Having got the stove comfortably in place, the next thing is to find the legs. Two of them are left inside the stove since the spring before; the other two must be hunted after twenty-five minutes. They are usually found under the coal. Then the head of the family holds up one side of the stove while his wife puts two of the legs in place; next, he holds up the other side while the other two are fixed, and one of the first two falls out. By the time the stove is on its legs, he gets reckless and takes off his old coat, regardless of his linen.

Then he goes off for the pipe, and gets a cinder in his eye. It don't make any difference how well the pipe was put up last year, it will be found a little too short or a little too long. The head of the family jams his hat over his eyes, and, taking a joint of pipe under each arm, goes to the tin-shop to have it fixed. When he gets back, he steps upon one of the best parlor chairs to see if the pipe fits, and his wife makes him get down for fear he will scratch the varnish off the chair with the nails in his bootheel. In getting down he will surely step on the cat, and may thank his stars it is not the baby. Then he gets an old chair, and climbs up to the chimney again, to find that in cutting the pipe off, the end has been left too big for the hole in the chimney. So he goes to the wood-shed, and splits one side of the end of the pipe with an old axe, and squeezes it in his hands to make it smaller. Finally he gets the pipe in shape, and finds that the stove does not stand

true.

Then himself and wife and the hired girl move the stove to the left, and the legs fall out again. The next move is to the right. More difficulty with the legs. Move to the front a little. Elbow not even with the hole in the chimney, and he goes to the wood-shed after some little blocks. While putting the blocks under the legs the pipe comes out of the chimney. That remedied, the elbow keeps tipping over, to the great alarm of his wife. He then gets the

dinner-table out, puts the old chair on it, gets his wife to hold the chair, and balances himself on it to drive some nails in the ceiling, and drops the hammer on his wife's head. At last he gets the nails driven, makes a wire-swing to hold the pipe, hammers a little here, pulls a little there, takes a long breath, and announces the ceremony completed. Job never put up any stoves. It would have ruined his reputation if he had.

CCXIII.-WORDS OF STRENGTH.

THERE are three lessons I would write
Three words as with a burning pen,
In tracings of eternal light,

Upon the hearts of men.

Have hope. Though clouds environ now,
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put thou the shadow from thy brow,
No night but hath its morn.

Have faith. Where'er thy bark is driven-
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth;-
Know this-God rules the hosts of heaven,
The inhabitants of earth.

Have love. Not love alone for one,
But, man as man thy brother call,
And scatter like the circling sun,

Thy charities on all.

Thus grave these lessons on thy soul

Hope, Faith, and Love-and thou shalt find

Strength when life's surges rudest roll,

Light when thou else wert blind.

ENGAGING MANNERS.

-Schiller.

THERE are a thousand pretty, engaging little ways which every person may put on, without the risk of being deemed either affected or foppish. The sweet smile, the quiet, cordial bow, the earnest movement in addressing a friend, or

more especially a stranger, whom one may recommend to our good regards, the inquiring glance, the graceful attention, which is captivating when united with self-possession,these will insure us the good regards of even a churl. Above all, there is a certain softness of manner which should be cultivated, and which, in either man or woman, adds a charm that almost entirely compensates for lack of beauty. The voice may be modulated so to intonate, that it will speak directly to the heart, and from that elicit an answer; and politeness may be made essential to our nature. Neither is time thrown away in attending to such things, insignificant as they may seem to those who engage in weightier

matters.

CCXIV.-COURAGE.

COURAGE!-Nothing can withstand
Long a wronged, undaunted land
If the hearts within her be
True unto themselves and thee,
Thou freed giant, Liberty!
Oh, no mountain-nymph art thou,
When the helm is on thy brow,
And the sword is in thy hand,
Fighting for thy own good land.

Courage! Nothing e'er withstood
Freemen fighting for their good;
Armed with all their father's fame,
They will win and wear a name,
That shall go to endless glory,
Like the gods of old Greek story,
Raised to heaven and heavenly worth,
For the good they gave to earth.
Courage! There is none so poor
(None of all who wrong endure),
None so humble, nonc so weak,
But may flush his father's cheek,

K. N. E.-41.

And his maiden's, dear and true,
With the deeds that he may do.
Be his days as dark as night,
He may make himself a light.
What though sunken be his sun?
There are stars when day is done!

Courage!-Who will be a slave,
That hath strength to dig a grave,
And therein his fetters hide,
And lay a tyrant by his side?
Courage! Hope, howe'er he fly.
For a time, can never die!
Courage, therefore, brother men!
Courage! To the fight again!

-Barry Cornwall.

CCXV.-WHAT TIME IS IT?

WHAT time is it?

Time to do well;

Time to live better;

Give up that grudge;

Answer that letter;

Speak that kind word, to sweeten a sorrow;

Do that good deed you would leave till to-morrow.
Time to try hard

In that new situation;

Time to build up on

A solid foundation.

Giving up needlessly, changing and drifting;
Leaving the quicksands that ever are shifting.

What time is it?

Time to be thrifty;

Farmers, take warning-
Plow in the springtime;

Sow in the morning;

Spring rain is coming, zephyrs are blowing;
Heaven will attend to the quickening and growing.

Time to count cost;

Lessen expenses;

Time to look well

To the gates and the fences:

Making and mending, as good workers should;
Shutting out evil and keeping the good.

What time is it?

Time to be earnest,

Laying up treasure;

Time to be thoughtful,

Choosing true pleasure;

Loving stern justice-of truth being fond;
Making your word just as good as your bond.
Time to be happy,

Doing your best;
Time to be trustful,
Leaving the rest;

Knowing in whatever country or clime,
Ne'er can we call back one minute of time.

CCXVI.-THE OLD MAN IN THE STYLISH CHURCH.

WELL, wife, I've been to church to-day-been to a stylish oneAnd, seein' you can't go from home, I'll tell you what was done;

You would have been surprised to see what I saw there to-day; The sisters were fixed up so fine they hardly bowed to pray.

I had on these coarse clothes of mine-not much the worse for wear

But, then, they knew I wasn't one they call a millionaire; So they led the old man to a seat away back by the door; 'T was bookless and uncushioned, a reserved seat for the poor.

Pretty soon in came a stranger with gold rings and clothing fine;

They led him to a cushioned seat far in advance of mine;
I thought that wa'n't exactly right to seat him up so near,
When he was young, and I was old, and very hard to hear.