THE POOR BEETLE.

The sense of death is most in apprehension;
And the poor beetle that we tread upon,
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.

Measure for Measure, Act 3, Sc. 1.

THE CONSUMMATION.

It is little indeed that each of us can accomplish within the limits of our little day. Small indeed is the contribution which the best of us can make to the advancement of the world in knowledge and goodness. But slight though it be, if the work we do is real and noble work, it is never lost; it is taken up into and becomes an integral moment of that immortal life to which all the good and great of the past, every wise thinker, every true and tender heart, every fair and saintly spirit, have contributed, and which, never hasting, never resting, onward through ages is advancing to its consummation. REV. DR. CAIRD.

PERSEVERE.

Salt of the earth, ye virtuous few

Who season human kind!

Light of the world, whose cheering ray

Illumes the realms of mind!

Where misery spreads her deepest shade,

Your strong compassion glows;
From your blest lips the balm distils

That softens mortal woes.

Proceed your race of glory run,
Your virtuous toils endure;

You come, commissioned from on high,
your reward is sure.

And

MRS. BARBAULD.

A VISION.

When 'twixt the drawn forces of Night and of Morning, Strange visions steal down to the slumbers of men, From heaven's bright stronghold once issued a warning, Which baffled all scorning, when brought to my ken.

Methought there descended the Saints and the Sages, With grief-stricken aspect and wringing of hands, Till Dreamland seemed filled with the anguish of ages, The blots of Time's pages, the woes of all lands.

And I, who had deemed that their bliss knew no morrow (Half vexed with their advent, half awed with their might)

Cried, "Come ye from heaven, Earth's aspect to borrow, To mar with weird sorrow the peace of the night?"

They answered me sternly, "Thy knowledge is mortal; Thou hear'st not as we must, the plaints without

tongue :

The wrongs that come beating the crystalline portal,
Inflicted by mortals on those who are dumb.

"Ye bleed for the nation, ye give to the altar,

Ye heal the great sorrows that clamor and cry, Yet care not how oft 'neath the spur and the halter, The brutes of the universe falter and die.

"Yet Jesus forgets not that while ye ensnared Him, And drove Him with curses of burden and goad, These gentle ones watched where the Magi declared Him,

And often have spared Him the long desert road.

"They crumble to dust; but we, watchers remaining, Attest their endurance through centuries past,

Oh, fear! lest in future to Judgment attaining,
These woes, uncomplaining, confront you at last!"

JULIA C. VERPLANCK.

SPEAK GENTLY.

Speak gently! it is better far

To rule by love than fear:
Speak gently! let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here.

Speak gently! 't is a little thing,
Dropped in the heart's deep well,
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

O, it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous

To use it like a giant.

Measure for Measure, Act 2, Sc. 2.

QUESTIONS.

Is there not something in the pleading eye
Of the poor brute that suffers, which arraigns
The law that bids it suffer? Has it not

A claim for some remembrance in the book,
That fills its pages with the idle words
Spoken of man? Or is it only clay,
Bleeding and aching in the potter's hand,
Yet all his own to treat it as he will,
And when he will to cast it at his feet,
Shattered, dishonored, lost for evermore?
My dog loves me, but could he look beyond
His earthly master, would his love extend

To Him who Hush! I will not doubt that He

Is better than our fears, and will not wrong

The least, the meanest of created things.

O. W. HOLMES.

HEROES.

The heroes are not all six feet tall,
Large souls, may dwell in bodies small,
The heart that will melt with sympathy
For the poor and the weak, whoe'er it be,
Is a thing of beauty, whether it shine
In a man of forty or lad of nine.

Scattered Seed.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE INNOCENT ANIMALS.

During his march to conquer the world, Alexander, the Macedonian, came to a people in Africa, who dwelt in a remote and secluded corner, in peaceful huts, and knew neither war nor conqueror. They led him to the hut of their chief, and placed before him golden dates, golden figs, and bread of gold. Do you eat gold in this country? said Alexander. "I take it for granted," replied the chief, "that thou wert able to find eatables in thine own country. For what reason, then, art thou come

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among us?" "Your gold has not tempted me hither," said Alexander; "but I would become acquainted with your manner and customs." "So be it," rejoined the other; "sojourn among us as long as it pleaseth thee." At the close of this conversation two citizens entered, as into their court of justice. The plaintiff said: "I bought of this man a piece of land, and as I was making a deep drain through it, I found a treasure. This is not mine, for I only bargained for the land, and not for any treasure that might be concealed beneath it; and yet the former owner of the land will not receive it." The defendant answered: "I hope I have a conscience as well as my fellow-citizen. I sold him the land with all its contingent, as well as existing advantages, and consequently the treasure inclusively."

The chief, who was also their supreme judge, recapitulated their words, in order that the parties might see whether or not he understood them aright. Then, after some reflection, he said, "Thou hast a son, friend, I believe?" "Yes." "And thou (addressing the other) a daughter?" "Yes." "Yes." "Well, then, let thy son marry thy daughter, and bestow the treasure on the young Alexander seemed sur

couple for a marriage portion." prised and perplexed. "Think you my sentence unjust?" the chief asked him. "Oh, no!" replied Alexander; "but it astonishes me." "And how, then," rejoined the chief, "would the case have been decided in your country? "To confess the truth," said Alexander, we should have taken both into custody, and have seized the treasure for the king's use." "For the king's

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