EDITOR'S DRAWER . "A little nonsense, now and then, Is relished by the best of men." This is an old adage that experience has confirmed sufficiently to make it unquestioned. Life's background of seriousness needs some sort of relief, otherwise it is a burden that crushes health, spirits, happiness. even life itself. Relief comes from crying, but there are times when it comes more appropriately, and certainly more pleasantly, from laughing. Beecher says the Lord gave him the faculty of mirthfulness, and he does not know what for, unless it was for him to use. Multitudes of others are equally at a loss to know what else to do with this faculty, so they very sensibly decide to use it. A good joke is a gem in the sober setting of social intercourse. A good laugh is both a luxtry and a medicine. We do not mean a silly, simpering, senseless laugh that has no depth, nor the fawning hypocritical laugh that is without mirth and is put on to deceive, nor the scornful, bitter laugh that wounds like a poisoned arrow; but the honest, hearty laugh that comes up from the depths, and is the irrepressible bubbling over of fun and good feeling, the laugh that never deceives, that makes the brow smoother, the face younger, the heart happier and kinder, and all of life more cheerful. Such a laugh we believe in, and enjoy, and doubt not our readers do. So we shall fill our drawer from time to time with such mirth-provoking things as we find along our path, and invite our friends to come to it and try this sort of medicine for such of life's ills as it is fitted to remove, hoping it will do them good as it does us. Enough of sadness will come to us. It does no harm to look for joy. The true philosophy is to "Weep when we must, laugh when we can." Little Annie had been reading in the "Arabian Night's Entertainment" the cruel Sultan Schabriar, who married every day a beautiful maiden, and had her beheaded on the following morning. "O, dear," exclaimed Annie, "I wouldn't live in that country for anything; to be put to death every morning!" A minister had a chance to marry either of two sisters. One was very pretty, but irreligious; the other was pious, but a scold. He took the former, concluding that "the Spirit of God could live where he couldn't!" It is well known to the intimate friends of the late Rev. Dr. Ballou, President of Tufts College, that there was a vein of the richest humor in his nature, which often found expres sion in his familiar letters to his friends. Mr. Frothingham, in his "Tribute" to the late Thomas Starr King, alludes to the facetious correspondence which was carried on between Dr. Ballou and Mr. King, and other friends, and gives one sample of his humorous composition in rhyme, which we copy, together with the note accompanying it : private papers of Mr. King, among which are There must be many of these letters with the his father's manuscripts. I am indebted to Professor Tweed, who resides near the late residence of Dr. Ballou, for one which he received on a winter morning, when the snow had blocked the roads round Walnut Hill, and the New England staple, salt fish, was in request,—a dinner of which, by the way, John Hancock used to invite his friends to eat on Saturdays. Dr. Ballou was induced to celebrate the virtues of this famous dish in verse. On reading the following lines to Mrs. Ballou, she asked, "what are you going to do with them?" The doctor replied, "I shall send them to Professor Tweed." Why, they are silly," she said. That's the reason I am going to send them," he replied. They were put in an envelope, and left at Mr. Tweed's door. Mr. King remarked of them, that, had they been written by Leigh Hunt, for humor, versification, and fancy, they would have been considered as one of his best effusions. SALT FISH. Staple food on Walnut Hill! When the winter's smothering blow As for her funeral rite, If the dinner-thought intrude Can we feel blue devilish? Blest resource! there's some Salt Fish. Rain nor snow nor cold nor heat . Help him, till no more he wish, From thy bounty, O Salt Fish! Thou of eatables the chief,- Hail, all hail, to thee, Salt Fish! Blessings on thy face antique, Drawn from caves beneath the tides What a wondrous power thou hast, That can make us feast and fast, Blending lean and hungry Lent MEETING A SHAKER. A city buck visited the Shakers at Lebanon, some time since, and as he was wandering through the village, encountered a stout hearty specimen of the sect, and thus accosted him: "Well, old broadbrim, are you much of a Shaker?" "Nay," said the other, "not overmuch; but I can do a little that way." So he seized the astonished man by the collar, and nearly shook him out of his boots! ILLEGIBLE WRITING MADE USEFUL. A good story is told concerning the writing of a certain railroad manager. He had written to a man living on the route, notifying him that he must remove a barn, which in some manner incommoded the road, under penalty of prosecution. The threatened individual was unable to read any part of the letter, except the signature, and took it to be a free pass on the road, and used it as such for a couple of years, none of the conductors being any better able to decipher it than he was. There are retorts uncourteous which can be justified only by the occasion. Talleyrand being pestered with questions by a squinting man, concerning his broken leg, replied, "It is quite crooked, as you see!" "I thought you were born on the first of April," said a Benedict to his lovely wife, who mentioned the 21st as her birthday. "Most people think so, from the choice I made of a husband," she replied. ANECDOTE OF RAPHAEL. Two cardinals objected to this great master of the pencil, that in one of the pieces he had put too much red in the countenances of St. Peter and St. Paul. "Be not astonished at that, my lords; I have painted them as they are in Heaven-blushing with shame at seeing the church so badly governed." FATALISM. We knew an old man who believed "that what was to be would be." He lived in a region infested by very savage Indians. He always took his gun with him when going into the woods; but this time he found that some of the family had taken it. As he would not go without it, his friends tantalized him by saying that there was no danger of the Indians; that he would not die till his time came, anyhow. "Yes, yes," said the old fellow; "but suppose I was to meet an Indian, and his time had come, it wouldn't do not to have my gun." A western New York correspondent mentions a neat little speech of a "four-year-old." His mother was hugging and kissing him, as mothers will, and said to him, as mothers will say: "Charley, what makes you so sweet?" Charley thought a moment; he had been told that he was "made of the earth." A happy thought struck him, and he answered, with a rosy smile: "I think, mother, God must have put a little sugar in the dust-don't you?" What kind of a bed is five-tenths straw, yet not suitable to lie upon, is not stuffed with feathers, down, straw, or corn husks, or moss? Ans. A strawberry-bed. WE saw a boy the other day borrow a stick of candy from a comrade to show him that he could pull it out of his ear. He swallowed it, and then twisted himself in various ways to extract it, but at length informed his companion that he had forgotten that part of the trick! A woman called on an attorney in Williamsport, on Tuesday of last week, and requested his assistance in collecting bounty and pay for two husbands who had been killed during the rebellion. Her third husband accompanied her. Who was the fastest woman mentioned in the Bible? Herodias; when she got ahead of John the Baptist on a charger. What is the most sensational periodical of the day? The Powder Magazine. A "jolly jack tar" gives the following description of the third figure of a quadrille :"You first heave ahead, and pass your adversary's yard arm, regain your station with your partner in line, back and fill, and then fall on your heel and bring up with your partner; she then manoeuvers ahead, off alongside of you; then make sail in company with her until nearly astern of the other line, make a stern board, cast her off to shift for herself, regain your place the best way you can, and let go your anchor." WORK. An army surgeon in Arkansas tried to hire a young bare-footed and coatless native as an errand boy. The astonished lad exclaimed: "Work! why I can't work, I'm white." DESTROYING ROMANCE. A story is told of a young fellow who, one Sunday, strolled into a church in West Philadelphia, and during the service was electrified and gratified by the sparkle of a brilliant pair of black eyes, which were riveted on his face. After the service he saw the possessor of the witching orbs leave the church alone; and, emboldened by her glances, he ventured to follow her, his heart aching with rapture. He saw her look behind, and fancied she evinced some emotion at recognizing him. He then quickened his pace and came up with her; but we will permit the young gentleman to tell the rest in his own way: "Noble young creature," thought I, "her artless, warm heart is superior to the bonds of custom." "I reached within a stone's throw of her; she suddenly halted and threw a glance toward me. My heart swelled to bursting; I reached the spot where she stood. She began to speak, and I took off my chapeau as if doing reverence to an angel. "Are you a peddler?" "No, my dear girl, that is not my present occupation." "Well, I don't know," continued she, not very bashfully, eyeing me sternly. "I thought when I saw you in the meeting-house, that you looked like the peddler that passed off a bad half-dollar stamp on me about three weeks ago, and so I was determined to keep an eye on you. Brother John has got home, now, and he says that if he catches the fellow, he will wring his neck for him; and I ain't sure but what you are the good-for-nothing rascal, after all!" A person who attended on a recent Sabbath, took down in short hand a single verse of the hymn as sung by the choir. The result of his labor produced the following: "Waw-kaw, shaw daw aw raw, Thaw saw thaw law aw waw, Waw-kaw taw thaw raw vaw braw, Aw thaw raw-jaw-saw aws." "THE MAN ABOUT TO PROPOSE." In the July Blackwood there is a description in the story of Miss Majoribanks of the psychological condition, as expressed in outward demeanor, of the man "about to propose." As our young lady readers may desire to know the infallible sign of the phenomenon, we give it in full. There was, it seems, in the demeanor of the visitor to Miss Marjoribanks that something which indicated the intention to propose. “He gave," she said, "that little nervous cough, and pulled his cravat just so, and stared into his hat as if he had it all written down there; and looked as they always look," Miss Marjoribanks added with a touch of natural contempt. On a bell in the Durham (Eng.) Cathedral these lines occur: "To call the folk to church in time, When mirth and pleasure's on the wing, And when the body leaves the soul, They tell a good story of a hoosier officer, who, on receiving a note from a lady, "requesting the pleasure of his company" at a party to be given at her house, on the evening designated took his volunteers and marched them to the young lady's residence. When it was explained to him that it was himself alone who had been invited, he said: "The letter said company, and I thought the lady wanted to see all the boys." THE INGENUITY OF LOVE. A couple, not a hundred miles from Manchester, carried on their courtship in a rather novel manner. A young man had fallen in love with the daughter of his employer; but, for certain ideas of wealth, the match was opposed by the young lady's father. The consequence was that the Which being interpreted would read in plain young man was forbidden to visit his employer's English as follows: house. The old gentleman was in the habit of wearing a cloak. The couple made him the innocent bearer of their correspondence. The young lady pinned a letter inside the lining of the old man's cloak every day, and when the father went to the counting-house and threw off his cloak, the lover took out the lady's epistle, read it, and sent the reply back in the same manner. Love and ingenuity were finally successful. A YOUNG girl at school, engaged in the study of grammar, was asked if "kiss" was a common or proper noun? In reply, the fair girl, blushing, and with some little hesitation, said: "It is both common and proper!" WHAT assistance do you most require when thirsty? Lemon aid. EDITOR WITH THE CHILDREN. | Some people would have denied him his crown UNDER this heading, the little people in the families in which the REPOSITORY is taken, will find various things, original and selected, which, we trust, will be to them not only interesting, but instructive and useful. We cordially invite them to read what we shall from time to time prepare for them, and, if we mistake not, our hour with the children will be one of the pleasantest, and perhaps the most profitable that we shall enjoy in our labors for the REPOS ITORY. A good friend has loaned us a copy of the "California Youth's Companion," from which we take "The Story of a Certain King”—would that all kings had as noble hearts as this one! Can any of our young friends tell whether they have seen this King or not? The Story of a Certain King. A CHILD'S LEGEND. A great German poet, whose name is too hard for the lips of my youthful readers, once said that when a good and great man died, God had a bright, new star, just finished, waiting for his soul to inhabit. Whether true or not, the idea was a pretty one, and perhaps was the reason why, some forty years ago, when a certain little boy was born in the East, his parents called him "Starr." for this reason, for they said, it is not royal to be so free and liberal with every one; but the greater part were ready to affirm that he even then wore it. Only he himself knew that it was yet afar. It was not only in the pulpit that he exercised this power. He mingled with men everywhere, at the sick bed, in the haunts of poverty and destitution, and at the social festival, remembering, perhaps, the example of one who lent his Royal presence to the wedding feast of Cana. In this way his bounty was so liberal and his influence so great, that had he chosen he might have assumed, at any time, his rank and privileges among the people. But when he perceived this, he left them and travelled far away among strangers, where he was not known, and where there was work ready for his hand. Thus far, his influence had only been felt among men as individuals, and in small communities. But a time was coming when he was to exercise a broader power. The country was sorely threatened and distracted with deceit and treachery. Men had grown cowardly and selfish, and looked not beyond themselves and their own hopes and future. Then it was the young King showed his capacity to govern and sway masses as he had governed and swayed men individually. His clear voice rang out throughout the land in defence of liberty and right, and against slavery and wrong. Where he went people followed. At his bidding they unsheathed the sword; at his command they prepared oil and wine for the wounded. He made them for the time forget their own selfish ends, as he had throughout his whole life forgotten his. To love the cause and to love him seemed to be inseparable. Some who knew him best, whispered him that now was the time to assume his royal rank and privileges. But he only smiled languidly, for his labors were growing heavy and consuming, and whispered "not yet." Besides this strange title, he was also called King. In a Republican country like ours, perhaps it means nothing. Certainly during his boyhood, which was spent like yours or mine, people saw no royal attributes in him. But as he grew up, certain qualities of mind and heart began to appear. When the King, his father, died, he succeeded, as usual, to his place and prerogatives, which, in this instance, was the support of his widowed mother, his brothers and sisters. At the age of seventeen, a slender lad, he worked early and late to provide the means for their maintenance. Some thoughtful people who watched him at this time, thought that At length, one bright day in early spring, they already detected the glittering symbol of when the long and dreary winter was passed, his rank binding his fair hair and youthful brow. and the earth had put aside its old garments His tastes led him to become a minister. and assumed new robes of living green, the unHis youthful experience had taught him some- crowned King laid himself quietly upon his bed thing of suffering, struggle and sorrow, and his to die. Those who stood about him wept that natural insight into the human heart, and he should be taken away when the crown was knowledge of its weaknesses, gave him marvel- within his grasp, and his praise upon each man's ous power. He had influence with all men lip. But he answered them in the words of the because he loved them, and saw good in all. good shepherd minstrel, himself a king, and bade them be of good cheer. For lo! as the pressure of his hand relaxed, a wondrous change veiled from all mortal eyes came over him. Upon the brow, yet damp with the dews of fading mortality, unseen fingers fitted the glittering crown so long promised, so long delayed. And in strange paraphrase of earthly customs, when the cry rang through the chamber," the King is dead," voices from the upper air seemed to answer, "long live the King." So the King died, and that night a new star was added to the firmament. B. We are very glad to furnish our little friends with the following interesting story of the Strawberry Festival," which we find pleasantly told in the Independent. We are sure that all who read it will be better and happier for it: The Strawberry Festival. There was a strawberry festival at the Hall one evening, and the brilliantly-lighted room presented a gay and merry sight. The tables were ranged round the sides of the room, each one looking like a small flower-garden, from the number of bouquets which ornamented it. A long side-table was loaded with heaps of strawberries, freezers of ice-cream, pyramids of cake, and pitchers of cool lemonade. There was a great throng of people present-smiling gentlemen, gaily-dressed ladies, and bright-eyed children; while in and out among them all the little flower-fairies were passing, dressed in white, with wreaths of roses on their heads, and baskets of flowers in their hands, filled with bouquets to sell themselves, all the time, sweet er than their nosegays. Whatever other temptations were resisted, the little girls were irresistible, and their timid, "Will you please buy bouquet? was sure to open purses more readily than anything else. At one table sat a little boy about twelve years old. His face was plain, but still brightlooking; and his clothes, though very neat, showed that his parents were not rich. At first, Mrs. Howe, the lady in waiting, had hesitated about giving him a seat at her table, for he was alone, and she had had some unpleasant experiences with rude boys, whose parents had left them to do as they pleased, and who did not please to behave as gentlemanly boys should. Some ate as fast and as greedily as if they had been starving for a week, and had never tasted ice-cream and strawberries before, and wer afraid they never should again. Some asked for things in anything but a polite manner, and conducted themselves in anything but an agreeable way. So it was no wonder that the lady looked suspiciously upon the little boy who sat down to the table with no older person to see to him. She knew but little about boys, and thought, of course, that the whole race of them must be like those who had annoyed her so much that evening. And here, children, I want so stop and tell you that you don't know how easily anybody can tell just what sort of a boy or girl you are by your conduct at table; and you don't know how much older people notice these things about you; and I'm afraid you don't all know how very desirable it is to form pleasant, mannerly habits while you are young, nor how much good they will do you all the way through your life. Well, the little boy sat down to the table, and was served with the rest, and Mrs. Howe's fears soon vanished as she saw how properly he conducted himself, and how polite and respectful mean. Allan looked up surprised. He could think of nothing that he had done to merit such praise. He was so used to being gentlemanly that he never thought she could mean that. She only smiled at his puzzled look, and said: "You tell her, and she will know what I You have a good mother, I am sure.” "O, yes, ma'am," was the eager reply; and his face was brighter at hearing his mother's praises than his own. A party of new-comers took their places at the table, and Mrs. Howe went to attend them, while Allan joined a boy of his own age near by. They slowly passed around the room, looking at all the pretty things they saw, when they found themselves close by the candy stand, which was heaped with all manner of tempting things. "Let's buy some candy, will you, Allan ?” said Phil. “Yes,” said Allan," my father gave |