A

The Widow's Mistake.

THE BOY IN THE STREAM.

W. R. EVANS.

LITTLE boy, while leaning down to drink,
Fell in a stream, and soon began to sink;
A man in passing heard him as he cried
For aid, and, running to the river-side,
Began to scold the boy with all his might
For getting into such a dangerous plight.

"Oh, save me, save me first!" the child replied,
"And then there will be time enough to chide."

Of men in trouble we may say the same:

Assist them first, and gain the right to blame.

MR. CRANE

THE WIDOW'S MISTAKE.

WHITCHER.

CHARACTERS:

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A Widower.

WIDOW BEDOTT.

A lady anxious to get married.

[SCENE-Parlour in a country house.

The widow and Mr.

Crane seated at a table. Mr. Crane's hat on the table.]

"Oh, no, Mr. Crane, by no means; it is not a

WIDOW minute too soon for you to begin to talk about being

married again. I am amazed that you should be afraid I would think so. How long has Mrs. Crane been dead? Six months! Why I have known a number of individuals get married in less time than that. I don't think it looks well for a woman to be in such a hurry-but for a man it's a different thing-circumstances alter cases, you know. And then, situated as you are, Mr. Crane, it's a terrible thing for your family to be without one to superintend domestic concerns and attend to the children-to say nothing of yourself, Mr. Crane. Why Squire Titus, married his second wife six weeks after burying his first. And Mr. Dawson

MR. CRANE. "Well, Mrs. Bedott-I've been thinking of taking a companion-and I thought I'd ask you—

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The Widow's Mistake.

WIDOW. "Oh, Mr. Crane, excuse my confusion-it's so unexpected. Please hand me that bottle of camphor off the mantle shelf-I'm rather faint-do put a little drop on my handkerchief. There-that will do-I am much obliged to you. Now, Mr. Crane, I feel rather more composed-you may proceed."

MR. CRANE." Well, Mrs. Bedott, I was going to ask you whether-whether

WIDOW. "Continue, Mr. Crane-I know it's very embarassing. I remember when my deceased husband made his proposal to me, he stammered and stuttered, and seemed greatly agitated. I suppose this is generally the case with most men, for they are considering what kind of answer they are likely to get, and it makes them nervous. But when an

individual has reason to suppose his attachment is reciprocated, I don't see what need there is for being excitedthough I must say it's very embarrassing for me-but pray continue."

MR. CRANE." Well then, I want to know if you are willing that I should marry Mellissy?"

WIDOW (starting with dismay and disappointment). “Is it possible!"

MR. CRANE (without noticing the widow's excitement). "I have not said anything to her about it yet, for I thought the proner way would be to get your consent first. I remember when I courted my first wife we were engaged some time before her mother knew anything about it, and when she found it out she was offended because I had not spoken to her on the subject originally. I thought I would avoid any unpleasantness this time by coming to see you."

WIDOW (jumping up, unable to contain her passion). "You want Melissy? Why, you are old enough to be her father, and more too. Mellissy is only in her twenty-first year. What a ridiculous idea for a man of your age to imagine that she would even look at you!"

MR. CRANE (deprecatingly). had no idea of being treated

66

Why, you surprise me; I

Too Much and Too Little.

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WIDOW. "Mr. Crane, there's your hat and here's the door; and if ever you come here again, or say a word to Melissy, it shall not be with my consent."

MR. CRANE (almost speechless with astonishment). "Well, I never thought

WIDOW (angrily). "I won't hear another word."

[Exit MR. CRANE.]

WIDOW. "There's one thing certain: Melissy Bedott must have nothing more to do with the Crane girls. I shall see to that. Why the man's impudence and assurance are past endurance!"

TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE.

H. G. ADAMS.

HAT to do with all his money

WHAT

Old Sir Guy is at a loss;

He cannot get a good per-centage,
So he gets "confounded cross.
Through the day he sits and ponders
Over all the ways by which

Wealth breeds wealth, in choking fulness,
Making rich men yet more rich :
Through the night he lieth dreaming,
And he crieth in his sleep,
Saying, he is robbed and cheated,
And his gold he cannot keep.

No such care hath Simon Hodges,
Thinking till his eyes are dim;
What to do with all his children
Is the mystery to him.

Through the livelong day he toileth,
And if e'er he dreams at night,
Naked feet and hungry cravings
Are the visions that affright.
This too much, and that too little,
Neither is a happy man,

What if one should help the other?
Were not this the better plan?

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The Young Soldier.

THE YOUNG SOLDIER.

ALICE CARY.

NTO the house ran Lettice,

INT

With hair so long and so bright,
Crying, "Mother! Johnny has 'listed!
He has listed into the fight!"

"Don't talk so wild, little Lettice!"
And she smoothed her darling's brow.
"'Tis true! you'll see as true can be―
He told me so just now!"

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"Ah, that's a likely story!
Why, darling, don't you see,
If Johnny had 'listed into the war

He would tell your father and me!"

"But he is going to go, mother,
Whether it's right or wrong;
He is thinking of it all the while,
And he won't be with us long."

"Our Johnny going to go to the war!".
"Ay, ay, and the time is near;

He said, when the corn was once in the ground,
We couldn't keep him here!"

"Hush, child! your brother Johnny

Meant to give you a fright."

Mother, he'll go,-I tell you I know
He's 'listed into the fight!

'Plucking a rose from the bush, he said,
Before its leaves were black

He'd have a soldier's cap on his head,

And a knapsack on his back!"

"A dream! a dream! little Lettice,
A wild dream of the night;
Go find and fetch your brother in,
And he will set us right."

So out of the house ran Lettice,
Calling near and far,-

"Johnny, tell me, and tell me true,

Are you going to go to the war?"

The Young Soldier.

At last she came and found him
In the dusty cattle-close,

Whistling Hail Columbia,

And beating time with his rose.

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The rose he broke from the bush, when he said,
Before its leaves were black

He'd have a soldier's cap on his head,
And a knapsack on his back.

Then all in gay mock-anger,

He plucked her by the sleeve,
Saying, "Dear little, sweet little rebel,
I am going, by your leave!"

"O Johnny! Johnny!"-Low he stooped,
And kissed her wet cheeks dry,
And took her golden head in his hands
And told her he would not die.

"But, Letty, if anything happen

There won't!"-and he spoke more low"But if anything should, you must be twice as good As you are, to mother, you know!

"Not but that you are good, Letty,
As good as you can be;

But then you know it might be so,
You'd have to be good for me!"

So straight to the house they went, his cheeks
Flushing under his brim:

And his two broad-shouldered oxen
Turned their great eyes after him.

That night in the good old farmstead
Was many a sob of pain;

"O Johnny, stay! if you go away,
It will never be home again!"

But Time its still sure comfort lent,
Crawling, crawling past,

And Johnny's gallant regiment

Was going to march at last.

And steadying up her stricken soul,
The mother turned about,

Took what was Johnny's from the drawer
And shook the rose-leaves out;