cold wind. “Oh, Cousin Herbert,” cried Nettie and Ritter, “you ought to have been here. Pelz-Nickel is such a funny old man. And he gave us such a lot of candy, and nuts, and apples.” “ And drown-pea tandy,” chimed in lit tle Mary. “ And he had on such a funny high hat, and his clothes were all covered with fur!” said Frank. But George said nothing. He looked at his Cousin Hubert suspiciously, as if he thought Hubert knew more than he pretended. If you are good little boys and girls, I will tell you, next week, what George thought, and all about the visit of the Christmas Angel. Scatter your Crumbs. t MIDST the freezing sleet and snow, The timid robin comes ; In pity drive him not away, But scatter out your crumbs. '£: And leave your door upon the latch Cp Bor whosoever comes; The poorer they, more welcome give, And scatter out your crumbs. All have to spare, none are too poor, When want with winter comes; The loaf is never all your own, Then scatter out your crumbs. Soon winter falls upon your life, The day of reckoning comes; Against your sins, by high decree, Are weighed those scattered crumbs. Alfred Crowquili,. Wit and Humor, It is easy to say ill-natured things, and thus get a reputation for smartness ; but genuine humor doesn’t flow from a bitter fountain. It is gentle and genial, comes from a bright and loving spirit, and re st eshes while it excites to mirth and laughter. Less brilliant than wit, it is more agreeable. While the one offends by its severity, the other makes a man ashamed of his follies without exciting his resentment. Written for Burke’s Weekly JA CK DOBELL; Or, A Boy’s Adventures in Texas. A STORY FOR BOYS. CHAPTER XVIII. ENCOUNTER WITH A WILD CAT— A DAY op LEISURE RATTLE-SNAKED— AN UNPLE \ SANT ADVENTURE —CAMPING OVER A RAT TLE-SNAKES DEN. the morning I roused from a sound ySMKi. A slee P a terrible cack bng among my chickens, o I got up immediately to ascertain what occasion "CZß ed the row, leaving Flacco in the b room fast asleep on a hearth rug, # which I had spread on the floor for his particular accommodation. As I went out, I unconsciously shut the door behind me. Observing a commotion amongst the poultry at the further end of the yard, I was proceeding thither when a chicken came running towards me followed by a huge wild cat. Now, I considered that I had a prior claim my self upon all the poultry pertaining to this establishment, and determined to inter fere at once in behalf of the chicken. I had no weapon with me, not even my carving knife, so I picked up a heavy stick and boldly advanced upon the im pudent intruder that had thus dared, in open daylight, to poach upon “my do mains.” The wild cat, however, did not appear in the least daunted by my pres ence ; on the contrary, as I advanced to wards him he commenced humping his back and growling, and otherwise exhib iting unmistakeable signs of an intention to dispute my authority. Notwithstand ing this demonstration, however, I con tinued to approach until within a few places of him, when I threw my stick at him, and with so true an aim that it struck him a heavy blow upon the side. Ho gave a shrill scream, and sprang to wards me, whereupion I instantly turned and ingloriously fled to the house, and well it was for me that I did so, for when I pmshed open the door and rushed in, the cat was right at my heels. But here he encountered a much more formidable an tagonist than I was in my unarmed state, in my dog Flacco, who pounced upon him without a moment’s hesitation, as soon as the door was opened. Fearing he might prove an overmatch for Flacco, I seized my butcher knife, and hurrying with it to his assistance, I inflicted a deep wound upon him, but before I could repeat the blow, he tore loose from Flacco, and made