Imprisonment and Reformation.

Dear Sir,—Herewith I forward a copy of the' " London Times" for a report on '♦-Imprisonment and Reformation," marked. You • might think it well to make some extracts. It expresses the convictions I have held and advocated for niaoy years.— Yours truly, Samuel Edger. ■ , -Ponsonby, November 23,1881. ' .._!.„.

1 The following extracts are taken from the report of.the Howard Association, s,Bishops gate'Without:— ','' ■'■', ••,'■ /j_ -''Tn- noticing the last aunual report issued-by the Howard' Association ''The ' Times 'suggested that it should endeavour to'solve the difficult problem of .'tlie secret not yet discovered, at any rate in these* islands, of converting prison into an apprenticeship to' an honest life of liberty.:' The Howard Association has done much to-collect and diffuse experience, helping to throw light on this question. But'a feW observations may he again offered on thispoint. ' ■, _"It is oho of the most frequent remarks by convicts on entering prison, ' I have never yet worked hard for my living, and nothing shall mako me do so.' The discipline of convict prisons professes to enforce very hard labour on such criminals; and to some extent this is done. Some of tho excavations, for example, at Chatham or Portsmouth constitute as hard toil as any man can accomplish. But, on the other hand, in a large proportion of convict work,' even, for example, audi as thtit in the quarries of Portland.the convict hardly gets through as much in a week, notwith-. standing his diet of. animal food and cocoa, as many a poor free labourer outside does in" a day or two npon food more scanty. Portland prison labour can show beautiful terraces, fine walls, officers' quarters, gardens, ornamental structures, and some imposing fortification and harbour work. But in proportion to the many years of labour, the many thousands of prisoners successively employed, and the millions of national money expended, tho results are very small. The same remark applies to the other convict prisons. Thus, at Dart moor," 2,000 acres are 'farmed' in a certain sense. But the results, when compared with 2.000 acres of free farm land, are curiously inadequate. The convicts iv these prisons appear to accomplish far more than they really perform. But year after year they cost the nation from £30 _ to £40 each net in hard cash, notwithstanding the 'profits' alleged. ■ They are not, as a class,, trained to voluntary habits of in dustry, or incited thereto, adequately, by hope! Hence a large proportion of them leave the prisons unreformed, and return thither speedily nndeteired. Thus the present system is a very indifferent 'ap prenticeship,' as tested by results. , "Therefore, the Government might with great advantage, consider the practi cability of adopting the principle of indeter minate sentences, or sentences until refor mation, and also-of extending the kindred principle of task labour, or requirements of so much money to he earned, instead of merely a fixed time spent in durance. "If, also, the labour and earnings of con victs were placed under some collateral check'and control by persons independent of the actual directors and disciplinary staff, and if there was secured a more quantitative proportion between the prisoners' exerticms and their ultimate interests, much greater pecuniary and moral gain woidd result, and the prisoners would be far better trained for liberty and honesty. It is true that the present .. mark' system professes to operate in this direction. It is so far valuable as a partial recognition of the principle here con tended for. But its operation hitherto has been, very unduly limited. The most vicious and cunning of ' eaol birds' often get the, largest number of 'good| marks, and the most dangerous can intimidate the warders to the same end. For the worst aud niOst Inveterate "criminals are of ten the best behaved in prison. . They are specially obsequious to the officers, specially forward to partake "of the Sacrament, and to ask for religious books. But the hard dry test of so much money earned individually, so mnch piece work accomplished individually, and so much manifest self-control as a pre paration for freedom, this has,.as yet, only to a very small and inadequate extent been applied in the convict or local prisons. No' man in the former can earn more than £3 as a maximum. All the years of labour after I this is earned go for nothing, And the £2 or £3 is earned, almost as a matter of course, by the general average of fairly orderly prisoners. But even this bears hardly' any definite proportion to eaoh prisoner's individual worth as a worker. ■ ".There is .not only needed a more mani fest connexion between each - prisoner's individnallabours and his ultimate personal advantage, as a stimulus; to hope, .to exer tioo, and to reform, but also a more effec tual regard to. reform, and to the needful means to secure it.'. Otherwise the prison cannot become an ' apprenticeship fo honest labour.' --; :,, ■,■■->• "Both'in convict prisons and in local gaols, hut especially in the latter, there are thousands of offenders who return again and again to prison as 'revolvers,' Many of them have been scores of times in confine ment.: , This is a scandal to any legator ad ministrative system., But an important remedy may be looked for in the principle of indeterminate sentences for all recommitted criminals and habitual misdemeanants. In stead of sentencing them to repeated defi nite terms, they should simply be sentenced to be reformed, or to be kept well in tether uotil manifestly prepared to go alone with safety to the community and to themselves. A slight recognition of this principle is al ready involved in the revocable nature of 'tickets of leave.' And it is more distinctly adopted in one American prison, at Elmira, New York, for young .offenders.. There the prisoners, all iinder 30' years of;age, are sentenced to five years' maximum ' deten : ' tion.' But if they giveprobf of reformat joh/ they may'l be liberated at] any, time'pre viously,' under suitable conditions; Mas-' sachusetts hits I lately' taken steps in: the' same"" direction.*'. Tins principle might be carried-: out on-a larger .scale in England, withrlittle, o if; any; 1 derangement! of the I existing! prison organization,' by the simple! legale,t permission <rto/.-pass, .on -::xepeatedi. offenders^ at., least:-(and .with, advantage, i also, even on some-first* offenders), sen tences of from'two to seven'years' liability to imprisonment.- §i\oh jipctical^utftqpties 'jnsAt.__t_'jA .TA-dmß-'/m SUP

as Mr Barwick Baker, Dr. Prosper Des pines, Mr F. Hill, Dr. E. C. Wines, Mr M. D. Hill, Sir B. Kettle, and others, have long advocated the principle. In some instances this need not involve any actual imprisonment at all, but merely a libera tion on recognizance, or during the pleasuro of the Court. But in other cases it would secure imprisonment until a certain amount of industrial skill and orderly habit became evident as proof of an 'apprenticeship for honest labour.' : r-b ii il V-" All prisoners' of the' habitual mis■ 'demeanant class should be liberated only on siich probationer duringgood behaviour. This failing, they should be promptly re mitted to prison for a further degree of training".' And,' if necessary, tho original itermiof liability should be extended, or re peated, if ho real evidence and proof of re forination'are forthcoming at its expiration. !In his own interests and those of society, 1 every criminalrafter a first imprisonment, should-be safely ; 'put through' into in dustrious ahd honest habits. And, like a damaged boat, he.- should be overhauled again and again, until ablo to float safely 'along''the social stream.1 For it is utter folly, morally^ and financially, to discharge; as at present, thousands of prisoners annu ally, with the certainty that they are not qualified to cease their depredations or to' Eve honestly.'" "If imprisonment is to accomplish a right apprenticeship, it must be definitely adapted to the end in view. But, practically, i neither hy seuteuces nor by the conditions of imprisonment do British law and the authorties at|present specially attempt that end. ; '•-,■"' ' ', ' I

" Tho means would involve some novelty to the public and some trouble and exercise Of judgment to the authorities. Therefore they are not acceptable, and therefore they may still need years of advocacyuntil they are carried into effect. _ . " A word may be added as to the aid of discharged prisoners. However careful their previous training in prison, thoso need some help to bridge over the extremely difficult period following their release, with loss of character and all that it involves. A more combined and complete system of discharged prisoners' aid societies is needed, partly by means of moro voluntary effort, and partly hy more facilities on tlie part of the Government.-I- Until very lately there was no regular prisoners' aid society in the large city of Liverpool, for instance. Pri soners there have been known, on release, to spend their little 'gratuity' money at onco in the nearest public-house, with jovial comrades ahd the accompaniment of a fiddle, Considerable progress, however, has been made, both by the authorities and benevolent persons, towards the extension of arrangements to help prisoners on dis charge. But a more complete system is needful to supplement imprisonment as a preparation for honest industry."

•"The State of Massachusetts has very recently extended, on a limited scale, its system of probation (previously adopted for juveniles) to adult misdemeanants. Mr Joseph Sturge, on hia return from a visit to Boston, United States (September, 1881), writes to the Howard Association that 'Mr Savage, the adult probation officer in Boston, watches the police cases; and if one comes under his notice where the prisoner ought, in his opinion, to be saved from prison, he gives bail for hi 3 reappear ance and gets the magistrate to let him off on these terms or postpone sentence. He keeps an eye on the man, and if he goes on well, does not call him up again. If, on the other hand, the man misconducts himself, he is brought up again and per haps fined. .Savage seems to be. a very wise,-and competent man, which is the chief point."' ".■'■&'■■: . f" In a letter, from Sir Walter Crof ton to the Howard Association, dated Sept. 22, 1881, he writes on the need of more co operation from the police and aid societies. Mr Howard Vincent has shown what can be done in thia line in London, but it wants pushing elsewhere.... When criminals note the two working as benevolent agencies, they (the well-intentioned) will look on the police as their friends. As yet there are no aid societies in Ireland. Difference of religion has something to do with this. What is wanted is to push aid societies, police co-operatiou with them, and sen tences of police supervision, as in this conntry, aud shortening the terms of deten tion. It is extraordinary how rare the sentences of police supervision are in Ire land.'? y.,..'' - .- '

A Hot Station.

The wife of an artillery officer lately sent to. Shyet Myo, in Burmah, describes tho climate by narrating an incident which sounds like a hint for Baron Munchausen or Jules Verne, hut is gravely told as a fact in natural history :^-" A fnend gave my husband someowl's eggs, which he left ma plate in the drawing-room,; the coolest place in the house, being iuthe centre and surrounded by other rooms.: The eggs were on a. table in the corner of the room, and were*forgotten. Some days alter, I •was sitting there working, and hearing an extraordinary noises, looked round to see iwhat it could be.. It came,from the plate in the corner, and I saw one of the eggs moving, and slightly chipped.; Presently out. came a little. owlet I The other eggs followed I suit,.till. they, were all-hatched. It does seem ludicrous, and impossible to anyone who has not lived in such a climate, where the,thermometer at the time I write is never, under ,100 deg., and generally 105 deg."—"Leisure: Hour."" ,-

What's in a Name?

In the Pimlico: district (according to the "SportingTimes'-') there is a waiter who rejoices- in the unsavoury patronymic of Buggs. , Nowi Buggs,'being .an excellent waiter, is-in, great request among the Pimlicians, but, their aristocratic tendencies will: not allow them to call him by that name, so i they-invent, one : for him. It so happened- one day.thata leader ot society there gave a- party. ■_ Naturally. she called the igreat Buggs to her- aid, and also she re chr istened.him DeVigneß. ■'■_ De Vignes was to stand at theiobt of, the stairs, while the, hostpss remained'at the: head to receive,the gues'tsir, Imagine, tholady's horror at hearing each • successive -guest, address, the,,august, Bangs—l meaaDe Vignes—in sucha way as follows, t-VAhv.Granville, you here 2. Good ,ventog/.iVlontmoWncy,' f r,',prlad:to,seeyou, yavasse'ur,"' vTake my r ,,cqat, ;. Hfo,u. W .isesl?pr)«ughsj&'c; . ~»_., o-r-.dT 1 nn\n&_ h.Yi.m.4 a'ssTcV/ lo conh'l od

AN ANIMAL ASSIZE.

One of the most remarkable matters con nected with the administration of the criminal law in former days, was the trial of the lower animals for offences, real or imaginary, ; against society. Such' trials •were grounded upon tho authority contained in Exodu .xxi.,2B—"lf anox core a man or a women, that they die, then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be oaten; hut the owner of the ox shall bo quit;" 'Many an animal has paid the penalty of, itsdwn violence, and.beon slain :to save human life; but tho usage of the middle ages favoured a more formal proce dure. - 'The trials of animals commenced about A.D. 1120, and extended over a period of more than 000 years, the last proceeding of tho kind of which we havo any record having taken place in 177^ This was the trial of a dog at Chichester. In the lay courts tho animals were com mitted to prison the same as in tho caso of a human offender. «An "aot of accusation " or'indictment was made out against thorn ; counsel wero awarded to them; and, if found guilty, thoy wero usually strangled, and hung by the two back legs to au oak tree or gibbet, according to the custom of the country. _ • Pigs and sows seem more particularly to havo enjoyed an unenviable notoriety amongst animal offenders. In the middle ages these boasts were less confined to styes than at present, and in. thoir half-savago condition they frequently appear to havo devoured tlio oftapring of their owners. On Juno 14, 1494, the Mayor of St. Martin do Laon thus concluded his sen tence upon a hog for having defaeie and strangled a child in its cradle;—"We, in detestation and horror of this crime, and in order to make an example and satisfy justice, have declared, judged, sentenced, pronounced, and appointed that the said hog, being detained a prisoner, and confined in the said abbey, shall bo by tho execu tioners hung and strangled on a gibbet, near and adjoining the gallows in the juris diction of the saidTMoulcs, being near their copyhold of Avin. In witness of which wo havo scaled this present with our seal." ",This was done tho Hth June, 1494, sealed with rod wax, and is the sentence of a hog executed by justice brought into the copyhold of Clermont and strangled on a gibbet at Avin." In 1497, a sow belonging to tho village of Charonno was condemned to be beaten to death for a similar attack. The sentence declared that the flesh should be thrown to the dogs, and that the owner of the animal and his wife should make a pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Pontoisc, where, being the Day of Pentecost, thoy should cry " Mercy," after which thoy wore to bring back a certifi cate that this had been complied with. The offending animal was frequently dressed like "a man. In 138G, a sow at Falaise was ordered to bo mutilated in tho leg and head, aud afterwards to bo hung; and it was executed in the public square, clothed in a man's dress. The execution cost ten sous, six deniers tournois, and a new glove for the executioner, the executioners being always allowed gloves—" g_u. ses mains sortissent mires de Vexecution (Tune bete brute," as the old record expressed it. Oxen, horses, mules, and asses were con tinually tried for criminal offences. They were not, as a rule, visited with such severe punishment as pigs, probably owing to their greater value to innocent owners. Asses Wore treated in a peculiar manner. The first time one was found in a cultivated field which did not belong to its master, one 'of its ears was cut off A.repetition of the offence caused the loss of the other ear. If caught a third time in tho prohibited place the ass was not hung like other large animals, but was confiscated to the prince of the country. ','.',' Both in Switzerland and in Savoy the lower animals could he received as wit nesses. If a house was broken into between sunset and sunrise, and the owner of the house killed the intruder, the act was con sidered a justifiable homicide. But a man who lived all'alone might possibly entice someone to spend the night with him, and, after murdering him, might assert he did it in defence of Ids life or property. So, when a person was killed undor such cir cumstances, tho solitaty householder was not held innocent unless he produced a dog, a cat, or a cock that had been an inmate of tlie house, and witnessed the death of the person killed, • The owner of the house was compelled to make the declaration of inno cence on oath, before one of those animals, and if it did not contradict him he was con sidered guiltless, the.law taking for granted the Deity would cause a miraculous mani festation hy a dumb animal rather than allow a> murderer to escape from justice. In 1587 proceedings were taken against a species of beetles that made great ravages in the vineyards of St. Julien, near St. Julien de Surieone. In 1545 these insects had made an irruption into this territory, and legal proceedings were commenced against them. Two lawyers were chosen, one by the inhabitants, the other was to de fend .the animals; but, singular to relate, the insects suddenly disappeared, and the lawsuit was accordingly abandoned. It was,' however, resumed forty-two years afterwards, in ; 1587, when the beetles re appeared and committed much devastation; The Court addressed, a complaint to the vicar-general of the Bishop of Maurienne, who named a judge, and also-a lawyer to plead for the insects, and published an order prescribing processions, prayers, etc. After several legal discussions,, the inhabi tants of St. Julien were told the result, that it was necessary to provide a piece of land outside the vineyards, where the in sects could live without infringing on tlie vines. , The piece of land was to be of a certain extent, and to contain trees, herbs, etc., in sufficient quantity and of -good quality. In accepting this offer the inhabi tants thought it prudent to reserve the right of passage through the locality wluchthev gave up, to the insects; and to have the faculty, of takingrefugc on the land in case of war, promising, on. these,conditions,.in favour of the insects,the cesssiqn of the. land in question/ |. Et bonne forme , et variable a jaewetityte.,,..., ...ij- -..; ~ -<i,s'i a ■•■■-.JiL 1 ;This,concessionwas:madeJunc.2?; MW,f, andiohjiily."4 tlie counsel for; the lnhabi..,, fonts .presented arequest, to the; Court, that,;; in default ..of defendant's,.accepting, the. offers'. that, had,hccn made. ,to them, .the;. Jiidge would'order: the vineyaimof flier.m-, habitants r'to.''ber'protcet ? d, J u)id<;r certam, pehattie..;. iFihe : ,(#fl«Ws Jfes%i/WffHWbl ' '.«t'w-re'A \niyt«s,Mira')--,-cIJ"-'W 1m

demanded time for deliberation, and the trial being resumed in September follow ing, he declared that he could not accept, in the name of his clients, tho offer that had been mado to them, as tlie locality in question was barren, aud did not produce anything. This was denied on the other side, and arbitrators were named to decide the question. The summonses against Vermin were served by an officer of the Court reading them at the place which the animals frequented, Tliese citations were written ont with all technical formality, nnd, that there might be no mistake, contained a description of the animals. Thus, in a process against rats in the diocos'o of Antun, tho defendants were descrihod as dirty animals'in the form of rats, of a greyish colour, living in holes. The rats not appearing on the first citation, their counsel argued that the summons was of a too local ami individual character — that, as all tho rats in the diocese were in terested, all tho rats should be summoned. This plea being admitted, the curate of each parish in the diocese was instructed to summon every rat for a future day. The day arrived, but not any rats. Their counsel said that as all his clients were summoned, including young and old, sick and healthy, great preparations had to bo made, and cer tain arrangements carried into effect, and ho tlioreforo begged for an extension of time. This also being granted, another day was appointed, and again no rats appeared. Thoir counsel objected to the legality of the summons under certain cir cumstances. A summons from that Court (ho argued) implied full protection to the parties summoned, both ou their way to it and on their return homo; but his clients, the rats, though most anxious to appear in obedience to the Court,dared not stir out of their holes on account of the number of evil-disposed cats kept by the plaintiffs, " Lot the lattor owners," ho continued, "enter into bonds, under heavy pecuniary penalties, that their cats shall not molest my clients, and the summons will be at once obeyed." The Court acknowledged the validity of this plea, but the plaintiffs declining to be hound over for the good behaviour of their cats, the period for the rats' attendance was adjourned sine die.— " Leisure Hour."

How to make a Banquet.

The following instructions for making a bouquet by " An Artist," in the " Garden," may furnish some use. ..hints to many of our readers :— *' For a flat bouquet, take first a mass of white, it may be a truss of white geranium, a double white stock, or a cle matis, or for a small bouquet a bunch of the small doublo pyrothrum; then scarlet or orange, as, for instauce, a double scarlet geranium, Tom Thumb nasturtium, or any brilliant orange ; put any of these next the white oii one side of it. Then take red, a bright rose, and the brighter the red, the nearer it should bo to tho white, so that other duller reds may be beyond it (by red is meant all colours of crimson, but red is the true designation); place these on the other side of the white. Some very dark, almost black, flower may bo also brought near the white, but only a very little of that colour; and beyond the scarlet a very little bit of blue, such as that of Emperor William pansy or a little sprig of lobelia. Beyond the red have purple and yellow brought together, and on the other side picotees, which although rich in colour, are riot pro minent, though any flowers that have broken colours will ao : beyond the-e again bring in blue in some mass, and your taller flowers, as pcnstcmoiis (the blue kind makes an admirable background), dark coloured f uschsias (some flowers or leaves of a brown ish hue should interpose beyond the blue); and the last to introduce should be the maidenhair fern. Make this bouquet in your hand, and avoid too much formality, as the colours will generally arrange them selves with sufficient effect and force, though they may intermix a little. If a round bouquet, the white should be in the contro, with the above arrangement of colours in masses round the white. "When your bouquet is large enough tie it round in the middle of the stems, cut them off eveiiiy, and drop it into a vase of water. Two principles may be followed in making up a bouquet; ono harmony and contrast of colour, the other, force of light and shade; whichever is chosen to begin with, pure white is absolutely ncccessary—even if only composed of a single white flower it should be the largest mass of the whole.

Introduction to Painless Dentistry.

There is a tradition that long before tho discovery of antesthetics, which now rob dentistry of all its terrors, there were not wanting practitioners who declared that, in what they termed "their system," there was a complete immunity from even the slightest sensation of pain. Notably this was the very taking device of one who flourished in Paris in the earlier days of the French Empire, and to whose consulting rooms camo many a one to whom night had long since failed to bring repose, and to whom succeeding day brought only con tinuance of torture. Once seated, our. operator would, with facile eloquence, descant upon tlie merits of " the system he was about to illustrate. Soon, however, having fastened upon the offending molar, or bi-cuspid, a shriek of pain from his patient would resound throughout the room, caused by an apparent effort to wrench out the peccant member by an effort of physical force, pardonable, perhaps, if employed by a blacksmith, but-which the victim was promptly assured was "• Deschapelles s modus operandi," and that it had only been used in order that he might compare this vaunted system with that of which he was about to enjoy the benefit. Again resign ing himself: with restored serenity, tho patient was awakend from, his dream of quick relief by an internal crash, to which that which he had already endured was but. ; a flea-bite, only to be comforted by Monsieur le Dentiste tolling Mm that he had felt it to be his duty to.ma^e him, acquainted^ with, " Bourdiljion's " mode of practice, which he himself regarded as simply, barbarous. The incisor-or molar being now, moved, a j very slichtfurthcr effort.was sufficient to detach | it "and it is was almost instantly presented: to' its owner with thc r rcmark, .",My ; system, sir,; perfectly .painless."-, :.-..■. •■■' . .-.r.-.i h

i ',fhc'Fre!.chwhea.t,firop.,of th. ;j year. Willi yield;ahqut'SSiQOO,Q9o .bushels loss, thah.the, brb'pof last "year. '..-iino-j

SELECTED POETRY.

PAPA'S LETTER,

I was sitting In the study, Writing letters, when 1 heard, "Ploase, dour mumma. Bridget told me, Mamma muan't lie isturbed. " But Iso tired of the kitty Want some ozzer flag to do. Writing letters ia 'ou, mamma ? Can't I write a letter, too V " Not now, darling, mamma's busy. Run and play with kilty now," " No, no, mamma, mo write letter; Tan if 'ou will show mo how." I could paint my darling's portrait As his sweet eyes searched my face. Hair ol gold and eyes of azure, i orm of childish witching grace. But the eager face was clouded 'As,l slowly shook my head, Till I said, '• I'll make a lotter Of you, darling boy, instead." So I parted back the tresses From his forehead, high and white, And a stamp In sport I paßted 'Mid its waves of golden light. Then I said, " Now littlo letter, Go away and bear good ne »VB," And 1 smiled as down tho staircase ■ Clattered loud tho littlo shoes. Leaving mo tho darling hurried Down to Bridget in his glee. " Mamma's writing lots of letters; I'se a letter, Bridget—see." No one heard the little prattler As, once more, ho climbed the stair. Reaching his littlo cap and tippet, Standing on the entry chair. No one heard tho front door open, No one saw the golden hair, As it floated o'er his shoulders Ou tho crisp October air. Down the street tho baby hastened Till he reached the oflico door. " I'se n letter, Mr. Postman. Is there room for any more ? 'Cause dis letter's gpin' to papa; Papa lives with God, 'ou know, Mamma sent me for a letter; Does 'ou fink as 1 tan goT But tho clerk in wonder answered, " Not to-day, my little man." "Den I'll And anozzer ollice; 'Cause I must go if 1 tan." Fain the clerk would havo detained him, But the pleading face was gono, And the little feet were hastening By the busy crowd swept on. Suddenly the crowd was parted, Pooplo fled to loft and right, As a pair of maddened horses At that moment dashed in sight. No ono saw tho baby figure, No ono saw the golden hair, Till a voice of frightened sweetness, Bang out on tho autumn air. 'Twas too late—a moment only Stood the beauteous vision there, Then the little faeo lay lifeless, Covered o'er with golden hair. Reverent they raised my darling, Brushed away tho curls of gold, Saw tho stamp upon the forehead. Growing now bo icy cold. Not a mark the faco disfigured, Showing whero a hoof had trod; But tho little lifo was ended— ".Papa's letter" was with God.

BRAMBLE.

Tho corn is reaped, the bare brown land Is Bleeping in tho sunshine bland Of lato September time; Now after harvest, toll and mirth Iv restful calmness lies the earth, Like good lives past their prime. Red tints of autumn touch the trees That rustic in the freshening breeze, And wave tholr branches strong; Prom hillside meadows loud and clear, Comes, clarion-llko, a note of cheer, Tho thrush's thrilling song. Tho busy wild bee flitteth by, Whero honoysucklo waves on high, And late clematis grows; A fair brown butterfly tloat3 round A bramblo branch that on the ground Its dainty tangle throws. Tho lowly bramble, taking root In common hedgerows, bearing fruit For common hands to pull; A boon to travellers on tho road. It shows its gracious purple load With blossoms beautiful. White flowers like pearly-tinted snow, Fair foliago red with autumn's glow, Ripe fruit—on ono fair spray ; Ah mo I my heart, what beauty lives In lowliest things that Nature gives To blossom on our way. Ah mo 1 my heart, what beauty shows In lowly lives that to their close Bloom sweetly out of sight; Meek hearts that seek not worldly praise, That find in lifo's secluded ways Dear love and deep delight. Fair lives that have a humble root, Sweet lives that bear a gracious fruit, Yet keep their springtime flowers Upon tho bough whore fruit hang-j ripo, And where the fading leaf is type Of lifo's decaying liours. We meet thorn in our daily path, These humble souls, and each one bath A beauty of its own; A beauty born of duty done, Of Bilent victories dumbly won, Of sorrow born alone. And when the frosts' of death fall chiU On those fair lives, that blossom still Though summer time is past, We, sighing, wish for, quiet ways, . . Wherein, like theirs, our shortening days Might blossom to the last I —"All tho Year Round."

TO LADIES.

Whenever you go to a neighbour's house Be sure to look about you— Not to ferret and not to spy, Not with gossip's tongue ond eye, Else better they'd be without you. Not to tattle and not to tell , , The busy-body's story, , s Not to hunt for the rotten core In fruit that hangs by tho open door, And in Buoh labour glory. But go, my friend, to yourneighbour's house With a loving heart and cheery; Pluok the thorn from the good man's path Quench the fire in the soulof wrath, And soothe the sick and weary. ... Leave you a kiss with the little child ''"'•'■'. That he may long remember; ~ = •'., Comfort tbe lone and aged one .-,,,. Whose days on earth are nearly done, As May beams warm December. Whenever you visit your neighbour's house Wear you a mantle precious, '•, * Finer than silk and whiter than snow ; •"' Never forget it wherever you go,l- Charity sweet and gracious, mi.'-,-. ■■;■■•-, Thon shall this' neighbour's heart beat high,' Greeting her frlehd with 'pleasure'; Knowing no serpent of, lowly birth .Creeps to the warmth of her glowing hearth Seeking her golden treasury,,,-,,,.,., ;_,.■,-,- . j 'Mount!Oargillfi ,R»orf*»o /■/*' /i ""*' I ism niowj-a tfiiifc m.l en ,L »-.■ .*:.';

9

STAR .&TORDi¥ W^