comes to me I just will knock him down!
Look sharp! here's some one coming! Oh, dear! what shall I do?
I would jump into the _Family Coach_ if the _door_ would but undo.
Oh, if I could but get in safe!' cried out poor _Mr. Brown_;
'I'm sure I always will again stay in my little town.
Here, take this poker, do, you chap, and I will stand behind,
And if the fellow gives you one, be brave, and never mind.
If I were just as young as you I should enjoy it quite.
Oh, dear! oh, dear! I do declare the fellow is in sight!'
'All right! all right!' a voice cried out; 'I am your own _coachman_,
And I, to get you safe to town, have hit upon a plan.
This drift is only fifty yards, and then the road is clear,
This _horse_ can take the ladies through to me it does appear;
But such a man as _Mr. Brown_ I'm sure he will not mind,
But walk right bravely through the snow unless he's left behind.'
'Not so, indeed,' he did reply; 'if on a _horse_ you get,
I shall as well, or else I know my two feet I shall wet.'
And so he did; although they laughed and called him _Johnny Brown_,
He safe was carried through the snow on the _horse_ called
'little Clown.'
The walk was done in safety, but when they passed the wood
Old _Mr. Brown_ he clasped his wife as tight as e'er he could.
And when they reached the sister's door he said to Mrs. Fife,
'By _Family Coach_ I ne'er again will travel with my wife.'

NOT AFRAID.

As at the time of the signing of the 'Declaration of Independence' the
issue of the revolutionary struggle was still doubtful, all those who
signed it risked both their lives and property. One of the signers,
named Charles Carroll, was very wealthy, and after he had affixed his
name, one of the others said: 'There go many millions.'

'Oh, no,' rejoined another, 'for there are many men of the same name,
and they will not know whom to take.'

'Not so,' said Charles Carroll, and added to his signature the words,
'of Carrolton.' This is the only name to which the residence is
attached.

VERY CANDID CRITICISM!

A would-be poet and flatterer wrote two sonnets in honour of one of his
patrons, and submitted their merits to his judgment, desiring him to
retain the best. After having read one of them the patron said, 'The
other is the best.'

'How!' exclaimed the poet in surprise; 'you have not read it; how can
you tell?'

'Because, indeed,' answered the other, 'it cannot b