laughing about!" The mother, an invalid for years, who could answer an inquiry about her health with a quizzical smile and a quick "Sick abed, and worse up!" was not a burden but a joy to the children who found her room "the jolliest place in the house."

A nonsense rime, a droll conundrum, a lively repartee, a story of misadventure, may all serve as sauce for a dull day. The appetite for fun may be coaxed to grow by what it feeds on until the mature woman, laden with responsibilities, can smile at her own small trials and help others to follow her example. She will learn first not to cry over spilt milk, and later will master an even more useful accomplishment, and will laugh over it.

Youth's Companion, 1903.

LEFT ALONE.

It's the lonesomest house you ever saw,
This big gray house where I stay,
I don't call it livin' at all, at all,
Since my mother went away.

Four long weeks ago, an' it seems a year,
"Gone home," so the preacher said,
An' I ache in my breast with wantin' her,
An' my eyes are always red.

I stay out of doors till I'm almost froze,
'Cause every corner and room
Seems empty enough to frighten a boy
And filled to the doors with gloom.

I hate them to call me in to my meals,
Sometimes I think I can't bear

To swallow a mouthful of anything,
And her not sittin' up there

A pourin the tea an' passin' the things
An' laughin' to see me take

Two big lumps of sugar instead of one
An' more than my share of cake.

"I'm too big to be kissed," I used to say,
But somehow I don't feel right,
Crawlin' into bed as still as a mouse,
Nobody saying "good-night"

An' tuckin' the clothes up under my chin
An' pushing my hair back so—

Things a boy makes fun of before his chums,
But things that he likes, you know.

There's no one to go to when things go wrong,
She was always so safe and sure.
Why, not a trouble could tackle a boy
That she couldn't up and cure!

There are lots of women, it seems to me,
That wouldn't be missed so much-
Women whose boys are about all grown up
An' old maid aunties and such.

I can't make it out for the life of me
Why she should have to go,

An' her boy left here in this old gray house,
A-needin' and wantin' her so.

I tell you, the very lonesomest thing
In this great big world today
Is a boy of ten whose heart is broke

'Cause his mother is gone away.

Toronto Globe.

WHO THEN IS FREE?

Who then is free? The wise man

Who can govern himself.

IF I WERE A VOICE.

If I were a Voice-a persuasive Voice-
That could travel the wide world through,
I would fly on the beams of the morning light
And speak to men with a gentle might,

And tell them to be true.

I'd fly, I'd fly o'er land and sea,
Wherever a human heart might be,

Telling a tale, or singing a song,

In praise of the Right-in blame of the Wrong.

If I were a Voice-a consoling Voice

I'd fly on the wings of air;

The home of Sorrow and Guilt I'd seek
And calm and truthful words I'd speak,
To save them from Despair.

I'd fly, I'd fly o'er the crowded town,
And drop, like the happy sunlight, down
Into the hearts of suffering men,
And teach them to rejoice again.

If I were a Voice-a controlling Voice-
I'd travel with the wind;

And, whenever I saw the nations torn
By warfare, jealousy or scorn,

Or hatred of their kind,

Horace.

I'd fly, I'd fly, on the thunder crash,
And into their blinded bosoms flash;
And, all their evil thoughts subdued,
I'd teach them a Christian Brotherhood.

If I were a Voice-an immortal Voice—
I'd speak in the people's ear;
And, whenever they shouted "Liberty,"
Without deserving to be free,

I'd make their error clear.

I'd fly, I'd fly, on the wings of day,
Rebuking wrong on my world-wide way,
And, making all the earth rejoice-
If I were a Voice-an immortal Voice.

If I were a Voice-a pervading Voice-
I'd seek the kings of earth;

I'd find them alone on their beds at night,

And whisper words that should guide them right,

Lessons of priceless worth.

I'd fly more swift than the swiftest bird,
And tell them things they never heard-
Truths which the ages for aye repeat,
Unknown to the statesmen at their feet.

Charles Mackay.

A LOOK AT LIFE.

Born of a fine old Pennsylvania family, educated at the State University, he entered business with his father in the coal and coke industry. The Trust desired his business, and after a bitter fight that killed his father he was forced to sell at a disadvantage. His life and conscience seared by the heartless strife

of competition, he left his sorrowing mother at home, set out for the West, and stopped on the auriferous deserts of Nevada.

Here were men with eyes so trained to see such magnificent distances, that the mental vision unconsciously encompassed a broad outlook on life, the insignificance of self and selfishness, and the joy and value of an unenvying brotherhood. He felt this in the very air, but, being soured and suspicious of mankind, he did not heed.

Roulette and faro, run openly, were a fascination. He risked a dollar and won, and the passion was on him. The fevered, nervous strain and sleepless hours required stimulants, hence drink, debauches and the gamut of fast living were a natural consequence.

Finally, his earlier training asserted itself, and his true nature revolting at the depths to which he had fallen, he packed a burro and started for the hills. Crossing a hot sand-blown desert, his parched throat burned with desire for its usual strong drink, and later became caked hard and dry for the want of moisture, but he pushed on toward a known spring, and willed that he would not turn back toward the accursed source of his debasement. Maddening thirst robbed him of his reason and he wandered a maniac, tearing his hair and biting his arms to suck moisture from his blood.

Instinctively following the burro, he reached the spring, a pool worn in basalt, which held but a gallon, supplied by a tantalizing drip, drip, drip, from a crevice above. The burro, having drained the pool, the man laid on his back to catch each drop as it fell lingering a night and day between death and unconsciousness and waking to curse and bless each life-giving drop, he slowly regained his reason and strength.

As night stole over the desert and the stars in their brilliancy seemed to bend down to fraternize with man, he knelt in fervent gratitude to God. Searching the vastness of the universe,