Whereat he stared, replying, half amazed, "You would not let your little finger ache For such as these ?" "But I would die," said she. "O aye, aye, aye, you talk!" "Alas!" she said, Then she rode forth, clothed on with chastity: Were full of chinks and holes; and overhead Then she rode back, clothed on with chastity; Boring a little auger-hole in fear, Peep'd-but his eyes, before they had their will, And dropt before him. So the Powers who wait And she, that knew not, pass'd; and all at once, One after one; but even then she gain'd Her bower; whence reissuing, robed and crown'd, YUSSOUF. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A stranger came one night to Yussouf's tent, Who flies, and hath not where to lay his head; To Yussouf, called through all our tribes 'The Good!'" "This tent is mine," said Yussouf, "but no more Than it is God's; come in, and be at peace; Freely shalt thou partake of all my store As I of His who buildeth over these, Our tents, his glorious roof of night and day, And, waking him ere day, said: "Here is gold, My swiftest horse is saddled for thy flight, Depart before the prying day grow bold." That inward light the stranger's face made grand, Sobbing: "O Sheik, I cannot leave thee so; "Take thrice the gold," said Yussouf, "for with thee My one black thought shall ride away from me. Balanced and just are all of God's decrees; SHE MEANT BUSINESS From the Detroit Free Press. There is no reason why the inventor of a remedy to 66 cure the worst case of catarrh inside of five minutes" shouldn't feel it his duty to place a bottle of the same in every person's hand-" price twenty-five cents; no cure, no pay." Therefore, the long-legged chap who pulled a door-bell on John R. Street yesterday had none of that timidity in his bearing which characterizes rag-buyers, lightning-rod men, and solicitors for the fire sufferers. He had a good thing, and he knew it, and he wanted other folks to know it. When the door opened and a hardfeatured woman about forty years of age confronted him, he pleasantly went to business, and asked: "Madame, is your husband ever troubled with the catarrh ?" "Can a man who has been dead seven years be troubled with the catarrh ?" she grimly replied. "But the children are liable to be attacked at any hour this season," he remarked. "Whose children ?" "Yours, madame." "I never had any, sir! What brought you here, anyhow? Why do you come asking those questions ?” "Madame, I have compounded a remedy for the catarrh. It is a good thing. I'll warrant it to knock any case of catarrh high-sky in less than five minutes." "Well, sir, what's all this to me?" "Why, madame-why-" he stammered. "Do I look as if I needed any catarrh remedies?" she demanded, as she stepped out on the platform. 66 Madame, I would not for the world have you think that I thought you had the catarrh, but I suppose the fair and lovely can be attacked, as well as the strong and brave.” "And what have I got to do with all that rigmarole ? Who are you, sir, and what do you want?” "Madame," he whispered, backing down one step, "I have compounded a remedy for the catarrh." "Whose catarrh, sir ?” "Madame, I am selling my catarrh "Where is your catarrh-where is it?" she interrupted. He got down on the second step and softly began : "Madame, I have a sure cure for the catarrh, and I am selling lots of it." “Well, what do I care! Must you ring my door-bell to tell me that you are selling lots of catarrh medicine ?" He got down on the walk, clear of the steps, and he tried hard to look beautiful around the mouth as he explained: "Madame, didn't I ask you if your husband was ever troubled with catarrh ?" (6 'Yes, sir, and didn't I reply that he was dead? Do you want to see his grave, sir?" "No, madame, I do not. I am sorry he's dead, but my catarrh remedy can't help him any. Good-by, madame." "Here, sir, hold on a minute!" she called, "what was your business with me?" "Why, I have a remedy for the catarrh." "So you said before." "I asked you if you didn't want to purchase, and—” "You are a falsifier, sir; you never asked me to purchase!" "Do-you-want-a-bottle?" he slowly asked. "Yes, sir: give me two of them: here's your money! Next time you want to sell your catarrh remedy, don't begin to talk around about the discovery of America. Here you've bothered me fifteen minutes, and put all my work behind, and it's good for you I didn't bring the broom to the door!" He retreated backward through the gate, his left eye squinted up and his mouth open. He shut the gate, leaned over it and looked long at the front door. By and by he said: "Darn 'em! You can never tell where to find 'em." GAFFER GRAY. HOLCROFT. This piece is rendered very effective by the questions being given in a firm, bluff voice, and Gaffer Gray's replies in the tremulous, piping tones of extreme old age. "Ho! why dost thou shiver and shake, Gaffer Gray? ""Tis the weather that's cold, "Tis I'm grown very old, And my doublet is not very new-Well-a-day!" "Then line thy warm doublet with ale, Gaffer Gray And warm thy old heart with a glass!" "Nay, but credit I've none, |