NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER give up! it is wiser and better Never give up! there are chances and changes Never give up! though the grape shot may rattle Or the full thunder cloud over you burst, Stand like a rock-and the storm or the battle Little shall harm you, though doing their worst: Never give up! if adversity presses, Providence wisely has mingled the cup, And the best counsel, in all your distresses, Is the stout watchword of Never give up ! READ THIS BOYS. TWO WAYS OF TELLING A STORY. N one of the most populous cities of New Eng the same school, got up a grand sleigh-ride. The sleigh was a large and splendid one, drawn by six grey horses. On the day following the ride, as the teacher entered the school-room, he found his pupils in high merriment, as they chatted about the fun and frolic of their excursion. In answer to some inquiries which he made about the matter, one of the lads volunteered to give an account of their trip and its incidents. As he drew near the end of his story, he exclaimed, "O, sir! there was one little circumstance that I had almost forgotten. As we were coming home, we saw a queer looking affair in the road. It proved to be a rusty old sleigh, fastened behind a covered wagon, proceeding at a very slow rate, and taking up nearly the whole road. แ Finding the owner was not disposed to turn out, we determined upon a volley of snowballs and a good hurrah. They produced a right effect, for the crazy machine turned out in the deep snow, and the skinny old pony started in a full trot. "As we passed, some one gave the old jilt of a horse a good crack, which made him run faster than he ever did before, I'll warrant. And so, with another volley of snowballs pitched into the front part of the wagon, and with three-times-three cheers, we rushed by. "With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who was buried up under an old hat, and who dropped the reins, bawled out. 'Why don't you turn out, then ?' says the driver. So we gave him three rousing cheers more. His horse was frightened again, and ran up against a loaded team, and I believe almost capsized the old creature: and so we left him." "Well, boys," replied the instructor, " take your seats, and I will take my turn and tell you a story, all about a sleigh-ride, too. Yesterday afternoon a very venerable old clergyman was on his way from Boston to Salem, to pass the residue of the winter at the house of his son. That he might be prepared for journeying in the spring, he took with him his wagon, and for the winter the sleigh, which he fastened behind the wagon. "His sight and hearing were somewhat blunt by age, and he was proceeding very slowly and quietly, for his horse was old and feeble like his owner. His thoughts reverted to the scenes of his youth, of his manhood, and of his riper years. Almost forgetting himself in the multitude of his thoughts, he was suddenly disturbed and terrified by loud hurrahs from behind, and by a furious pelting upon the top of his wagon. "In his trepidation he dropped his reins, and as his aged and feeble hands were quite benumbed with cold, he could not gather them up, and his horse began to run away. In the midst of the old man's troubles, there rushed by him, with loud shouts, a large party of boys, in a sleigh drawn by six horses. Turn out! turn out, old fellow!''Give us the road, old boy!' 'What will you take for your pony, old daddy?' 'Go it, frozen nose?' What's the price of oats?' were the various cries that met his ear. เ "Pray do not frighten my horse!' exclaimed the infirm driver. Turn out, then! turn out!' was the answer; which was followed by repeated cracks and blows from the long whip of the 'grand sleigh,' with showers of snowballs, and three tremendous cheers from the bos that were in it. The terror of the old man and his horse was increased, and the latter ran away with him, to the imminent danger of his life. He contrived, however, to secure his reins, and to stop his horse just in season to prevent his being dashed against a loaded team. "A short distance brought him to his journey's end, the house of his son. His old horse was comfortably housed and fed, and he himself abundantly provided for. That son, boys, is your instructor, and that old fellow and old boy (who did not turn out for you, but who would gladly have given you the whole road had he heard your approach), that old daddy and frozen nose, was your master's father!" Some of the boys buried their heads behind their desks; some cried, and many hastened to the teacher with apologies and regrets without end. All were freely pardoned; but were cautioned that they should be more civil for the future to inoffensive travelers, and more respectful to the aged and infirm. THE OTHER HOME. LIFE is full of doubt and sorrow; Never more! it wakes an echo, In the land beyond the river, To that other, brighter home! Till we reach the realms of day |