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Blooms from the happy heart's garden
Plucked in the spirit of love;
Blooms that are earthly reflections
Of flowers that blossom above.
Words can not tell what a measure
Of blessing such gifts will allow
To dwell in the lives of many,
So give them the flowers now!

Leigh M. Hodges.

THE WONDROUS CROSS.

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord! that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,

Spreads o'er His body on the tree; Then I am dead to all the globe,

And all the globe is dead to me.

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THE POPPY LAND EXPRESS.

The first train leaves at six P. M.
For the land where the poppy blows.
The mother dear is the engineer,

And the passenger laughs and crows.

The palace car is the mother's arms;
The whistle a low, sweet strain.
The passenger winks and nods and blinks
And goes to sleep on the train.

At eight P. M. the next train starts
For the poppy land afar.

The summons clear falls on the ear,
"All aboard for the sleeping car!"

But "What is the fare to poppy land?
I hope it is not too dear."
The fare is this a hug and a kiss,
And it's paid to the engineer.

So I ask of Him, who children took
On His knee in kindness great:

"Take charge, I pray, of the trains each day
That leave at six and eight.

"Keep watch of the passengers," thus I pray, "For to me they are very dear;

And special ward, O gracious Lord,

O'er the gentle engineer."

St. Louis Star-Sayings.

BREAST FORWARD.

One who never turned his back, but marched breast forward,
Never doubted clouds would break,

Never dreamed though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better,

Sleep to wake.

Robert Browning.

THE FIRST STEAMBOAT PASSAGE MONEY EVER PAID.

Says the narrator of this incident:

"I chanced to be in Albany when Fulton arrived with his unheard of craft, the Claremont, which everybody was so anxious to see. Being ready to leave, and hearing the strange looking boat was about to return to New York, I went on board, and inquiring for Mr. Fulton was directed to the cabin, where I found a plain looking, but gentlemanly appearing man, wholly alone.

"Mr. Fulton, I presume?'

"Yes sir.'

"Do you return to New York with this boat?'

"We shall try to get back, sir.'

"Can I have passage down?'

"You can take your chance with us, sir.'

"How much is the passage money?'

"After a moment's hesitation, he named the sum of six dollars, and I laid the coins in his hand.

"With his eyes fixed upon the money, he remained so long motionless that I concluded there was a miscount, and asked: "Is that right, sir?'

"The question roused him; he looked up, tears brimming his eyes and his voice faltering as he said:

"Excuse me, sir, but memory was busy, and this is the first pecuniary reward I have ever received for all my exertions in

adapting steam to navigation; I would order a bottle of wine to commemmorate the event, but really, sir, I am too poor.'

"The voyage to New York was successful and terminated without accident or delay.

"Four years later, when the Claremont, greatly improved and renamed the North River, and two sister boats, the Car of Neptune and the Paragon, were regularly plying between New York and Albany, I again took passage.

"The cabin was below and well filled with passengers. As I paced to and fro I observed a man watching me closely, and thought he might be Fulton, and as I passed him our eyes met, when he sprang to his feet eagerly extending his hand and exclaiming:

"I knew it must be you. I have never forgotten your features. Come, I can now afford that bottle of wine.'

"As we discussed the nice lunch he ordered spread for us, Mr. Fulton ran rapidly and vividly over his experiences of the past few years. He spoke of the world's coldness and sneers, of the hopes, fears, disappointments and difficulties which had followed him through his whole career of discovery up to his final crowning triumph of success.

"I have again and again recalled our first meeting at Albany and the vivid emotions caused by your paying me that first passage money. That, sir, seemed then, and still seems, the turning point in my destiny,-the dividing line between light and darkness-the first actual recognition of my usefulness from my fellow-men. God bless you, sir! That act of yours gave me the courage I needed.””

THE BOYS.

Has there any old fellow got mixed with the boys?
If there has, take him out, without making a noise.
Hang the almanac's cheat and the catalogue's spite!
Old Time is a liar! We're twenty tonight.

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