his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong. A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green's dog for having barked at his horse. He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away into the barn. From that day henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with the dog or his master. A short time after, Joe Smith, to his utter astonishment, saw him pat Towzer on the head, and heard him say, "Good fellow !"

Simeon Green was too magnanimous to repeat to any one that his quarrelsome neighbour had confessed himself to blame. He merely smiled as he said to his wife, "I thought we should kill him after a while."

When

Joe Smith did not believe in such doctrines. he heard of the adventures in the marsh, he said, “Sim Green is a fool. When he first came here, he talked very big about killing folks, if they did not mind their P's and Q's. But he does not appear to have as much spirit as a worm; for a worm will turn when it is trod upon."

Poor Joe had grown more intemperate and more quarrelsome, till at last nobody would employ him. About a year after the memorable incident of the water-melon, some one stole several valuable hides from Mr. Green. He did not mention the circumstance to any one but his wife; and they both had. reason for suspecting that Joe was the thief. The next week the following anonymous advertisement appeared in the newspaper of the county:—

"Whoever stole a lot of hides on Friday night, the 5th of the present month, is hereby informed that the owner has a sincere wish to be his friend. If poverty tempted him to this false step, the owner will keep the whole transaction a secret, and will gladly put him in the way of obtaining money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind."

This singular advertisement, of course, excited a good deal of remark. There was much debate whether or not the thief would avail himself of the friendly offer. Some said he would be a greenhorn if he did; for it was manifestly a trap to catch him. But he who had committed the dishonest deed alone knew whence that benevolent offer came, and he knew that Simeon Green was not a man to set traps for his fellow-creatures.

A few nights afterwards, a timid knock was heard at Simeon's door, just as the family were retiring to rest. When the door was opened, Joe Smith was seen on the steps, with a load of hides on his shoulders. Without raising his eyes, he said, in a low humble tone, "I have brought them back, Mr. Green. Where shall I put them ?"

"Wait a moment till I can light a lantern, and I will go to the barn with you," he replied. "Then you

will come in, and tell me how it happened.-We will see what can be done for you."

Mrs. Green knew that Joe often went hungry, and had become accustomed to the stimulus of gin. She

therefore hastened to make hot coffee, and brought from the closet some cold meat-pie.

When they returned from the barn, she said, "I thought you might feel better for a little warm supper, neighbour Smith." Joe turned his back towards her, and did not speak. He leaned his head against the chimney, and after a moment's silence, he said, in a choked voice, "It was the first time I ever stole anything, and I have felt very bad about it. I do not know how it is. I did not think, once, I should ever come to be what I am. But I took to quarrelling, and then to drinking. Since I began to go down hill, every body gives me a kick. You are the first man that has offered me a helping hand. My wife is feeble, and my children are starving. You have sent them many a meal, God bless you! and yet I stole the hides from you, meaning to sell them the first chance I could get. But I tell you, Mr. Green, it is the first time I ever deserved the name of thief."

"Let it be the last, my friend," said Simeon, pressing his hand kindly. "The secret shall remain between You are young, and can make up lost time.

ourselves.

Come now, give me a promise that you will not drink one drop of intoxicating liquor for a year, and I will employ you, to-morrow, at good wages. Mary will see to your family early in the morning, and perhaps we may find some employment for them also. The little boy can at least pick up stones. But eat a bit now,