Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30

drift. But the boy is in the woods again, and
knows nothing Of the danger from which he has
escaped. All this time the dark passenger fol-
lows the main track, and believes that the bow
Is before him. At last he hears q crashing Of
dead boughs, and presently the little midship-
mans voice hfty yards before him. Yes, IL j.
too true: the boy is on the cross track. Hewin
pass the cottage IN the wood directly, and after
that his pursuer will come upon him.
The boy bounds into the path, but as he sees
the cottage, he is thirsty aud 50 hot, that he
thinks he must ask the inhabitants IL they can
sell him glass Of ale.
He enters without ceremony. Ale 2" says
the woodrlan, who Il sitting at his supper.
'1No, We have no ale; but perhaps my wife can
give thee drink of milk. Come in" So he
comes in and shuts the door, and while he sits
waiting for milk, footsteps pass. They are foot
steps OF his pursuer, who goes on with the stake
IN his hand. angry and impatient that he has
The woman goes to the dairy for milk, and
the boy thinks she Is gone q long time. He
drinks II, thanks her, and takes his leave.
asst and faster the man runs before him.
1t is very dark, but there IL q yellow streak in
the sky where the moon Is blowing up fur
rowed mass Of gray clouds, and one or two stars
are blinking through the trees
Fast the boy follows. and fast the man runs
on, with his weapon in his hand. Suddenly he
hears the joyous whoop-nOt before, but behind
him He stops and listens noiselessly. Yes, it
raises his stake, when the boy shall pass
On he comes, running lightly, with his han Is
in his pockets. sound strikes at the same in
slant the ears of both, and the boy turns back
from the very jaws of death to listen. 1t is the
sound of wheels, and ii draws rapidly nearer. A
man comes up, driving a gig. I" Hilloa!" he
says, in loud, cheerful voice. "What, be-
"Oh, is it you. Mr.. D-?- saws the boy;
emo, am not benighted; or at any rate. know
my way out of the woods"
bless the boy, he hears the farmer saw, to think
of our meeting this way! The parson told me
he was in hopes OF seeing thee some day this
week. I'll give thee a lift. This is a lone place
to be in this time o'night.
Lone" says the hoy, laughing; 81 don't
mind that; and If you know the way, it's as safe
as a quartersdeck.'
So he gets into the farmers gig, and is once
more out of the reach OF the pursuer. But the
man knows that the farmers house is a quarter
of mile nearer than the parsonage, and in that
hitting robbery. He determined still to make
the attempt, and cut across the woods with such
rapid strides that he reached the farmers gate
just as the farmers gig drives up to it.
swell, thank you, farmer" says the midship-
man, as he prepared to get down.
wish you good night, gentlemen" says the
man, when he passes.
"Good night, friend" the farmer replies.
81 say, my boy, it's dark night enough; but
have mind to drive you on to the parsonage,
and hear the rest of this long tale Of yours about
the sea serpent"
The little wheels 90 on again. They pass the
man; and be stands still in the road to listen till
the sound dies away. Then he filings his stake
into the hedge, and goes back again. His evil
purposes have all been irustrated-the thought
less boy has bafed him at every step.
And now the little midshipmaW is at home;
the joyful meeting has taken place; and when
they have all admired his growth, and decided
whom he Is like, and measured his height on the
windOw-frame, and seen him eat his supper,
they begin To question him about his adventures,
more for the pleasure of hearing him talk than
any curiosity.
Adventures" said The boy, seated between
father and mother on a sofa. why, ma, did
write you an account of the voyage, and there's
or at least nothing particular"
"You came by the coach we told you of?''
asked his father.
"Oh, yes, papa; and when we had got about
were changing horses, and threw down las
thought) a shilling, but as il fell saw it was n
sovereign. She was very honest, and showed
me what II was; but didn't take it back; for
anything TO anybody"
"very true, my boy" his mother answered:
"but you should not be careless with your
money, and few beggars are worthy objects OF
Charity
~ suppose you got down at the cross-roadsP"
said the elder brother.
eyes, and went through the woods. should
have been here sooner il hadn't lost my way
there"
"Lost your way!" said his mother, alarmed.
My dear boy, you should not have left the path
.'Oh, MAJ" said the little midshipman, with
smile, "yOu're always thinking we are in dan
ger. If you could see me SON etimes sitting at
the jib-bOom end, or across the maintopm asst
cross-tree, you ,cOald be frightened. Bat what
danger can there be in q wOod!'
"Well, my boy" she answers, 81 don't wish
to be over anxious, and make my children un-
comfortable by my fears. What did you stray
away from the path for?"
Z" Only to catch a little owl, mamma; but
didn't catch her at all. got a roll down a bank,
"A sn.l
which was rather unlueky. All. three large
holes, see, in my sleeve. And so / scrambled
up again and got into the right path, and asked
at the cottage for some beer. What long time
the woman kept me, to be sure. I thought il
never would come. But very soon after Mr..
D drove up in his gig, and brought me on
to the gate.
Sand so this account of your adventures be-
ing brought to a CLOSE his father says, s'we
discover there are no adventures to tell"
g No, papa, nothing happened-nothing par
tcular, mean"
Nothing particular. If they could have
known, they would have thought lightly in
comparison Of the dangers of the jib-b ooms
end and the maintopmast crOsstrees. But they
do not know. any more than we do of the dam
gers that hourly beset US. Some few dangers
We are aware of, and we do What we can to pro-
vide against them; but for the greater portion
our eyes behold that we cannot see. We walk
secretly under His guidance, without whom
/" not a sparrow faleth to the ground" and
when We have had escapes that the angels have
admired at, we come home and say, perhaps,
that nothing has happened-at least, nothing
particular.
1t Is not well that our minds should be much
exercised at these hidden dangers, since they
are so, and so great that no human art or fore
sight can prevent them. But 1t Is very well
that we should reflect constantly on that loving
Providence which watches every footstep of a
track always balancing between time and eter-
nifty; and that such reflections should make US
both happy and afraid-afraid OF trusting our
souls too much to an earthly guide or earthly
seeurity-hsrpy from the knowledge that there
Is One with whom We may trust them wholly
and with whom the very hairs of our head are
all numbered. Without such trust, how can
we rest or be at peace? But with 1T we NAV
say with the Psalmist: 81 will both lay me
down in peace, and sleep, for thou, Lord, only
makest me dwell in safety"
A CERTAIN CURE FOR EARACHE-we have
recently seen several recipes published as bene-
fetal in case of earache; but one who has a se-
we're attack OF that malady will, we think, soon
find the efficiency of them all. There is, how
ever, one remedy which the experience of twen-
~ years has taught US Is unfailing. We have