beat isn't looking. Yes, poor fellow, he's
lame; had his leg broken. He got that trying to keep me out of the way
of a coal wagon two years ago, when I slipped on the icy street.

"Here's your permit, mister. I won't go out there unless 'Shep' goes
with me. He can't? Well, good-bye, good-bye, sir. Come on, 'Shep.' You
can't stay there all day. Just as much obliged," and the two passed out
into the cold again.

Who Knows

The Lily lifts to mine her nunlike face,
But my wild heart is beating for the Rose;
How can I pause to behold the Lily's grace?
Shall I repent me by and by? Who knows?

--_Louise Chandler Moulton_.

The Negro

BY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.

(Adapted from the speech delivered at the opening of the Atlanta
Exposition.)

One-third of the population of the South is of the negro race. No
enterprise seeking the material, civil, or moral welfare of this section
can disregard this element of our population and reach the highest
success. I but convey to you, Mr. President and directors, the sentiment
of the masses of my race when I say that in no way have the value
and manhood of the American negro been more fittingly and generously
recognized than by the managers of this magnificent Exposition at every
stage of its progress. It is a recognition that will do more to cement
the friendship of the two races than any occurrence since the dawn of
our freedom.

Not only this, but the opportunity here afforded will awaken among us
a new era of industrial progress. Ignorant and inexperienced, it is
not strange that in the first years of our new life we began at the top
instead of at the bottom; that a seat in Congress or a State legislature
was more sought than real estate or industrial skill; that the political
convention or stump speaking had more attractions than starting a dairy
farm or truck garden.

A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel.
From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal, "Water,
water; we die of thirst!" The answer from the friendly vessel at once
came back, "Cast down your bucket where you are." A second time the
signal, "Water, water; send us water!" ran up from the distressed
vessel, and was answered, "Cast down your bucket where you are." And a
third and fourth signal for water was answered, "Cast down your bucket
where you are." The captain of the distressed vessel at last, heeding
the in