soon as she can, and she will meet with her reward in due season." 4 8. My mother was a little disappointed at the contents of our kinswoman's3 will, and expressed her displeasure in a few sharp remarks, for which my father gently reproved her. The subject of the legacies was never again discussed by us. The work-box was in constant requisition at my side, cotton rapidly diminished. beside my mother busy with my needle, she remarked. "You have followed our poor cousin's directions, my dear Ada. She particularly recommended you to use up the balls of darning cotton as soon as possible; and look, there is one just done." and the balls of darning One day, as I was sitting 9. As my mother spoke, I unrolled a long needleful, and came to the end of that ball. A piece of paper fell to the ground, which had been the nucleus on which the ball was formed. I stooped to pick it up, and was just about throwing it into the fire, when it caught my mother's eye, and she stretched out her hand and seized it. In a moment she unfolded it before our astonished gaze: it was a bank note of fifty pounds! 10. "O, dear, misjudged Cousin Deborah!" she exclaimed; "this is our Ada's reward in due season. It's just like her kind, queer old soul!" 11. We were not long in using up all the other balls of darning cotton in that marvellous work-box; and such a reward as I found for my industry sure never was met with before or since. Truly it was a fairy box, and my needle the fairy's wand. 12. No less than ten fifty-pound notes were thus brought to light; and my father laughingly declared I had wrought my own dower with my needle. No persuasions could induce him to appropriate the treasure; he said it was my "reward," and belonged to me alone. 1 AN-NUI-TY. A sum of money paid yearly. 2 DE-VİŞED'. Gave by a will. 3 KÍNŞ/WOMAN (-wâm-ạn). A female relative. or that around which matter is col- 6 POUND. A money of account used in • LEG'A-CY. A gift of money or goods 7 DÖŴ'ER. The portion or property by a will. 5 NU'CLE-US. The central part of a body, which a woman brings her husband XXI. THERE'S NO SUCH WORD AS FAIL 1. THE proudest motto for the young, Upon thy heart, and in thy mind 2. The sailor, on the stormy sea, Wish they were near the strand;2 A 3. The wearied student, bending o'er And dwelling on their magic lore, And though with toil his brain is weak, The language of his heart will speak 4. The soldier, on the battle plain, And throw aside a tyrant's chain, Our households and our native land! Then foot to foot and hand to hand; 5. The child of God, though oft beset These precious words will ne'er forget But upward look with eye of faith, 1 EN-FOLD'. Enclose. 2 STRAND. Coast. 3 TOMES. Volumes; books. 4 BE-SET'. Attacked. XXII. SPEECH OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF. [In this imaginary speech the author means to convey the lesson that candidates for public office do not usually speak so honestly and frankly. It will be noticed that the candidate here shows himself to be really fit for the office he seeks, and asks for it on that ground; whereas in real life such posts are apt to be demanded as rewards for services to a political party.] 1. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I am a candidate1 for the office of sheriff, and appear before you to prefer my claims to that responsible office. 2. I am a modest man, which is saying much in these days of impudence and pretension. I am content to be just what I am, and that is more than people in general can say, for this world is so given to flummery2 and show that almost everybody is a humbug. But I am not. I can read, write, and cipher, which is more than many a voter can do. 3. I am polite, which is a desirable quality in a sheriff. In a legislator it does not matter so much, and a member of Congress may be a boor3 after he gets into office; but a sheriff should be a polite man, for his duty is none of the pleasantest. To arrest a man for murder, and not hurt his feelings, is the essence of politeness, and that I think I can do. 4. I am not a married man, and this is a merit in a sheriff; for then he will not fail to do his duty by reason of his feelings. A married man will have too tender a heart for such an office. No one but a bachelor is fit to be sheriff. 5. I am able to pay my own bills. It is the custom, you know, for candidates to call upon their friends for food and lodging, and for money to carry on the canvass; but I'm not of the beggar tribe. I am able to pay my own way, which fact alone ought to commend me to your confidence. 6. I'll save the public money by charging no more fees than the law allows. I'll rob no man of his estate by levying5 on a whole farm to pay a petty debt. This is a great departure, I am aware, from the usual rule; but it is my way of doing business, if I am to be sheriff. 7. You can all do as you please, fellow-citizens, about voting for me. I shall not feel obliged to a voter, and forever bound to favor him, just because he has voted for me. I want no man's support who considers it a great favor to me. I know this is not the usual way for office-seekers to talk, but as I have some self-respect yet left, I propose to exercise it, in and out of office. If I am fit for the trust, elect me; if I am not fit, defeat me. That is all I have to say. 1 CĂN'DI-DATE. One who proposes himself, or who is proposed, for some office or station. 2 FLUM'MER-Y. Flattery. 3 BÔÔR. A rude peasant; a rustic. XXIII. THE CHILDREN IN THE CLOUDS. 1. ONE pleasant Saturday afternoon, during the summer of 1858, an aeronaut,1 after a prosperous voyage, descended upon a farm in the neighborhood of a large town, in one of the western states. He was soon surrounded by a curious group of the farmer's family and laborers, all asking eager questions about the voyage, and the management of the balloon. That, |