The great beams leaned in-they saw him-then, crash,
Down came the wall! The men made a dash,—
Jumped to get out of the way,-and I thought,
"All's up with poor little Robin!" and brought
Slowly the arm that was least hurt to hide

The sight of the child there,-when swift, at my side,
Some one rushed by, and went right through the flame,
Straight as a dart-caught the child-and then came
Back with him, choking and crying, but-saved!
Saved safe and sound!

Oh, how the men raved,

Shouted, and cried, and hurrahed! Then they all
Rushed at the work again, lest the back wall
Where I was lying, away from the fire,
Should fall in and bury me.

Oh! you'd admire

To see Robin now: he's as bright as a dime,
Deep in some mischief, too, most of the time.
Tom, it was, saved him. Now, isn't it true
Tom's the best fellow that ever you knew?
There's Robin now! See, he's strong as a log!
And there comes Tom too-

Yes, Tom was our dog.

TRUE NOBILITY.-AN ORATION.

Who are the true noblemen of the earth? Who well deserve to belong to the nobility? Not they who are decked with glittering crowns and costly paraphernalia; not they who possess wealth and power; not they whose names are echoed far and wide, and lauded as successful financiers, mighty warriors, brilliant statesmen, or eloquent orators; but they who are known by excellent virtues and noble deeds; they who have honest and pure hearts, above all meanness and crime; who act honestly in all circumstances, and whose chief desire is to benefit their fellow-men.

Nobility denotes true honor. It does not mean that man shall continually play the hypocrite in order to carry out his plans-ready to praise a man in the morning and curse him at sun-down-ready to shout for Republicanism in the street, and wire-pull for Democracy in the caucus.

A true nobleman is a man straightforward and just, kind and benevolent; who feeds the hungry, clothes the naked,

visits the afflicted ones of earth, pouring oil upon the troubled waters, and brushing away the tear that trembled in the eye of the weeper.

It is he who is independent. Not that independence which says, "I am Sir Oracle; let no dog bark when I do ope my mouth," but that independence which consists of true moral courage, that Newton-like, can learn from a goat-herd, and when necessary, can promptly say, "No." I mean that independence that is exempt from undue influence, and possessing the power of self-control.

Nobility denotes a courteous deportment; cheerfulness, industry, affability, an obliging disposition, and a strict observance of all the proper rules of society are necessary to true nobility.

Another important element is mental cultivation. Ignorance is debasing to the mind and robs it of its glory. Intelligence expands and gives energy and power to the soul. To obtain this intelligence, careful study and close thought are necessary. Here is the true Castilian fount. Drink deep thereof, and learn to be good and noble.

Study well the book of Nature. There you will meet with wide ideas of beauty and grandeur,—and hold fellowship with Him who maketh the earth His footstool, the heavens His throne, the thunder His voice, and the clouds His chariot,— and you will be rewarded with rich gems of thought and new and grand projects that mayhap shall cause you to be remembered as another Franklin, another Newton, or another Locke. True nobility denotes purity of soul with freedom from all corruptions of our nature,-pride, self-will, anger, covetousness, envy. It also denotes a proper government of the body by curbing properly all the desires and appetites. These all should be conformed to the principles of morality and religion. Cleanliness, which is next to godliness, is its constant attendant.

True nobility denotes an earnest, active life, consecrated to the glory of God and the good of humanity. Man can only answer the end of his being in working with all his ransomed powers to this end. He will scarcely have placed his foot on the threshold of this work, ere he will be surrounded with difficulties.

But fear not. Resolution inspires self-confidence, brings every power to the same point and moves the soul onward, like a Grecian phalanx:

"What is noble? 'tis the finer portion of our mind and heart,

Linked to something still diviner than mere language can impart;
Ever prompting-ever seeing some ir "rovement yet to plan-
To uplift our fellow-being, and like man, to feel for man.
What is noble? that which places truth in its enfranchised will,
Leaving steps, like angel traces that mankind may follow still!'
Even though scorn's malignant glances prove him poorest of his clan,
He's the noble-who advances freedom and the cause of man!"

Ye mothers! teach the principles of true nobility to the lisping one in its cradle, and bid the first pulsations of its little heart to beat music to them. Fathers! breathe them into your sons, and though you launch them upon life's stormy ocean penniless and alone, yet will they flourish like a green bay tree.

Do you ask for exemplars? I point you to Daniel and Paul, to Luther, to Wesley, and to Calvin, to Washington and Lincoln, and hosts of others who have called forth the loud acclamations of the earth and the approving smile of Heaven by their noble deeds.

HOW PERSIMMONS TOOK CAH OB DER BABY.

Persimmons was a colored lad
'Way down in Lou'sianny;
And all the teaching that he had
Was given him by his granny.
But he did his duty ever,
As well as you, it may be:
With faithfulness and pride always,
He minded missus' baby.

He loved the counsels of the saints,
And, sometimes, those of sinners,-

To run off 'possum-hunting, and
Steal "water-million" dinners.
And fervently at meetin', too,
On every Sunday night,

He'd with the elders shout and pray

By the pine-knots' flaring light,

And sing their rudest melodies,

With voice so full and strong,

You could almost think he learned them
From the angels' triumph-song.

SONG.

"We be nearer to de Lord

Dan de white folks-and dey knows it. See de glory-gate unbarred! Walk in, darkies, past de guard: Bet you dollar he won't close it! “Walk in, darkies, troo de gate ; Hear de kullered angels holler! Go 'way, white folks: you're too late: We's de winnin' kuller. Wait

Till de trumpet blow to foller."

He would croon this over softly
As he lay out in the sun;
But the song he heard most often,
His granny's favorite one,

Was, "Jawge Washington
Thomas Jefferson

Persimmons Henry Clay, be
Quick! shut de do';

Get up off dat flo';

Come heah and mind de baby."

One night there came a fearful storm,
Almost a second flood:

The river rose, a torrent swoln

Of beaten, yellow mud.

It bit at its embankments,

And lapped them down in foam,

Till, surging through a wide crevasse,

The waves seethed round their home.

They scaled the high veranda;
They filled the parlors clear,
Till floating chairs and tables
Clashed against the chandelier.
"Twas then Persimmons' granny,
Stout of arm and terror-proof,
By means of axe and lever,
Pried up the veranda roof;
Bound mattresses upon it

With stoutest cord of rope;
Lifted out her fainting mistress,
Saying, "Honey, dar is hope!

You, Jawge Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Persimmons Henry Clay, be
Quick on dat raft!
Don't star' like a calf,

But take good cah ob baby!"

The frothing river lifted them
Out on its turbid tide;

And for awhile they floated on
Together, side by side;

Till, broken by the current strong,
The frail raft snapped in two,
And Persimmons saw his granny
Fast fading from his view.

The deck-hands on a steamboat
Heard, as they passed in haste,
A child's voice singing in the dark,
Upon the water's waste,—
A song of faith and triumph,
Of Moses and the Lord;
And, throwing out a coil of rope,
They drew him safe on board.

Full many a stranger city
Persimmons wandered through,
"A-totin ob der baby," and
Singing songs he knew.
At length some City Fathers
Objected to his plan,
Arresting as a vagrant

Our valiant little man.
They carried out their purposes:

Persimmons" 'lowed he'd spile 'em:"
So, sloping from the station-house,
He stole baby from the 'sylum.

And on that very afternoon,
As it was growing dark,
He sang beside the fountain in
The crowded city park,
A rude camp-meeting anthem,
Which he had sung before,
While on his granny's fragile raft
He drifted far from shore:-

SONG.

"Moses smote de water, and
De sea gabe away:

De chilleren dey passed ober, for
De sea gabe way.

O Lord! I feel so glad!
It am always dark fo' day:
So, honey, don't yer be sad:
DE SEA'LL GIVE WAY."

A lady dressed in mourning

Turned with a sudden start,