And the other four good district fathers gave quick the con

sent that was due, And cocked one eye up to the ceiling, and said, “ Them's my

sentiments tew." "Another thing, I must here mention, comes into the ques

tion to-day, Concernin' some things in the grammar you're teachin' our

gals for to say, My gals is as steady as clockwork, and never give cause for

much fear, But they come home from school t'other evenin' a-talkin'

such stuff as this here: 'I love,' an''Thou lovest,' an' 'He loves,' an' 'Ye love,' an' 'You

love,' an'. They An' they answered my questions, 'It's grammar'-'twas all

I could get 'em to say. Now if,'stead of doin' your duty, you're carryin' matters on so As to make the gals say that they love you, it's just all that

I want to know ;-" Now Jim, the young heaven-built mechanic, in the dusk of

the evening before, Had well-nigh unjointed the stove-pipe, to make it come

down on the floor; And the squire bringing smartly his foot down, as a clincher

to what he had said, A joint of the pipe fell upon him, and larruped him square on

the head. The soot flew in clouds all about him, and blotted with black

all the place, And the squire and the other four fathers were peppered

with black in the face. The school, ever sharp for amusement, laid down all their

cumbersome books, And, spite of the teacher's endeavors, laughed loud at their

visitor's looks. and the squire, as he stalked to the doorway, swore oaths

of a violet hue; and the four district fathers, who followed, seemed to say,

"Them's my sentiments tew.”

Each of the Four Numbers of

“100 Choice Selections" contained

in this volume is paged separately,

and the Index is made to corres

pond therewith. See EXPLANATION on first page of Contents.

The entire book contains nearly 1000 pages. .

100

CHOICE SELECTIONS.

No. 15.

WHO ARE THE FREE.-John C. PRINCE.

Who are the Free ?
Thay who have scorned the tyrant and his rod,
And bowed in worship unto none but God;
They who have made the conqueror's glory dim,
Unchained in soul, though manacled in limb,
Unwarped by prejudice, unawed by wrong,
Friends to the weak, and fearless of the strong;
They who could change not with the changing hour,
The self-same men in peril and in power;
True to the law of right, as warmly prone
Toz grant another's as maintain their own;
Foes of oppression, wheresoe'er it be ;-

These are the proudly free!

Who are the Great ?
They who have boldly ventured to explore
Unsounded seas, and lands unknown before;
Soared on the wings of science, wide and far,
Measured the sun, and weighed each distant star;
Pierced the dark depths of ocean and of earth,
And brought uncounted wonders into birth;
Repelled the pestilence, restrained the storm,
And given new beauty to the human form;
Waken'd the voice of reason and unfurled
The
page

of truthful knowledge to the world :
They who have toiled and studied for mankind,
Aroused the slumbering virtues of the mind;
Taught us a thousand blessings to create ;-

These are the nobly great!
QQQQ*

7

Who are the Wise ?
They who have governed with a self control,
Each wild and baneful passion of the soul;
Curbed the strong impulse of all fierce desires,
But kept alive atfection's purer fires :
They who have passed the labyrinth of life,
Without one hour of weakness or of strife;
Prepared each change of fortune to endure,–
Humble though rich, and dignified though poor,
Skilled in the latent movements of the heart,
Learned in the love which nature can iinpart,-
Teaching that sweet philosophy aloud,
Which sees the “silver lining" of the cloud,
Looking for good in all beneath the skies;

These are the truly wise'

Who are the Blest ? They who have kept their sympathies awake, And scattered joy for more than custom's sake; Steadfast and tender in the hour of need, Gentle in thought, benevolent in deed; Whose looks have power to make dissension cease, Whose smiles are pleasant and whose words are peace; They who have lived as harmless as the dove, Teachers of truth and ministers of love ;Love for all moral power, all mental graceLove for the humblest of the human raceLove for that tranquil joy that virtue brings— Love for the giver of all goodly things; True followers of that soul-exalting plan Which Christ laid down to bless and govern man; They who can calmly linger to the last, Survey the future and recall the past, And with that hope which triumphs over pain, Full well assured they have not lived in vainThen wait in peace their hour of final rest;

These are the only blest!

ADVICE TO THE YOUNG.
My son, be this thy simple plan :
Serve God, and love thy brother man;
Forget not, in temptation's hour,
That sin lends sorrow double power;
Count life a stage upon thy way,
And follow conscience, come what may;
Alike with earth and heaven sincere,
With hand and brow and bosom clear,
“Fear God, and know no other fear."