ncealed; so does old age rob us of our
enjoyments, only to enlarge the prospect of eternity before us." Seneca
says that there is nothing more disgraceful than that an old man should
have nothing to produce as a proof that he has lived long except his
years. I love Longfellow's picture of

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH,

the mighty man. It has been set to one of the best musical
accompaniments that I have ever heard. When the verses below are
reached, the key is changed to one where the sadness intensifies, until
the honest old heart hears the "mother's voice singing in Paradise:"

He goes on Sunday to the church;
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise;
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.

I wish, instead of merely printing these simple words, I could breathe
them out to you, as some great tenor or baritone like Sims Reeves or
Santley sings them--there is such a world of human life and feeling
hidden there, ready to spring forth with the touch of sympathetic
sounds!

NOTHING BECOMES A YOUNG MAN SO MUCH

as a respectful demeanor toward a reverend man. Nothing lowers a man so
much as flippant speech concerning his elders. The young man with the
most dignity has the most deference for age. He takes sincere delight in
bowing before ripe years and wisdom. Alas! how sad that ever age should
come to one who is not fitted for its honors!

I have known a son to thwart every dream of his father. I have seen the
parent, struggling with adversity, yet succeed in opening before the
child a career of honor and comfort; and I have seen the son clutch
those opportunities as a highwayman seizes upon the wayfarer, and
throttle them in the dust and ashes of failure and disgrace. How sad the
picture!

A BRIGHTER VIEW.

I have seen a parent toil for years, carrying to his cottage the wages
which should support his son in seven long years of careful education. I
have watched that son in his ceaseless studies and found he thought only
of gladdening his father's heart. I have seen him graduate second in a
class of one hundred and fifteen, and then after two years of additional
study, first