no complaints were made, although they were the subject of
many a conversation.

Larry and Jack for a long time had their eyes and minds on these same
bells, and finally they decided to effectually stop the ringing by
cutting the ropes off close to the clappers. Accordingly one night they
effected an entrance to the church steeple, but were at a loss how to
reach the bells without climbing the ropes, the only means of
communication. This they finally decided to do, but first they piled a
lot of pew-cushions on the floor to break any fall that might take
place. Then Larry, throwing off his jacket, grasped one of the ropes and
very slowly worked his way up to the bells.

It was either stupidity or forgetfulness on Larry's part, but when he
reached the bells he whipped out his knife and cut the rope close to the
bell over his head. Consequently down came poor Larry, striking the
cushions with a sounding thump. It knocked the breath out of him, and
Jack thought surely the fall had killed him. Larry, however, quickly put
him at ease by crying out: "Faith, Jack, oi'm all right. If it wasn't in
a church oi am, oi'd swear. Begorra either the earth struck me, or oi
struck the earth, but heavens knows we have a very strong attachment for
each other."

"Larry, you're stupid, me boy; yer head is as thick as sour cream. Oi'll
show yez how to manage a little affair loike that," and Jack commenced
climbing the other rope. "Now, Larry," he cried, when he reached the
top, "watch me show yez how to do it," and, unlike Larry, he cut the
rope from under his feet, and hung there dangling without means of
reaching the floor.

Afraid to drop, his brother was forced to seek assistance from the town,
and for a long while the two brothers were the laugh of the county.

A SOLDIER'S ANSWER.

Emperor Napoleon, after one of his great battles, gathered the remnant
of his forces around him, and proceeded to compliment them in his
characteristic manner, so endearing to the hearts of his soldiers.
Finally Company D, of the Guards, who had been in the thick of the
fight, were ordered to present themselves, and to the astonishment of
the Emperor a single soldier appeared. He was bound up in bandages, and
could barely walk.

"Where is the rest of your company?" asked the Emperor.

A tear welled in the old soldier's eye as he answered, "Your Majesty,
they lie on the field dead," and then wofully added, "They fought better
than I."