Year: 1874

the wrecks of ir fortunes, pack their Lares
and Penates in AL emigrant wagon or car, and
doggedly work their way to Texas.-Scrao-
ner's Monthly.


THE DEFECTIVE STONE.


"Dont put in that stone," said one mason
to another as they were working together on
the rear wall of church. "Can't you see
it's ofa poor quality, all aakey, and will scale
to pieces% ,,4 :. G..
in here, and 1 don't want to wait for another.
Besides, you can't see it from the ground, and
nobody will take the trouble to climb up here
to look at it,"


YOU'D better send for another block. That
isn't for the wall. 1t won't stand the weather,
and if it should 90 to pieces, it would damage
the whole building"


II guess it won't damage me nor you either,
so here it goes"


And he lifted the loose-grained, fakey free.
stone into its bed, though the outer shell
cracked and the shell sloughed off. he
dashed over it a trowelful of mortar, and
went on with the next tier. Nobody could
see the defective stone, for it was covered by
a projecting buttress, and only the two ma
sons were present when it was laid. But
though unseen it was unsafe, and time brought
about its own results. Every sunbeam loosen
ed its texture little, every storm helped to
crumble off minute fragment, and little by
little, after many years, the stone crumbled
away. This was bad enough, but that was
not all. 1t chanced that the great beams Of
the church rested few tiers directly over the
defective block, and as the stone decayed the
beam sank little. Presently crack opened
in the ceiling, disfguring the frescoe painting,
and the crack led to a leak, letting in the rain.
And then at last the worthless block fell out,
tie beam dropped down, the roof sank in,
and the church was no longer fit for use, until
after the loss of much time, and the expendl-
ture of much money, new roof was built,
and new block inserted in the wall. 1t was
only a small defect, but it did much damage
in the end.


There is a structure which everybody is
building, young and old, each for himself 1t
is called character, and in every act of life is
a stone. If day by day we are careful to
build our lives with pure, noble, upright deeds,
at the end will stand fair temple, honored
by God and man. But as one leak will sink
ship, and one flaw break chain, so one
mean, dishonored, untruthful act or word will
forever leave its influence on our characters
Then let the several deeds unite to form
perfect day, add one by one as the days grow
into noble years, and the years, as they pass,
will raise at last into beautiful edifce, end
ing forever to our praise.--Land Mark.





TRUE PRIDE-A young man named Parks,
from Worcester, entered the store Of the Law
rences in Boston, and found Amos in the Of
fce He represented himself as having just
commenced business, and desired to purchase
a lot of goods. He had recommendations as
to character from several influential citizens
of Worcester, but none touching his business
staDdingor capacity. The merchant listened
to his story, and at its close shook his head.


have no doubt, he said kindly, that you
have full faith in your ability to promptly
meet the obligations you would now assume !;
I have no knowledge Of your tact or capacity,
as you are Just launching out on the sea of
business, and should be doing you great
injustice toallow you to contract debt which
1 did not feel assured you could pay at the
proper time


But Mr.. Lawrence liked the appearance Of
the young man, and finally told him that he
would let him have what goods he could pay
for at the cost of manufacture, about ten per
cent less than the regular wholesale price.
The bill was made out and paid, and the clerk
asked where the goods should be sent.


will take them myself, said the purchaser.


You will find them rather heavy, suggested
the clerk, smiling.


Never mind; | am strong, and the stage
Office is not far away, and besides have moth
ing else to occupy my time


But, said the clerk, expostulating, 1t IS
hardly in keeping with your position to be
shouldering such ponderous bodies through
the city.


There you mistake, replied the young man,
with sim pie candor. My position just now is
one in which must hel p myself, if l would
be helped at all. I am not ashamed to carry
anything which honestly possess, nor am
ashamed of the strength which enables me to
bear this heavy burden.


Thus speaking, he shouldered large bum
die, and had turned toward the outer door
when Mr. Lawrence, who from his Office had
overheard the conversation, called him back


Mr.. Parks, l have concluded to let you
have what goods you want on time. Select
at your pleasure.


You have the true pride for successful
merchant sir, pursued Lawrence, and shall
be much disappointed if you do not prosper


Amos Lawrence was not disappointed.
Within fifteen years from that time Samuel
Parks was himself established on Milk street,
one of the most enterprisng and successful
merchants in Boston,


DoNr-PLEAsE DoN'T.-Don't tell the
little one, who may be slightly willful, that
"the black man will come out of the dark
cellar and carry it off if it does not mind"
Don't create needless fear to 60 with the
child through all the stages of its existence.


Don't tell the little fve-year old Jimmy
"the school ma am will cut off his ears"-"pull
out his teeth"-"tie him up"-or any of the
horrible stories that are commonly presented
to the childish imagination. Think you the
little one will believe anything you tell him
after he becomes acquainted with the gentle
teacher who has not the least idea of putting
those terrible threats into execution?


Don't tell the children they must not drink
tea because it will make them black, while
you continue the use of it daily. Your exam
pie is more to them than precept; and while
YOUR face is as fair as June morning, they
will scarcely credit the oft.told tale. Either
give up drinking the pleasant beverage or
give your children better reason for its non