ARTEMUS WARD VISITS THE SHAKERS. C. F. BROWN. "MR. SHAKER," sed I, "you see before you a Babe in the Woods, so to speak, and he axes a shelter of you." "Yay," sed the Shaker, and he led the way into the house, another bein sent to put my horse and wagon un der kiver. A solum female, lookin somewhat like a last year's bean-pole stuck into a long meal-bag, cum in and axed me was I athirst and did I hunger? To which I asserted, "A few." She went orf, and I endeavored to open a conversation with the old man. "Elder, I spect," sed I. "Yay," he said. "Health's good, I reckon?" "Yay." "What's the wages of a Elder, when he understands his bizness or do you devote your sarvices gratooitous?" "Yay." "Storm nigh, sir?" "Yay." "If the storm continues there'll be a mess underfoot, hay?” 'Yay." "If I may be so bold, kind sir, what's the price of that pecooler kind of wesket you wear, includin trimmins?" "Yay." "I pawsed a minit, and then, thinkin I'd be faseshus with him and see how that would go, I slapt him on the shoulder, burst into a hearty larf, and told him that as a yayer he had no living ekel. He jumped up as if bilin water had been squirted into his ears, groaned, rolled his eyes up tords the realin and sed: "You're a man of sin!" He then walked out of the room. Directly thar cum in two young Shakeresses, as putty It is troo they was drest in meal-bags like the old one I'd met previsly, and and slick lookin galls as I ever met. their shiny, silky hair was hid from sight by long, white caps, such as I spose female gosts wear; but their eyes sparkled like diamonds, their cheeks was like roses, and they was charmin enuff to make a man throw stuns at his grandinother, if they axed him to. They commenst clearing away the dishes, casting shy glances at me all the time. I got excited. I forgot Betsey Jane in my rapter, and sez I, "My pretty dears, how air you?" "We air well," they solumly sed. "Where is the old man?" said I, in a soft voice. "Of whom dost thou speak-Brother Uriah?" "I mean that gay and festive cuss who calls me a man of sin. Should'nt wonder if his name was'nt Uriah." "He has retired." "Wall, my pretty dears," sez I, "let's have some fun. Let's play puss in the corner. What say ?" "Air you a Shaker, sir?" they asked. "Wall, my pretty dears, I haven't arrayed my proud form in a long weskit yet, but if they wus all like you perhaps I'd jine 'em. As it is, I am willing to be Shaker protemporary." They was full of fun. I seed that at fust, only they was a little skeery. I tawt 'em puss in the corner, and sich like plase, and we had a nice time, keepin quiet of course, so that the old man should'nt hear. When we broke up, sez I: "My pretty dears, ear I go, you have no objections have you? to a innersent kiss at partin?" "Yay," they said, and I-yayed." DEATH OF AN INEBRIATE. RAISE me up gently-there Oh! give a breath of the pure, cold air; I am going so fast But no one will care how soon I am cold They will hurry me under the damp, dark mould, And "only a pauper," they'll say as they pass, Bring water I pray ; I drank nothing else in my childhood's day- How it leaped on the shore! Oh! why did I drink from the poisoned bowl Why are you here? Can you say me a prayer? What a wretch I have been ! None but God knoweth how great is my sin; Have you 'mong you a book The book that tells of the "prodigal son ?" I shall trust and hope to behold his throne. I am going-good bye! No one loves me down here--I hope that on Ligh By the great crystal sea She loved me till death, so true was her heart— Some youth from despair and a vile drunkard's grave. THE VISION OF IMMORTALITY.-E. P. WESTON. I WHO essayed to sing, in earlier days, The Thanatopsis and The Hymn to Death, Yet once again, oh! man, come forth and view The depths of the untrodden wilderness. And she shall teach thee. Thou hast learned before Yet she shall tell thee with a myriad tongue The flowers that spring above their last year's grave Where the crushed mould beneath the sunken foot Turn thou a keener glance, and thou shalt find That earth from her unnumbered caves of death Kings that lay down in state, and earth's poor slaves, The white-haired patriarch and the tender babe, Shall waken from the dreams of silent years Aye, learn the lesson! Though the worm shall be And all shall pass, humble and proud and gay The grave shall gather thee: yet thou shalt come, Then mourn not when thou markest the decay Breaks from the mould with every bursting flower, A king and priest to God!-when thou shalt pass Which halts one night-time in the vate of Death, |