Year: 1862

AMUSING CALCULATION OF CHANCEs.-1t is
easy to show, reader, that five hundred years
ago the chances were ten thousand to one that
you and | would never exist. If we look at
the chances, as exhibited in only two or three
generations, we shall be astonshed and horri-
fed at seeing how narrowly we have missed
having no being. For instance, my GRANDPA
ther was soldier in the Revolutionary Army
for six years, and repeatedly exposed TO death.
On one occasion, when his company engaged
by platoons, he was the only survivor in two
different attacks Now, if he had fallen in any
of those attacks, he would not have married.
my father would not have been born, and con-
sequently | myself would have had no being
Again, my father paid his addresses to GER
tain lady, and was engaged to her. Just before
the time appointed for the marriage, misun-
derstanding arose between them-all ties were
dismissed, and my father married another wo-
man-the same woman who has since done me
the honor Of being my mother. Now, if my
father had married the first mentioned lady. |
never should have been born, as her lildrcn
could not have possibly been my mot RS chill
dren, and my mother might not hayp had any
children at all. You see, therefore, that mere
lovers quarrel may change the whole line of a
family for thousands of years. In fact, if Miss
Smith is sought in marriage by both Jones and
Jenkins, it is for Miss Smith to decide las she
certainly has the power of doing) whether she
will be the ancestreSs of ten thousand Jones OF
ten thousand Jenkins'-for on her choice de
pends the very existence or non existence o
these possible descendants. The whole subject
is so full of fatalsm that the only thing we
can 90, after once getting into existence, is to
shout with the Arabs: Allah is Allah =
What is TO be will be - Elktons Autobio-
graphy.


SuCcEss.-Every man must patiently abide
his time. He must wait, not in listless. not in
useless pastime, nor in querrulous detection
but in constant, steady fulfilling aud accom-
plishing his task; that when the occasion
comes, he may be equal to the occasion. The
talent of success is nothing more than doing
what you can do well, without thought of
fame. If it come at all, it will come because
it is deserved, not because it is sought after
1t is very indiscreet and troublesome ambi-
tion which cares so much about fame; about
what the world says of US to be always look
ing IN the face of others for approval, to be
always anxious about the effects of what We
do or say to be always shouting to hear the
echoes of our own voices Longfellow.


WILL Try AGAIS.-At a dinner given to
DR. Hayes, the Arctic explorer, at Halifax, he
said 1T is my purpose to renew the attempt
next year if circumstances prove favorable
and am still of the opinion that, with steam
power, strong force of nien and dogs, and
well organized system of advance>depots, the
North Pole can be reached. That the region
about the Pole should be explored, you will,
think, all agree. 1t has long enough remained
terra incognha. Speaking as one interested
in the advancement of science, may say that
l care not under what flag the enterprise may
be conducted, whether under that of America
or England, or France, science Will claim the
honor of the advancement"


This war affects some of US rather severe
IT," said wag on street corner the other
day. There is a man who has lost half he