Young Gilbert rose from table with a stern determined look, And Annie said, "O Gilbert, dear, I do not understand "Now Gilbert," Annie answered, "wicked headsman, just beware I won't have Peter tortured with that horrible affair; The felon very coolly loosed his collar and his stock, When Gilbert plainly heard a woman's voice exclaiming, "Stay!" 'Twas Annie, gentle Annie, as you'll easily believe. "O Gilbert, you must spare him, for I bring him a reprieve, It came from our Home Secretary many weeks ago, And passed through that post-office which I used to keep at Bow. "I loved you, loved you madly, and you know it, Gilbert Clay, And as I'd quite surrendered all idea of Peter Gray, I quietly suppressed it, as you'll clearly understand, For I thought it might be awkward if he came and claimed my hand. "In anger at my secret (which I could not tell before), To lacerate poor Peter Gray vindictively you swore; I told you if you used that blunted axe you'd rue the day, And so you will, old fellow, for I'll marry Peter Gray!" [And so she did. A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS.-EARL Marble. When a man dies the people ask, "What property has he left behind him?" But the angels, as they bend over his grave, inquire, "What good deeds hast thou sent before thee?"-MOHAMMED. "Abijah Dunn! Abijah Dunn! Where art thou this bright summer morn? Whose rays both earth and sky adorn." Charmed by his glance, as woman's mild, So shot a summons through the air To see the sun's bright rising glare. Far up the sky he glowing runs. Brief moments surged with spirit light, Were drowned in blisses that requite. "Abijah Dunn! come higher up! Thine earthly house meets not thy needs; But Heaven's o'erflows with souls of deeds; Of which, alas! but poor thy part: Thy Heavenly house, with richest gilt "Abijah, great Jehovah's son! For such thy name's significance, A thought or act, as love did warm, That window toward morn's brightest skies, The glass like diamonds in the sun, And yon bright room, so sweet within, Thou seized, and steered from shoals of sin. "Abijah Dunn! dost thou recall A smile that dried a poor child's tears? That smile, a picture on the wall, Will sing of sunshine through long years. Rememberest thou a fallen one, Long since returned to kindly dust, With whom thou shared, Abijah Dunn, When others sneered, thine only crust? "From tears of thankfulness she shed Grew trees whose fruits like pearls catch light, And, o'er the walks that thou wilt tread, Dispel forever aught like night, And throw their gleam to towers that grew When aspiration with thee dwelt, And windows catching heaven's blue When eyes looked whence the suppliant knelt. "Abijah Dunn! thy home is here, 'Not made with hands,' but builded, lo! Above earth's labors, year by year, As thou didst toward fulfilment grow." Ah! blest at last whose lives be true! And sad those lost in earthly rust! Those "builded better than they knew," And these find but decay and dust. THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD. What's the best thing in the world? Beauty, not self-decked and curled Till its pride is over-plain; Light, that never makes you wink; Memory, that gives no pain; What's the best thing in the world? -Something out of it, I think. A CURIOUS LIFE POEM. Mrs. H. A. Deming, of San Francisco, is said to have occupied a year in hunting up and fitting together the following thirty-eight lines from thirty-eight English poets. The names of the authors are given below: 1-Why all this toil for triumphs of an hour? 2--Life's a short summer, man a flower; 3-By turns we catch the vital breath, and die4-The cradle and the tomb, alas! so nigh. 5-To be is better far than not to be, 6—'Though all man's life may seem a tragedy; 7--But light cares speak when mighty griefs are dumb, 10--Unmingled joys, here, to no man befall. 14-And throw a cruel sunshine on a fool. 17--Sin may be clasped so close we cannot see its face- 33-How long we live, not years, but actions, tell; 1, Young; 2, Dr. Johnson; 3, Pope; 4, Prior; 5, Sewell; 6, Spenser; 7, Daniel: 8, Sir Walter Raleigh; 9, Longfellow; 10, Southwell; 11, Congreve; 12, Churchhill; 13, Rochester; 14, Armstrong: 15, Milton; 16, Baily; 17, Trench; 18, Somerville; 19, Thomson; 20, Byron; 21, Smollet; 22, Crabbe; 23, Massinger; 24, Cowley; 25, Beattie; 26, Cowper: 27, Sir Walter Davenant; 28, Grey; 29, Willis; 30, Addison; 31, Dryden; 32, Francis Quarles; 33, Watkins; 34, Herrick; 35, Wiliam Mason; 36, Hill; 37, Dana; 38, Shakspeare. THE SQUIRE'S PLEDGE. A few years since, when the subject of temperance was being freely discussed, the citizens of a little town in the western part of Massachusetts called a meeting to talk over the matter. There had never been a temperance society in the place, but after some little discussion it was voted to form one. They drew up a pledge of total abstinence, and agreed if any member of the society broke it, he should be turned out. Before the pledge was accepted, Deacon D- arose and said he had one objection to it; he thought that Thanksgiving day ought to be free for the members to take something, as he could relish his dinner much better at this festival if he took a glass of wine. Mr. S. thought that the pledge was not perfect. He didn't care anything about Thanksgiving, but his family always made a great account of Christmas, and he couldn't think of sitting down to dinner then without something to drink. He was willing to give it up on all other days, and, in fact, that was the only time when he cared anything about it. Mr. B. next arose and said he agreed with the other speakers, except in the time. He didn't think much of Thanksgiving or Christmas, though he liked a little any time. There was one day, however, when he must have it, and that was the Fourth of July. He always calculated upon having a “reg'lar drunk" on that day, and he wouldn't sign the pledge if it prevented him celebrating Independence. Squire L., an old farmer, followed Mr. B. He was not in the habit of taking anything often, but he must have some when he washed his sheep. He would sign the pledge if it gave him the privilege of imbibing when he washed his sheep. Why, he considered it dangerous for him to keep his hands in cold water without something to keep him warm inside. After some consideration, it was concluded that each member of the society should take his own occasion to drink -Deacon D. on Thanksgiving, Mr. S. on Christmas, etc. The pledge was signed by a large number, and the society adjourned in a flourishing condition, after voting that it should |