Year: 1872

We descended the steep hills to the wild,
sandy plain that stretches to the Dead Sea,
and are soon cantering across the burning
sand. Suddenly our guard motions us to
stop. They profess to see robbers lurking
behind some bushes near the shore, though
we can see nothing, and believe it only ruse
on their part to get from us some backshish.
While they go forward to reconnoitre, we
move on slowly. Learning that the coast is
clear, we gallop on and dismount on the
shores of lake whose waters look. as clear
and ripple as beautifully as do the waters Of
any other lake we have yet seen, all tcstimo-
ny to the contrary Notwithstanding.


Guide books speak extravagantly Of death
everywhere abounding in the waters and
along the shores. "Not a flower, not green
willow nor q shrub anywhere to he seen its
waters are rarely rufied by a breeze. All is
silence, gloom. and death" The Dead Sea,
as seen BY us bore quite different aspect.
For miles along the shore, we rode through
thicket of shrubbery and willows as green
as We ever found anywhere, and among the
prettiest flowers which we carry with US are
some which we plucked on the shores Of the
Dead Sea. That the waters are heavy and
bitter, is true, for we tested them in bathing,
but that they are rarely rufied. We can not
believe, as at the time Of our visit there was
but little breeze, yet the waves splashed on
the pebbly beach, and in the distance their
white crests looked like so many white
swans-Boston Traveller.


THE W1Dow's W1LEs.-They tell about
q blooming young widow who used to live
next door to MIR. Smith, who was widower
and timid man, whose mild eyes beamed
blanlly through his spectacles. The widow
had q Kindness for Smith, and he reciprocal
ted it; although he had barely sufficient cour-
age to carry on the campaign. So at last
the widow pretcndedto be tefribly afraid Of
thunder and lightning and whenever she
saw a gust coming up she used to smooth
her hair and rush into Smiths house.


Then, when she heard peal Of thunder,
she would scream, rush up and throw her
arms around the mild eyed Smiths neck
and imploro him to protect her. Mr.. Smith
ALWAYS looked embarrassed and anxious and
said he would. Thon she would faint, and
Smith would feel half glad and half sorry.
About six thunder storms settled the busl-
ness: and now she is Mrs. Smith. lie is
only sorry that her .apprehensions of thun-
der and lightning were not realized. lie
saws that if ever there was woman Who de-
served to be torn to pieces by electricity, it
is that widow. She has thunderstorms eve
ry day now in Smiths house, and it is live
ly and vigorous for Smith around there
since the widow took possession.


The ACCURATE BoY-There was young
man once in the office of Western railway
superintendent. He was occupying posi-
ton that four hundred boys in the city
would have wished to get. 1t was honora-
BILE and it "paid WE'LL" besides being in a
line of promotion. How did'hc got it ? Not
BY having q rich father, for he was the son
Of laborer. The secret was his beautiful
accuracy. He began as an errand boy and
did his work accurately. His leisure time
he used in perfecting his writing and arlth'
metie, After while he learned to telegraph


At each step his employer commended MS
accuracy, and relied upon what he did, be-
cause he was lust right. And it is thus
with every occupation. The accurate boy IS
the favored ono. Those who employ men dc
not wish to be on the lookout, as though
thew were rogues or fools. If a carpenter
must stand at his jourpeyman's elbow, to be
sure that his work is done right, or if a cash
isr must run over his book keepers column:
be might as we'll do the work himself as tt
emnloy another to do it that way; and it i:
very certain that the employer will get rld
Of such an inaccurate workman just,as soor
as he can.