Besides, he gave a banquet to the gods that night, and so

She could see with half an effort that her gift was

apropos.

He was very kind and gracious, and, at last, in reckless pleasure,

And wishing to make fit return in full and ample

measure,

Declared that he would deem it a very happy task To give to her for all her kind the gift that she might ask.

"So ask ye, gentle queen," he said, "unfearing, and straightway

Your desire shall be granted, let the same be what it may."

She mused a little moment, and then she said, “O

king!

I pray you give to me and mine a keen and subtle sting,

That when the mortals vex us, as often they are fain, That we may use the sting to their excruciating pain."

Then Jupiter was sorry, and thus in grief said he: "Your choice does you no honor, O golden-belted bee,

I deemed that to your graces-they are many, well I know

You would ask that I some greater and sweeter would bestow,

That some all-crowning beauty or secret charm I'd add;

Your choice, I must confess, O queen! has made me very sad.

Still, since my word is given, my thoughtless vow I will,

With certain sad conditions, most honestly fulfil. I give the keen and subtle sting to you, O queen, and yet,

Whenever it within the flesh of mortal man is set, In the wound it shall remain. Oh, behold your heartless choosing

Is a bane and not a blessing! for you perish with its using!"

The queen was very sorrowful, and saw with pain and wonder

That in her selfish wishing she had made a wretched blunder.

She saw, what all the years since then have been most surely proving,

That gain is to the giver and love is for the loving;

That blows strike back, that haters for hating but

the worse are;

That curses evermore come back and dwell beside

the curser.

Carlotta Perry.

THE LITTLE MAID'S SERMON.

A LITTLE maid in a pale-blue hood
In front of a large brick building stood.
As she passed along, her quick eye spied
Some words on a little box inscribed.
"Twas a box that hung in the vestibule,
Outside the door of the charity school.

"Remember the poor," were the words she spelled
Then looked at the dime her small hands held;
For chocolate creams were fresh that day
In the store just only across the way.
But gleams of victory shone o'er the face
As she raised her eyes to "the money-place."

But her arm was short and the box so high
That a gentleman heard, who was passing by,
"Please, sir, will you lift me just so much?"
(For the tiny fingers could almost touch.)
The stranger stopped, and he quickly stood
By the sweet-faced child in the pale-blue hood.

As he lifted her, she gently said:

"Would you mind it, sir, if you turned your head? For you know I do not want to be Like a proud, stuck-up old Pharisee."

He humored the little maid, but a smile
Played o'er his face as he stood there the while.

"Excuse me, child, but what did you say?"
The gentleman asked in a courteous way,
As he took in his the wee white hand.
"I believe I didn't quite understand."

"Oh, sir, don't you know? Have you never read," Said the child amazed, "what the Saviour said?

"We should not give like those hypocrite men
Who stood in the market-places then,
And gave their alms just for folks to tell,
Because they loved to be praised so well;
But give for Christ's sake from our little store
What only He sees, and nobody more.

66

Good-bye, kind sir, this is my way home:
I'm sorry you'll have to walk alone."
The gentleman passed along, and thought
Of large sums given for fame it bought;
And he said: "I never again will be
In the market-places a Pharisee.

She preached me a sermon, 'twas true and good,-
That dear little maid in the pale-blue hood!"

Susan Teall Perry.

THE GOOD.

"WHAT is the real good ?"
I asked in musing mood.

Order, said the law court;
Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
Home, said the sage;

Fame, said the soldier;
Equity, the seer;

Spake my heart full sadly:

"The answer is not here."

Then within my bosom

Softly this I heard:

"Each heart holds the secret;

Kindness is the word."

J. Boyle O'Reilly.

SOMETHING GREAT.

THE trial was ended-the vigil past;
All clad in his arms was the knight at last,
The goodliest knight in the whole wide land,
With a face that shone with a purpose grand.