other with their policies, parties, and purposes, like the two elemental centrifugal and centripetal forces of the planetary system, each admiring what the other feared, and despising what the other admired.

But between these two, admitting both to his cabinet, rising above party more than any other statesman in our history, leaning on and learning from each, yet with his master-hand upon both; with his marvelous balance of intellectual qualities giving him almost an unerring judgment, stood Washington, mediating, restraining excesses, preserving the equilibrium, until out of this chaotic condition came a planet-like system of states, each revolving in its own orbit, each contributing to the lustre of the whole, and all revolving around a centre of unity—the Federal Sun—" forever singing as they shine, the hand that made us is divine.”. Modern Æneas that he was, he safely steered the ship of state in whose hold lay a nation's destiny, between the Scylla of excessive centralization on the one hand and the Charybdis of state individualism on the other.

And now, thou Father of our country, great soldier, greater statesman, greatest American citizen; first to rise above the colonial spirit and reach the conception of a broad nationality, at this, the beginning of a new century, we bring thee, not thirteen states—thy thirteen childrenjealous, disaffected, impoverished—but a nation of states that only oceans can bound, mutually helpful, united, one and inseparable forever, but still thy children ; a family so multiplied and fruitful it promises to replenish and subdue the earth ; we bring thee representatives of every kindred and clime and tongue who have learned to call thee “Father”; we bring to thee the islands of the sea, on whose altars the victims of tyranny shall bleed no inore, and we trust that from thy higher height than that which overlooks the broad Potomac we may receive thy Fatherly benediction :. “Well done, good and faithful; thou shalt be made ruler over many."

Jerry, The Bobbin-Boy.

ADAPTED. It was almost morning. Already the black curtain, rent here and there by a furious wind, was slowly lifting toward the east; and the dull gray dawn appearing formed a sombre background, upon which the leafless trees that fringed the far-away hills were painted in waving silhouette,

The swinging signboards in front of small taverns creaked and groaned dismally; the tall chimney of the Watterson mill rocked threateningly. .

Ever since the sun had gone down the wild storm had continued, and even now the rain, driven by the mighty wind, fell in long, slanting lances upon the town and the frothing river that, filled with great masses of broken ice and débris from all the up-country, roared and plunged between its banks and shook with giant hands the foundation of the mills beneath which it ran.

At the head of the dam, where the channel was the narrowest, and directly opposite the Watterson mills, was an ice jam.

Piled block upon block until it towered high in the air, pressing with terrific force against the mills upon the one hand and the natural wall of rock upon the other, the broken ice had formed a great white barricade, growing each moment, which checked the mad rush of the water and sent it swirling backward in eddying waves, which beat furiously upon the mills and threatened each instant to engulf them.

Along the higher shore the townspeople gathered, powerless to aid, but simply awaiting the catastrophe; and among them, pale and haggard, was the proprietor himself.

As he passed to and fro, intent upon the scene before him, hoping that the jam might even yet give away in time to save his buildings, many a watcher turned aside with pitying word and look, for Mr. Watterson was a man beloved by all his employees.

Suddenly there was a movement in the crowd —a hastening toward the common centre—and, with eager faces, both men and women gathered about a new-comer who was speaking earnestly.

“Yes. If that timber could be cut, it would break the jam. It lies just so that it holds "

“What timber? Where? Quick, tell me; can the jam be broken ?”

“Yes, sir," returned the other, respectfully, “it can, but it's dangerous work. I have just been below, and from there I saw that a great log which has lodged at the very crown of the dam is all that holds the ice. If that could be cut, the jam would be broken."

“But how can it be reached ?” queried Mr. Watterson, anxiously. “Can any one get at it to cut it?"

“Yes, sir,” replied the man ; "in one way.” “And that is " “Over the ice itself.”

A shudder ran through the listeners, and even the proprietor's face grew more pale. Who would venture upon such a bridge on such an errand ?

With common impulse, the crowd, led by the workman who first discovered the log, turned hurriedly away from the river's brink, and gained a position lower down the stream, from which the dam could be plainly seen.

The report was true. The jam was held in place by a single timber—a great square stick, doubtless torn by the angry waters from some bridge far up the country. If that could be cut, the blockade would be broken, the ice would no longer clog the stream, and the mills would be saved.

For a moment silence fell upon all; then, suddenly, Mr. Watterson's voice, hoarse and thin, rang out above the noise of the storm and the war of the waters :

“ A thousand dollars to the man who will cut that timber!"

The women in the little group looked at each other and shuddered ; the men fixed their eyes upon the dam ; but no one replied. The roar of the angry stream increased and the waters deepened beneath the mill walls. “Two thousand dollars !”

The proprietor's voice was hoarser than before. The women closed their lips firmly and shook their heads. The men moved a little uneasily, and one drew his hand across his mouth as if he would have spoken; but still no one replied, and the white foam from the imprisoned river was tossed by the wind against the lower windows of the mills, while the corners of the buildings were already beginning to crumble and waste away before the grinding ice.

“ Three thousand !” “I will go!" The two voices sounded so closely together