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Show j BOYS AND GIRLS, j GOOD CHEER. Have you had a kindness' shown? Pass it on. 'Twas not given for you alone Pass it on. Let it travel down the years, Let it wipe another's tears. Till in heaven the deed appears Pass it on. WHEN" MY MOTHER TUCKED ME IN. Ah, t-he quaint and curious carving ! On the po.ns of that old bed! j There were long beaked, queer old giffins I Wearing crowns upon their head, And they fiercely looked down on me With a cold, sardonic grin; I was not afraid of griffins When mv mother tucked me in. "What cared I for dismal shadows, Shifting up and down the Moor, Or the bleak and grewsomc wind gusts Beating 'gainst the close shut door, Or the rattling of the windows. All the outside noise and din: I was safe and warm and happy When my mother tucked me in. Sweet and soft her gentle fingers, As they touched my sunburnt face; Sweet to me the wafted odor That enwrapped her dainty lace; Then a pat or two at parting. And a goodnig.it kiss between; All my troubles were forgotten When my mother tucked me in. Now the stricken years have borne me Far away from love and home; Ah! no mother leans above me In the nights that go and come. But it gives me peace and comfort, . When my heart is sore within. Just to lie right still, and. dreaming. Think my mother tucked me in. .: Oh. the gentle, gentle breathinff "v To her dear heart's softer beat,. And the quiet, quiet moving ' : . ' Of her soft shod willing feet! . And Time, one boon I ask thee. Whatsoe'er may be my sin. When I'm dying, let me see her, i As she used to tuck me in. ' -. Betty Garland, in the Watchman. ,; THE IRISH GUIDE.- - TheStory of the Conversion of Mr. ' ;' . ' ' S. C. Hall. ; v ' ' i cision Is that of an Irish lad who was instrumental in the conversion of Mr. S. C.Hall, the popular author, to teetotal-ism. teetotal-ism. Whilst on an excursion in the country at Wicklow Mr. Hall visited the far-famed Glendalough, or seven churches. On his entrance to the glen he was met by a lad 16 or 17 years of age, who offered to act as his guide. The offer was accepted, and he proved to be an exceedingly intelligent companion. com-panion. While rambling about, Mr. Hall produced a flask of whisky and offered his companion, a "dram," but the boy refused it and said he was a teetotaler,. .Mr. Hill appeared incredulous,. incredu-lous,. and, in order to test has sincer- j ity, he offered hint! money to tempt him to violate- his pHdge. Five shillings were offered,. but 'without effect.- The unoe was increased by degrees to a sovereign, the boy's frame the : while trembling and hii eyes flashing with indignation.-. At length. he stood forward for-ward in an attitude of manly firmness, and with much, ! dignity exclaimed: "Sir, you know not w hat mischief you are attempting tojdo. Young as I am, I have been a drunkard. Many is the good half-crown 1 have earned as a guide- in this placei'and then spent it on whisky. The gentlemen used to give me a draw tut of (their bottles, just as you have offered one to me now. and I was then but too willing to accept it After getting the! taste of it I would go to the public house and there spend on drink all I had earned during the day. But. sir, this was not the worst of it.. I am the 'only support of my mother, and whili I was drinking she I w'as left to starve. Think of her mis-i mis-i cry and my seifisttness. But the times are changed with its: I have been some time a teetotaler I took the pledge from Father Matthew, and. with the help of God, I'll keep it while I live. When you engaged me today I. wanted you to allow mei time to put on my Sunday clothes; for, although I am not ill-dressed now, I have much better clothes, for Sundays and holidays, none of which was I in . the possession of while I was in the habit of going to the public house; and, besides this, my mother . has every comfort she can de sire. All this happiness you are endeavoring en-deavoring to destroy. You tempt , me to break my pledge, to become false to , i - i my vow, made before God and man. Oh, sir, you do not know what you aro doing. I would not break my pledge for all you are worth in the world!" The boy's earnestness and eloquence made a d.eep impression on Mr. Hall, who saw that he was in the presence of a hero. After a moment's reflection his determination was fixed: he decided on becoming a teetotaler, and. in order to prove to his guide his sincerity, he flung his flask of whisky over his head into the lake, in whose deep besom it now lies buried. The joy and excitement of the boy was intense. He danced about in a wild exuberance of delight. It was a scene not soon to be forgotten, by either of the actors in it. Mr. Hall often told this with pleasure as one cf the happiest happi-est events of his life. |