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H, the old, old clock, of the household stock,

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Was the brightest thing and neatest:

The hands, though old, had a touch of gold,

And its chime rang still the sweetest.

'Twas a monitor, too, though its words were few: Yet they lived, though nations altered;

And its voice, still strong, warned old and young, When the voice of friendship faltered.

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"Tick, tick," it said, "quick, quick to bed; For ten I've given warning;

Up, up, and go, or else, you know,

You'll never rise soon in the morning."

A friendly voice was that old, old clock,
As it stood in the corner smiling,
And blessed the time with a merry chime,
The wintry hours beguiling;

But a cross old voice was that tiresome clock,
As it called at daybreak boldly,

When the dawn looked gray o'er the misty way,
And the air blew coldly;

"Tick, tick," it said,

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quick out of bed;

For five I've given warning;

You'll never have health, you'll never get wealth,
Unless you're up soon in the morning."

WHAT IS A GENTLEMAN?

A GENTLEMAN is just a gentle-man; no more, no less; a

diamond polished, that was first a diamond in the rough. A gentleman is gentle. A gentleman is modest. A gentleman is courteous. A gentleman is generous. A gentleman is slow to take offence, as being one that never gives it. A gentleman is slow to surmise evil, as being one that never thinks it. A gentleman goes armed only in conscious ness of right. A gentleman subjects his appetites. A gentleman refines his taste. A gentleman subdues his feelings. A gentleman deems every other better than himself.

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Sir Philip Sidney was never so much a gentleman — mirror though he was of England's knighthood as when, upon the field of Zutphen, as he lay in his own blood, he waived the draught of cold spring-water, that was brought to quench his mortal thirst, in favor of a dying soldier. St. Paul described a gentleman, when he exhorted the Philippian Christians; "Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of od report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any se, think on these things."

THE RAINBOW.

[To be spoken by seven little girls.]

All.

TWO syllables we represent. -
The first by kings is done.

The second is a blessing meant

For maidens, every one.

Violet.

My namesakes are the sweetest flowers that blow,
And in the purple amethyst I glow;

But my most sweet, most subtile spirit lies
In the soft, timid glance of violet eyes.

Indigo.

Violet may boast her fine and delicate hues,
I, more than all my fellows, give life's blues,
You will not dare, in irony, to say no,
When I own myself your indignant indigo.

Blue.

I, fairest of the colors seven,

Dwell in the pure, etherial heaven.
I tint the streams, in lakes I lie,
Reflected from the azure sky.

Green.

My sister loves the sunlit sky,
But nestling on the earth I lie;
My grassy mantle, daisy bound,
Is flung upon the dewy ground.

Yellow.

I paint the richest of your autumn bowers,
I streak the tulip's and the dahlia's flowers;
And like imprisoned sunlight do I play,
In the clear topaz's refulgent ray.

Orange.

Coming from the sunny south,
Try me, maidens, if you dare!
I will melt within your mouth,
Leaving fragrant sweetness there.

Red.

is mine!

Though yellow doth reign, where wealth doth shine,
The kingdom of beauty is mine,
Red is the color the flowers love;
I lurk in the sunset clouds above.

Our reign is over, ·

All.

our reflections faded;
But don't make light, dear friends, of our vanity.
We're naturally arch, but now look sunny;

The end of the rainbow, but where's the money.

KATE HASTY AND LIZZIE QUIET.

KATE (holding a broken string). That's just my luck!

If I look at a string, it will break. But with you, Lizzie, it is different; everything slips smoothly through your hands, but only let me touch a thing, and it is crack! smash! break! Mother says I make more trouble about the house than all ten of the children besides; but I can't help it. Lizzie. But did you ever try to help it, Kate.

Kate. Try! What's the use of trying? I tell you I'm one of the unlucky, Lizzie. Only yesterday, as I sat down to dinner, a crochet hook, that I had in my pocket, must needs stick itself into sister Susan's dress. I gave a sudden jerk to get it out, and rip! went her sleeve, and smash! went my plate, and poor I was ordered away from the table, and lost my dinner.

Lizzie. Losing your dinner is nothing to what you will lose, Kate, if you drive through the world in this style. I see that your new garden-rake has lost five teeth; how happened that?

Kate. Why, they were all extracted at "one sitting," and that without taking the fluid, either. You see I was raking, and came across a snag; I gave a twitch, and out came the teeth.

Lizzie. And your beautiful new book, presented to you by your uncle Charles, -I notice that some of the leaves are

torn.

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Kate. Well, that's my luck again. I found some leaves whole at the top, and being in a great hurry to read what was on the other side, I gave my knife a sudden pull, and, being dull, it tore the leaves instead of cutting them.

Lizzie. Well, really, Kate, it appears to me that whatever falls in your way is unlucky. You must have a great deal of trouble; but I think most of it is the result of your own carelessness. I will give you two short words, which, if always kept in mind and obeyed, will make you a lucky girl.

Kate. What are they? If two words will make me lucky, I ought to have known them before.

Lizzie. It is not too late to know them now. They are simply these, "Keep cool."

Kate. Keep cool! I guess if you had seen me the other day, when the ice broke and let me into the water, you would have thought I was cool enough not to need your counsel. I was so cool that I came near freezing.

Lizzie. You are disposed to be witty, Kate; but let me say, that unless you exercise more care, you will have trouble all the days of your life.

Kate. Well, well, Lizzie; I will consider what you have said another time; but just now I am in a great hurry. Good by!

Lizzie. Good by, Kate. "Keep cool!"

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