"And then in the face of the whole room he knelt down to pray.

how his old friends would call him "Saint" and "Squaretoes," and a dozen hard names. However, he turned on his side and went to sleep, resolved to follow the impulse that had been so strong, and in which he had found peace.

16. Next morning he was up and washed and dressed, all but his jacket and waistcoat, just as the ten minutes' bell began to ring, and then in the face of the whole room he knelt down to pray. Not five words could he say; he was listening for every whisper in the room, —what were they all thinking of him? He was ashamed to go on kneeling, ashamed to rise from his knees.

17. At last, as if it were from his inmost heart, a still small voice seemed to breathe forth the words, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" He repeated them over and over, and rose from his knees comforted and humbled, and ready to face the whole world. It was not needed; two other boys besides Arthur had already followed his example.

18. For a few nights there was a sneer or a laugh when he knelt down, but this passed off soon, and one by one all the other boys but three or four followed the lead.

66

WAITING FOR MOTHER."

1. The old man sits in his easy-chair, Slumbering the moments away,

Dreaming a dream that is all his own,
On this gladsome, peaceful day.

His children have gathered from far and

near,

His children's children beside,

And merry voices are echoing through
The "Homestead's" halls, so wide.

2. But far away in the years long flown
Grandfather lives again;

And his heart forgets that it ever knew
A shadow of grief and pain,

For he sees his wife as he saw her then-
A matron comely and fair,

With her children gathered around his
board,

And never a vacant chair.

3. Oh! happy this dream of the " Auld Lang Syne,"

Of the years long slipped away!

And the old man's lips have gathered a
smile,

And his heart grows young and gay.
But a kiss falls gently upon his brow,
From his daughter's lips so true:
"Dinner is ready; and, Father, dear,
We are only waiting for you!"

4. The old man wakes at his daughter's call, And he looks at the table near.

"There's one of us missing, my child," he

says,

"We will wait till Mother is here."

There are tears in the eyes of his children then,

As they gaze on an empty chair; For many a lonely year has passed Since "Mother" sat with them there. 5. But the old man pleads still wistfully: "We must wait for Mother, you know! And they let him rest in his old arm-chair Till the sun at last sinks low.

Then, leaving a smile for the children here,
He turns from the earth away,

And has gone to "Mother," beyond the
skies,

With the close of the quiet day.

ON DRINKING.

re-so-lute, determined.

de-fi-ci-ent, wanting.

1. I don't like that red nose, and those blear eyes, and that stupid, downcast look. You are a drunkard. Another pint, and one pint more; a glass of gin and water, rum and milk, cider and pepper, and all the beastly. fluids which drunkards pour down their throats. It is very possible to conquer it, if you will but be resolute.

2. I remember a man in Staffordshire who was drunk every day of his life. Every farthing he earned went to the ale-house. One evening he staggered home, and found at a late hour his wife sitting alone, and in

tears. He was a man not deficient in natural affections; he appeared to be struck with the wretchedness of the woman, and with some eagerness asked her why she was crying.

3. "I don't like to tell you, James," she said, "but if I must, I must; and the truth is,—my children have not touched a morsel of anything this blessed day. As for me, never mind me; I must leave you to guess how it has fared with me. But not one morsel of food could I beg or buy for those children that lie on that bed before you; and I am sure, James, it is better for us all that we should die; and, in truth, I wish we were dead."

4. "Dead!" said James, starting up as if a flash of lightning had darted upon him; "dead, Sally! You and Mary, and the two young ones, dead? Lookye, my lass, you see what I am now-like a brute. I have wasted your substance the curse of God is upon me-but there's an end; I feel there's an end. Give me that glass, wife."

5. She gave it him with astonishment and fear. He turned it topsy-turvy; and striking the table with great violence, and flinging himself on his knees, made a most solemn and affecting vow to God, of repentance and sobriety.

6. From that moment to the day of his death, he drank no fermented liquor. I never saw so sudden and astonishing a change. His looks became healthy, his cottage neat, his