, 1862-10-18
Punctuation.

Punctuation
A country schoolmaster who found il rather
difficult to make his pupils observe the difference
in reading between a comma and full point
adopted plan of his own which he fattered
himself would make them profcents in the art
of punctuation. Thus, in reading when they came
to comma they were to say stick" and read on
to colon or semicoon, stick, tick" and when a
full point stick tick, tick" Now it so happened
that the worthy dominic received notice that
the parish minister was to pay visit of exami-
nation to his school, and as he was desrous that
his pupils should show to the best advantage, he
gave them an extra drill the day before the ex-
animation. "Now," said be- addressing his pu-
pills, "when you read before the minister to-mor-
row you leave out ticks though you must-think
of them as you go along for the sake of elocu-
ton" So far, so good.
Next day came, and with It the minister. ush-
cred into the school room by the Dominic, who,
with smiles and bows hoped that the train
ing of the scholars would meet his approval
Now, it so happened that the first boy called up
by the minister had been absent the preceding
day, and in the hurry he master had forgotten TO
give him instructions how to act. The minister
asked the boy to read chapter in the Old Testa-
ment, which he pointed out. The boy complied;
and in his best accent. he began to read "And
the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, tick, speak
unto the children of Israel, tick, saying, tick, and
thus shalt thou say unto them, tick, tick tick ~
This unfortunate sally in his style acted like
shower-bath on the poor Dominic, while the
minister and his friends almost died of laughter.
Do YOUR Own Work. Enlarge not thy des-
tiny says the oracle endeavor not to do more
than is given thee in charge the one prudence
of life is concentration the evil is dissipation
and it makes no difference whether our dissipa-
tions are coarse or fine. Property and its cares,
friends and social habit, or politics, music, or
feasting-egerything is good which takes away
one plaything and deluson more, and drives US
home to add one stroke of faithful work. Books,
friends pictures lower duties, talents, batteries,
hopes-al are distractions which cause oscillations
in our giddy balloon, and make good poise and.
straight course impossible. You must elect
your work you shall take what your brain can,
and drop the rest. Only so can that amount of
vital force accumulate which can make the step
from knowing to doing.
ABELGIAN journal gives an example of ahas-
band who is ready to do justice to his wife under
the most trying circumstances. The wife being
accused of poisoning, and on the point of being
convicted, begged that The husbands testimony
might be admitted in her favor. The request
was granted, and the man declared that the best
proof of her innocence was the fact that be was
alive, "for," said he, 81 am sure that if my wife
possessed the least disposition to poison any one,
she would have begun with me, whom she has
hated cordially for ten years."
BULLETS AND BAYoNErs.-A Salem (Mass.)
paper says Some of the ultra journals are urg-
ing the President to put down the war with a.
proclamation of emancipation. Procamations
have had their day and accomplished nothing
The best way to put down the war is to put large
armies in the field at once. 1t wants bullets and
bayOnets and not paper proclamations, to drive
the life out of rebellion"
SIMPLE REMEDY TO PURIFY WATER.-Pul-
verized alum possesses the property of purifying
water.
A large spoonful stirred into ahogshead of wa
ter will purify it, that in few hours it will be
as fresh and clear spring water. -Four gallons
rnay be purified by a tea-spoonful.
A LADY consulted Abenethy. "Do you know
my usual fee ?" be asked. Two guineas were laid
on the table, Putting them into his pocket, be
drew out a sixpence, and said, "There, take thet
and Guy skippng-rope, for you want exercise.
Good morning"
ga GREAT LIE, says the poet Crabbe, ''is like
great fish on dry land it may fret and fling, and
make frightful pother, but it cannot hurt you.
You have only to keep still and it will die of
ITSELF"
IT is said "the pen is mightier than the sword"