he crown, and quickly placed it
On his own unwitting head;
But the king and all his princes,
In the deed a meaning read.

Then spake Balaam, the magician,
"Not because the child is young,
Hath he done this thing unknowing;--
He hath mocked thee, he hath flung

"In thy face thy kindly dealings;
Such hath ever been the way
Of his people; a usurper--
Let his blood be spilled this day."

But the winsome baby-fingers
Toying with the kingly beard,
Won the edict: "Call the judges;
Let their counselings be heard."

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So the judges and the wise men
Came with Jethro, Midian's priest,
Who, with wish to save young Moses,
Thus his majesty addressed:

"If it to the king be pleasing,
Fetch two plates, and we will hold
Them before the babe, a-brimming,
One with fire, and one with gold.

"If the child shall grasp the golden,
He hath done this knowingly;
He will trample on thy statutes;
For thine honor he must die.

"But if he shall grasp the other,
Know, O King, he knoweth nought
Of a royal crown or scepter,--
And his life with fire is bought."

These wise words, the king approving,
Plate of fire and plate of gold,
Courtiers brought, and screams of anguish,
Soon the childish choosing told.

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For he, baby-like, had thrust it
In his mouth; and though he flung
Quick the coal, he ever after
Spake with slow and stammering tongue.

[Footnote: Exodus IV:10]

* * * * *

Charming 'tis to see
Children who agree;
Chaste, and choice, and cheery,
Chiming in so merry,
Childlike, ever;
Churlish, never.
Championing the good;
Challenging the rude;
Chary as the dove;
Chief in Jesus' love.

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_THE CHILDREN'S RAILROAD._

Old Time has built a Railroad,
On which you children speed
To a land of light and plenty,
Or a land of darksome need;
And soon you'll come to a meadow,
Where two tracks mark the way,
But they'll run close up alongside
For many and many a day.

And one is strewn with roses,
While one looks bleak and bare,
With now and then a berry-bush,
And a violet here and there;--

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On one you'll find companions
Who but for pleasure seek,
While friends along the other,
Will words of wisdom speak.

Be careful in your choosing,
For if you take the _Right_,
You will travel in the