choose between the
ballot withheld and the ballot cast by ignorance and vice. Blood and
treasure flowed like water in the war. Shall treasure and toil be
wanting for the work of peace--preparing the ignorant voter to cast
the free ballot intelligently and honestly?

* * * * *

*A BOOM IN THE PRICE OF A SLAVE.*

One of our best educated and most efficient colored ministers in
the South furnishes us the following sketch of his experience on
the auction block. He not only was sold "early and often," but
always at advancing prices. We do not wonder at this, for he has
shown himself to be so valuable as a _man_, that we are sure the
boy must have promised to be worth a great deal as a slave.

I was sold in 1862 at the age of ten years, for $400, by the widow B.
of Virginia. As a rule, after the first sale, I was upon the auction
block every day for three months. How often I was sold during those
three months I cannot tell, but on Davis' auction block in his
sale-room I was sold five times in one day. The last sale at the end
of the three months was made in Tennessee, to the Rev. H.F.S., a
Baptist minister, who paid $3,500 for his property. The Rev. Mr. S.
was a "Yankee" from Philadelphia, Pa., and came South at the
breaking out of the war.

* * * * *

*EXTRACTS FROM EXAMINATION PAPERS.*

Ques. Give a rule for the use of the period?

Ans. Every period must begin with a capital.

Ans. A period is a dot written to the end of a sentence and is used
to low the voice.

Ans. A period is used for the topage of a sentence and to make our
reading sound better than if we had no period.

Ques. What is the chief occupation in the South Atlantic States?

Ans. The ocoopations cold in the north part, but in the lower part
rain seldom fails.

FROM A SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

The lesson was on The Ten Virgins, and the next Sunday the review
question was asked, "What was the lesson about last Sunday?" and a
bright boy gave the prompt answer, "About ten gals that went to a
weddin."

COMPOSITION LETTERS FROM YOUNG PUPILS.

My dear teacher, God be with you witch I know he will, as the Song
says God can see me every day when I work and when I play. again God
is always near me when I pray. I shall nor for get Miss H. her name
shall never die out Christ have mercy upon her If God calls her I
will spect to meet her in heven at the last trumpet shall