Year: 1875

know there are writers whose chief
aim it is to amuse. If they succeed in
this they are satisfied. Their object is
to gain applause, or to provoke a smile,
and if this object is attained they seek
for no other result for their labors. 1
do not envy those men. The literary
calling is noble one, and I have ever
been of opinion that it is only rightly
pursued when it's result is to make men
wiser and better than they were before.


The little story which I am about to
relate is a very simple one. 1t is moth
ing in itself, and l value it chiefly on
account of the moral it contains. But
for that moral it would have remained
untold.


Dick Colon was master printer He
had small jobbing Office in the city.
He Yves rather past the middle age, a
bachelor, and man of very regular
habits. 1t had been his custom, after
business, for many years past, to fre-
quent certain tavern near the Strand.
Here he read the papers, enjoyed the
society of few friends, and consumed
six pints of porter nightly. Long ex-
perience had taught him that be could
carry six pints precisely, and no more;
and, being eminently sober man, he
never exceeded this allowance.


He had recently rented as a dwelling
house small cottage, one of row of
twenty, in northern suburb of London.
On the first night on which he went to
take possession, Il rather disagreeable
circumstance had happened. He had
gone to the wrong door, and was fired
upon as burglar. Dick beat hasty
retreat. He proceeded to search for his
own dwelling; but the whole twenty
cottages were exactly like, and he could
not distinguish the right one. He was
afraid to knock at any more doors, in
case he should meet with reception
similar to what he had already received,
and he had to walk the streets till morn
ing.


Next day Dick considered the matter
seriously The dwelling suited him ex-
actly, but he felt that to have a house
which was so mixed up with twenty
others that he could not find it when he
wanted it was a drawback that could
not be got over. But Dick was an in
genious, as we'll as a sober man. He
procured large stone, which he rolled
in front of his door. This answered the
purpose admirably. He made no more
mistakes. e,..


When be came home at night he had
only to so along the row till he came
to the stone, and the house opposite it
was his.


For many nights, regularly as the
clock struck twelve, Dick let himself in
with his latch-key, and the stone re-
NAMED before his door, an assurance
and guide. 1t is true he tripped over
it occasionally; but. nevertheless, Dick
blessed the stone.


The best of men have enemies. Rec
titude is no protection against slander.


Some individuals, of depraved minds,
cast doubts upon Dicks sobriety. They
even asserted that he was so drunk
every night when he came home that
he only knew his own house by the fact
of q stone being placed before the door.
Then others suggested the removal OF
the stone.


"It will be lark" said one.


"It will be rare sport" said another
"Ha! haiti will be capital fun, u
said third: "by all means let us re-
move the stone"


The stone was removed three doors
further on. f ~'


There was young married couple
lived in the same row as Dick. They
had one child, boy of twelve months
old. He was remarkably fine child
ga perfect little darling" his mothe,
declared. One evening Mr.. and Mrs.
Mivan-such was the name OF the young
couple-had arranged to go to an even.
ing party. There was to be ball af.
ter the party. and Mrs. Mivan had
looked forward to it with great delight.
She had arranged with Elizabeth, hel
young unmarried sister, to come and
look after the child which was to be
left at home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mivan were already
dressed, the cab was at the door, aud
they only waited Elizabeth's arrival to
set off.


"Dear me, how tiresome of Bessy!
said Mrs. Mivan. "She promised to
be here nv nipht o'clock and II ia now