Yes, Charles, I've thought of it a hundred times or more, And wondered if it really paid to always be land poor,--That had we built a cozy house, took pleasure as it come, Our children, once so dear to us, had never left our home. I grieve to think of wasted weeks and years and months and days, While for it all we never yet have had one word of praise. Men call us rich, but we are poor-would we not freely give The land with all its fixtures for a better way to live? Don't think I'm blaming you, Charles-you're not a whit to blame, I've pitied you these many years, to see you tired and lame. It's just the way we started out, our plans too far ahead; We've worn the cream of life away, to leave too much when dead. 'Tis putting off enjoyment long after we enjoy,— And after all too much of wealth seems useless as a toy,Although we've learned, alas, too late! what all must learn at last, Our brightest earthly happiness is buried in the past, That life is short and full of care, the end is always nigh, We seldom half begin to live before we're doomed to die. Were I to start my life again, I'd mark each separate day, And never let a single one pass unenjoyed away. If there were things to envy, I'd have them now and then, And have a home that was a home, and not a cage or pen. I'd sell some land if it were mine, and fit up well the rest, I've always thought, and think so yet-small farms well worked are best. THE LAWYERS AND THE CAT. Two Arkansas lawyers were domesticated in the rude hotel of a country town. The hotel was crowded, and the room allotted to our heroes was also occupied by six or eight others. Shake down beds, enough to accommodate the guests, were disposed about the room, against the four walls, leaving an open space in the centre of the apartment. Judge Clark lay with his head to the north, on one side, and Judge Thomas lay with his head to the south on the other side of the room. So far as that room was concerned, it might be said that their heads represented the north and south poles respectively. All the other beds in the room were occupied. The central part of the room was deemed neutral ground, in which the occupants of the different beds had equal rights. Here, in picturesque confusion lay the boots, hats, coats, and breeches of the sleepers. There were no windows, and though the door was open, there being no moon, the night was very dark in that room. The wily lawyers, who had been opposing counsel in a case tried in the town court that day, and had opposed each other with the contumacity of wild pigs, were now the very incarnations of meekness, for when the hungry swarm of mosquitoes settled down and bit them on the one cheek they slowly turned the other to be bitten also. But hush! hark! A deep sound strikes the ear like a rising knell. "Me-ow-ow!" Judge Clark and Thomas were wide awake, and sitting bolt upright in an instant. Again the startling cry! 'Ye-ow, ye-ow!" "There's a cat!" whispered Clark. "Scat you!" hissed Thomas. Cat paid no attention to these demonstrations, but gavo vent to another yowl. 66 'Oh, gracious!" cried Clark, "I can't stand this! Where is he, Thomas?" "On your side of the room somewhere," replied Thomas. "No, he's on your side." said Clark. "Ye-ow-ow-ow!" "There I told you he was on your side," they both exclaimed in a breath. And still the howl went on. The idea now entered the heads of both the lawyers, that by the exercise of a certain strategy they might be enabled to execute a certain flank movement on the cat, and totally demoralize him. Practically each determined to file " a motion to quash" the cat's attachment for that room. Each kept his plan to himself, and in the dark, unable to see each other, prepared for action. Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that the same plan suggested itself to both. In words, the plan would be about as follows: The yowler is evidently looking and calling for another cat, with whom he has made an appointment. I will imitate a cat, and this cat will think t'other cat's around. This cat will come toward me, and when he shall have arrived within reach, I'll blaze away with anything I can get hold of, and knock the mew-sic out of him. So each of the portly judges, noiselessly as cream comes to the surface of the milk, hoisted himself onto his hands and knees, and hippopotamus fashion advanced to the neutral ground occupying the central portion of the room. Arriving there Judge Clark selected a boot-jack, and Judge Thomas a heavy cow hide boot from the heap, and settled themselves down to the work. Clark tightened his grip on the boot-jack, and throwing up his head, gave vent to a prolonged and unearthly “ye"that would have reflected credit upon ten of the largest kind of cats. OW-OW Aha," thought Thomas, who was not six feet away, "he's immediately close around. Now I'll inveigle him!" and he gave the regular dark-night call of a feminine cat! Each of the judges advanced a little closer, and Clark produced a questioning "Ow-ow!" Thomas answered by a reassuring "purow-purow!" and they advanced a little more. They were now within easy reach, and each imagining the cat had but a moment more to live, whaled away, the one with his boot, the other with his boot-jack. The boot took Clark square in the mouth, demolishing his teeth, and the boot-jack came down on Thomas' head just as he was in the midst of a triumphant "ye-ow!" When the lights were brought the cat had disappeared, but the catastrophe was in the opposite corners of the room, with heels in the air, swearing blue streaks. DDD WHAT IS THAT TO THEE?-THOMAS D. JAMES, When I am called to die, To yield my spirit to His sacred keeping, My trust in Him who doeth all things well, I would not vainly choose What road shall lead me up the holy mountain, The guidance of the hand that e'er has led If gentle be the call, If faint and feeble be the distant warning, And brighter growing, till the red east shines How grateful should I feel! That I might still behold my loved ones longer, The loves that buoyant life can ne'er unveil, If sudden be the stroke, Like flash, fast followed by the thunder's booming, While pale with fear we hold our bated breath, How blest the favored lot! A lot to few departing spirits given- Departure we should dread, at once to rise So I repose my trust; And whether speedy messenger obeying, On his dear love my willing trust would dwell; HANNAH BINDING SHOES-LUCY LARCOM. Poor lone Hannah, Sitting at the window, binding shoes! Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse. Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. Not a neighbor "Is there from the fishers any news?" Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. Fair young Hannah, Ben the sunburnt fisher, gaily woos; For a willing heart and hand he sues. And the waves are laughing so! Hannah leaves her window and her shoes. May is passing; 'Mid the apple-boughs a pigeon coos; Hannah shudders, For the mild south-wester mischief brews. Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. "Tis November: Now no tear her wasted cheek bedews, Not a sail returning will she lose, Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. |