STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT.

RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamikl.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to lasli, Some write—vain thought!—l'orncod'ill cash, Some write to please tliu oouutiy clash.

And ra.se a din. For me, an aim I never fash— 1 write fur fun.

With all deference to tho^c pure-minded patriots who peel; by anonymous correspon dence in the press to mould a healthy public opinion on every conceivable subject, " Zamiel " thinks that a lot of unmitigated rot has been talked about the duty of In surance Companies to support Fire Brigides. It is no doubt very easy to tell the insurance people that they ought to do so and .so : but those who do this forget that insurance is business—not philanthropy—and that they have as much right to dictate to their butcher how to manage his afl'airs as they have to lay down the law to Insurance • Companies. To show tho absurdity of the dictum that has been laid down, I have imagined a local magnate staffing tlm fol lowing :— SON'C OF THK INSURANCE MAJCAGKIS. The world is growing wiser now : Millennial times draw nigh. 1 vow: All men will brothers lie. 1 trow. As bard and seer have often snid ; Our premium rates we can't increase, So tires perforce will have to cease. Anil so Insurance Companies Must all support the Fire Brigade ! When shall this lie .' I'll toll you when : When authors wield an honest pen. When laws are justly iramed, when men Abolish tricks :'n">!ii every trade. When bankers scatter pounds mid pence. When par-ons all prc.ieh common sc-t.se. When medicos wit ii -l^im di-peusc - Then we'll support the Kiro Hriwirte ! When Hunxmnn Whim, with warm koi»1wi11, (iocs hawlin-ont "Tlio;i shalt v..; .-.ilV When Lawson's Local Option Kill is I'iuded by the spirit trade. When undertakers -rieve to see The typhoid fever riming free. Our generous motto thi-n will ho— "SvtpiHirt the noljle Fire Brigadu!" Wlvu Lawyer Orab is such a fool As K-arh to"men the Colden itnle. When Satan starts a Sunday-s.-hool, And sophists call a spade a spade. When •' ilurmy " captains cease to yell. When churches all abolish well.: " The other place." then, truth to tell. Weil bolster up the Fire Brigade ! From tliis insurance manager's view of the question, the thoughtful reader may be led to reflect that if half the money spent on recouping loss by fire were expended on the prevention and extinction of conflagrations, the insurance companies might waken up very soon to tinil their occupation gone. But Humbug is still king in this as in other spheres of mundane activity : and the philo sophic "Zamiel," as he looks uvound and sees law punishing when it should reform ; physic trying to cure when it should pre vent ; and religion frightening when it should allure, shrugs his shoulders and re mark* that he is not surprised to find insur ance companies encouraging incendiarism rather than seeking to suppross it. "Tis a wonderful world, my masters, and the mil lennium is not yet by a long chalk !

The rabbit nuisance (it has not yet reached the dignity of a "plague") promises, after all, to be a blessing in disguise. If recent reports from England aro to bo relied on, there is reason to believe that the execrated and much hunted bunny—the bete, noir of Southern run-holders — will presently be in great demand for export to the Old Country. A correspondent, who seems to b'- tolerably well-informed, states that owing to the Operation of the new ''Ground (.Tamo Act," hares and rabbits will soon be at a premium; that the favourite Sunday dinner of the London labourer is rabbit pie ; and (hat a well-nourished, full-sized bunny fetches in the market about Is '.Id' or 2s. Here is an opening for an energetic com pany-monger in JN'ew Zealand, with the two primary conditions ready to his hand— supply and demand. For a long time past Johnny Martin, W.iterhouse. and others have been at their wits' end to devise mine effectual method of exterminating rabbits, and have spent many pounds sterling, besides importing the mongoose with (hat object in view. Now, however, the pnluMon of the difficulty seems simple enough. Instead of poisoning, catch cm alive oh— freezo them, and ship them off to bring joy to the hearts and appetising odours to the nostrils of thousands of the London poor.

I have been reading a very amusing little book entitled "John Bull and his Island," which ha« had an immonso run in Kj>;.:l nd lately. The writer, 11 Frenchman, v.-h<, is master in a large English school, while giving a fair picture of English ways and modes of thought, hits oft' not a few of their foibles. Nor does he spare the weak nesses of his own countrymen when in English contrast suggests comparison. The continental mania for trnmpory decorations, which are worth about as ranch as butter paper, is very happily hit oil". Of course, every intelligent person in England knows that the holders of such gewgaws keep them carefully locked up in their drawers; but in our colonial innocence we are apt to be awed by Royal favour, even though it be only that of a second-class monarch who scatters his ribbons about with as much liberality as a colonial governor confers certificates of patronage upon his pork butcher and tailor. x x . x No words of mine, however, could equal in quiot sarcasm the passages in which this intelligent observer of men and things chides a vanity which his countrymen share with other continental people. He says: " The English are fond of laughing at the great number of people wearing orders that are to be met with in France. It is a fact that their namo is ley fon. The ied ribbon is to bo seen occasionally in London, but it is not in the least appreciated : those who know what it means smile, the rest take this bauble for an ornament of some kind or a peculiar whim. The Frenchmen living in England, who have decorations, do not wear them. There exists, however, no law to forbid their being worn ;in fact, in Eng land, you. might cover your breast with stars and ribbons, dress yourself as a Polish General, a Swiss Admiral, or in the shot+ost of kilts—no one would think of : "owing yon as a guy. You may make yonT?eli ridiculous if you liko, but you wi*. have no law to fear but the law of common sense, no judge to dread but public opinion. The subjects of Her Britannic Majesty can only accept foreign orders by permission of the Queen, and, with the exception of soldiors

in uniform, no one wears them in the street. As to English orders, they are scarcely over conferred upon any one outside the aristocracy, the army, and the diplomatic circle. Civil servants, learned men, writers, and artists scarcely ever get them; and, with the exception of a few sovereigns who are Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, there are very few foreigners who possess English decorations. When 1 say that there are no decorations to lie seen in England, lam wrong. More than six hundred thousand people, men and women, now wear a blue ribbon in their buttonhole. Some aro drunkards, who have pledged themselves to abstain from all alcoholic liquors, and others are good young men who have "olemnly promised never to drink anything intoxicating. These people form the Blue Ribbon Army."

I wonder if there are any Anglo-Israelites among the new members of the Licensing Committees of Auckland ? If there are (and 1 should not be surprised if such is the case, since people with a "fad" arc very susceptible to all kinds of humbug), I have a most important communication to make to them. I have come across an important

" identification" which should be added to the twenty-seven proofs that are offered of the identity of England with Israel, and one which has a direct bearing on the licensing question. Students of Anglo- Israelism are aware that the chief support of the theory is found in prophecy, where a clear distinction is maintained between the destinies of Judah and of Israel, all kinds of temporal blessings being promised to the latter (as represented by the ten lost tribes), while the peopleof Judah (by which the Jewish race is meant) have various calamities heaped upon them. Well, I turn to Isaiah, 05th chapter, and 13th verse, and I find it written of Judah: "Behold my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty," The people of Israel are un doubtedly meant as the servants who shall drink ; Britain aloneanswers to this descrip tion—being the most drunken nation under the sun : ergo, Britain is Israel. In all seriousness, this argument is as sound as any-one which the Anglo-Israelites advance in support of the identity, and I challenge disproof.

The bearing of this on the licensing question must be at once apjiurent. If it is tiie high privilege of Britons to drink, why .-hould they be restricted from drinking after 10 p.m., or even on the Sabbath ? If Israel is to have any advantage at all over .Judith, she must be allowed full liberty to get drunk, and laugh at the thirst of the' accursed race. "My servants shrill drink.' Wh.it, then, can acts of Parliament avail \rhieh say thoy shall not drink '! Have we no*; here the secret of the non-success of the Local Option agitation in England, which being opposed to prophecy, can never pre vail ? Do not these words also give a plain indication of the duty of our Licensing Com mittees ''. Anglo-Israelism being true, the drink traffic is one of the most blessed token? of divine favour, and Blue Ribbon ites are guilty of the crime of opposing the eternal decrees of Providence in seeking to abolish that traffic. The Auckland pub licans might do worse than look into this Anglo-Israel question, and Anglo-Israel itiah teetotallers will, I trust, mend their ways, and act consistently with their high calling and privileges.

I, Zamiel—husband of that estimable woman, Mrs Zamiel—of the city of Auck land, in the colony of New Zealand, after years of patient and long-suffering study of the follies and foiblos of the young ladies who condescend to wash my shirts and light my fires for a weekly pittance, have drafted an ordinance which I intend, with out a reward, to present to our legislators, in the firm 'nope that they will cause it to be placed on the Statute Book of the colony of New Zealand aforesaid. It is intituled,

"An Act to regulate that crying evil, Servantgalism," and the short title is, "The Servantgalism Act." The preamble sets forth: "That, whereas many of Her Majesty's subjects are continually put to great loss and trouble of mind' through the carryings -on of their servant girls, and as such carryings-on pro duce much domestic discomfort and blasphemy, be it enacted: (1) That all ser vant girls who have arrived in the colony since January 1, ISS4, and may hereafter arriye, be compolled to produce certificates of character from the clergymanof their parish, and also from then1 Tast place at Home. (2) That each servant girl be compelled to keep a book' to be called a Recommenda tion Book, in which shall be written her reasons for leaving her last place, character and attainments, names of her young men, and her lowest weekly average in the crockery-breaking line, such reference book to be signed by each successive mistress." And thon, as a schedule, a specimen page of the recommendation book should be placed for the guidance of persons affected by the Act.

Have ar.y of my readers ever come across a litle book entitled "Random Shots by a Rifleman," written by a Captain Kineaid, of the British Army ? I ask this question in some trepidation, for I fear that if the book is within the reach of the readers of these "random shots " of mine, I will be classed along with Captain Kineaid as a collateral descendant of the renowned Baron Mun chausen. One of Captain Kincaid's stories tells how an officer engaged under Welling ton in the Peninsular War had one of the large muscles of his neck severed by a French bullet, so that his head hung to one side. That was good work for a "random shot;" but the veracious Kineaid proceeds to cap it by telling that the same officer at the battle of Waterloo •vras again struck by a French bullet—this time having the chief muscle on the other side of his neck severed, with the result that his head was again set straight, but rather low on his shoulders. Now, I don't say th»t the retailer of this story lied; but Ido Say that I iind the facts hard to credit. No doubt, " there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow," butif Providence meant to shorten that officer's neck, I fancy he would have taken some more direct method than that of sending different bullets with billets to him. And I want to remind my readers that these are not the kind of "random shots" which I employ, and that I am no relative either of Captain Kineaid or of "the lamented Munchausen."

Isaiic Taylor, an English philosopher, says in his " History of Fanaticism " :— " The favourites of Fortune, as well as her outcasts, have their fanaticism ; for there is a well-bred religious delirium, as well as one that is rude and squalid." I take the Salvationists to be partly of the latter order. They are fanatical and enthusiastic, and if not absolutely rude, they cannot lay claim

to refinement of thought in their noisy mode of teaching. But it is asserted by good people that the turbulent voices of these latter saints permeate tiie squalid homes of the lower grades of tho people. It is also asserted that the progress of the Salvationists has closed one little orthodox Bethel of many years' standing at Newmarket. The latest move has stolen away tho congregation, and tho building will shortly be in the market for sale and removal. It seems evident that tlio Salvationists, under their captains and ollicers in charge, are '■ holding the fort" in Auckland, and running their " blood and lire" course with marked success, not among the more polished and educated of tho community, but certainly among the .sensation-loving masses. Their barracks arc rising in a central part of tho city, and over £350 have been subscribed towards the building.

I am told by "One Who Knows" that the proceedings and services of the Ann}' are worthy of study and thought ; th.it they should not be exposed to broad sides from " Zamiol," or any other man ; they act within their own rights, are strictly orthodox and true to their principles. " They seel: out tho lost and the erring," say the " Little Widow" and the " Hallelujah Lass." If this bo so, and this they profess to do, they are Christ-like in their aspirations. What higher virtues or merits do any other Chris tian organization display? As a matter of simple expediency, then,lshouldthink it wise, in common parlance, to let them have their fling, and leave it to devouring Time to set up either a dry rot amongst them or to elevate the movement to a stage of pious respectability—a stage which brings strength and recognition. It must be admitted that the Salvationists arc a noisy people—the very opposite of Quakerism — and in some in stances they offend the sense of propriety ; still it is reiterated this is the only way in whirl) the Army can hope for success. By this means they stir the emotional feelings of those who live in tho regions of the forlorn and degraded, and trumpet up the hardened and spiritually dead. I mustcon fi-ss that I don't see any of the occupants of (Jumble's cottages or the White House in our formal churches and respectable chapels, nor any or those characters who are drawn to the services of the Salvationists. Perhaps, as the uater-eiess seller said, these noi.-y deciaiiiiers may b;j doing a common service to a neglected portion of the people whose taste is suited rather than oileuded by the luirliiig of truths in tho rough at the heads of unpolished sinners ; or, a-s the cricketer would say, bowling overhand in a manner calcu lated to knock them over. It is clear that smooth, overhead, High-Church teaching does not elicit the sympathies of the des pised and erring classes of society, and so they rush to the Salvation Army and take part in their crude parodies, xxx It is a pet theory of persons connected with the theatrical profession that dis ciples of the sock and buskin invariably display more kindness and consideratiot to one another than do others—in a word, that the Thespian dairy of the milk of human kindness is rather a big concern, and that it contains more of the aforesaid milk than other people's dairies. Pet theories are frequently pet illusions, and I feel bound to say that the hard logic of facts affords many demonstrations that do not support the accuracy of this little pro fessional conceit. The past fortnight has indeed produced one such demonstration. From a Southern town, comes a story of a pantomime company that, despite a suc cessful season, did not square up with its employes, and left them with single tickets on a foreign shore. This instance does not disclose a superabundance of " milk." I think the case can go to the jury without argument, and that the verdict with respect to actors will be the same as that of the poet concerning all mankind— ?.ran"s inhumanity to man makes countless millions mourn. xx x " Tiiisiga are seldom what they seem. Kkim nnlk masf,m-ru.!o-; :<s i-n.-nm ; Jliuhlov.-s pa:-sl<n- patent lu.iiliore, Jackdaws strut in poacooks' feathers." • The above familiar ('jilbcrtian stanza has been brought to my remembrance by an occurrence that came under my personal observation while occupying a secluded pew injtho Berosford-street Bethel a few Sun day evenings ago. The time was just before the commencement of the service, which, it would appear, is by the average church-goer devoted to the taking of a mental inventory of all the new bonnets in the church, varied by an occasional dive into the trouser pocket to feel if that three penny bit is all safe. While I was specu lating in a philosophic manner as to whether the hat on the head of a lady near mo was n " Henri II." or a "Princess," I heard a sudden burst of subdued murmurs, such as "That's Z.-wniel." "Did you see what he had in last- week ':" "He told me he'd put that in about you, Maria Jane." Now I have preserved ray incognito with as much care as though it had been a Star Chamber secret, and on hearing the murmurs I at once jumped to the conclusion that I had been discovered. I was literally palsied with apprehension. When the violent surging of my blood hud moderated sufficiently to enable me to use my eyes, I was momentarily relieved to find that I was not the cause of tho commotion. All eyes were directed towards a young man whose principal characteristics were a sancti monious visage and well-pomaded locks. The expanded chest ftnd dilated nostril showed that he was quite conscious of the llutter his appearance had occasioned. Horror ■ The awful truth burst on me like a flash. (The Zamiels were always pretty quick at seeing through a stone wall, and some of the family have displayed their agility in getting over one). As I said be fore, the terrible" truth burst on me like a flash. This misguided young man with the pomaded hair, who weighs sugar all the week and has a class in Sunday-school, had actually been acquiring a little temporary notoriety through posing before his ac quaintancesasthereal,theonlyZamiol. Iwas for a few minutes the victim of conflicting emotions. At first my inclination ran in the direction of blood, blood—the pomaded haired one's blood. But eventually my philosophy came to my aid, and I consoled myself with the reflection that "fools rush in where angels fear to tread." So I quietly proceeded with my devotions, and having made tho Beresford-strect con gregation richer to the extent of the three penny bit, I went home promising myself en route that I would take nn early oppor tunity of removing my peacock's feathers from the back of the Beresford-street jack daw—which promise I now redeem.

xxx The "Pacific slope" business has again

been done to perfection, and the most recent levanter is now on his way iwmsx the ocean to tlie free shores of America. He has been well-known in Auckland for some considerable time past, having carried on the business of a dentist with apparent success. The individuals most seriously victimised by liis sudden departure are the parents of two lads apprenticed to him. They paid handsome premiums on the understanding that tlioir suns should bo initiated into tho mysteries of teeth extraction, that they should bu ppid a salary at the end of eight months, and that on the conclusion of thi.it term of apprenticeship they should each he furnished with a complete equipment of the instruments necessary for the practice of the profession. These latter conditions should have been fulfilled during tlio last week or two, but the enter prising dentist evinced no disposition to carry thorn :nto elf'ect. Probably consider ing his responsibilities too great, lie secretly resolved upon a " tY.rewoli" to the land of his adoption, and with' this object in view promptly disposed of his stock-in-trade, and took tickets for San Francisco by the mail steamer for his wife, his brother, and himself. The unfortunate appren tices were apprised of his intentions, and on Tuesday morning applied to the detectives to arrest him; but the law could not interfere. The happy lcvantor rejoiced in his security from the threats of revenge, and as the mail steamer moved away from the wharf on Tuesday afternoon kissed his hand sweetly and condescendingly to his acquaintances on shore, while the dulcet tones of his voice might have been heard repeating fond "ta-ta's" to sundry individuals whose sour-looking counten ances betrayed the fact that they had been "had."

Some sensation has been caused in certain circles during the last week or two by the disclosure oi a most remarkable story of domestic complications which has been brought to light as the denouement of an unromantic elopement, in which the services of the police have proved useful. The facts have been related to mo on reliable author ity, and if it were not for this proof of their authenticity, I could scarcely expect my readers to accept them as having actually happened. One of the principal characters m this domestic drama is a photographer, whoso" name has been pretty well-known in Auckland and the South for the last ten or twelve years. His retinue nt the period of his advent in cluded a lady of probably thirty summer;, who passed as his wife, and a female child several years of age, said to be her sister. The trio resided successively in various centres of population in the colony, and appeared to be happy and comfortable. The little girl grew in stature, after the most approved style, and at the age of 13 was fair to look upon. However strange it may appear, it is nevertheless true that the amorous photographer, whose age is something more than 40 years, fell in love with the child, and she reciprocated the tender pas sion.

But the elder sister, or whatever she was, had not been consulted in the matter, and when she became aware of the fact that fond glances and tender sighs were so plentiful between the cooing turtle doves, she evinced a decided objection to the continuation of the amour. The child was removed to the Convent with the object of keeping her at a respectful distance from her elderly Adonis. But on the principle that absence makes the heart grow fonder, the thirteen-year-old maiden yearned worse than ever for her admirer, and tears, moans, and sighs were used to such good purpose that the elder sister at last consented to the marriage of the couple, and it was duly celebrated. Possibly her consent was has tened by the fact that she, too, had ensnared the heart of a youthful Adonis, who proposed to and was duly accepted by the object of his affections, to whom he was subsequently wedded.

There had not been any very serious com plications up till this time, but difficulties soon commenced. Decembers and Mays are all very well in their places, but when matrimony is concerned they are at best an ill-assorted pair. Possibly things might have run smoothly had the parties lived miles distant from each other, but residing together it is only natural that May should have inclined to May for sympathy, and that both the Decembers should have been left to console each other. Thus it happened. The young husband and the bride, who was scarcely well in her teens, flirted and made love openly, to the extreme disgust of their respective partners in the "joys and sorrows, &c." The elder sister finding this sort of thing to be intolerable, actually pur chasedasteamerticketforheryounglmsband and packed himoll'to Sydney, forwkichplace he departured after indulgence in innumer able fond adieus with his fond enchantress, whom'he trusted to sco on the bright and happier shores of Australia ere long.

His departure was followed by a period of restraint for the young wife, and then came the la grand covp. Gathering to gether her jewellery, she realised upon it; and, taking out a ticket for Sydney, loft hy the Ringarooma on .her last trip but one. But the jealous wife was on the gui vice, the police were communicated with, and the steamer'sarrivalontheothersidewasawaited by three Sydney detectives, who met the rash girl and charged her with stealing the jewellery. She was sent back to Auckland by the steamer on her return trip, and was welcomed here by Detective Walker, who was honoured with her company for a brief interval. She expressed herself highly de lighted with her trip, mentioned the kind ness of the Australian detectives, who had driven her round the city to see the sights, and then had immured her in a convent, where she could see nothing of the object of her affections. Her husband had gone down the West Coast on her return, and as she refused ■to join him, the two unhappy wives decided to devote the remaindor of their lives to the happi ness of each other, and the charge of theft having been withdrawn, they proceeded down the east coast by last week's steamer. The present position is that there are two disconsolate husbands sighing for each others wives, and two unhappy matrons determined to be happy ror the future in each other's society.

Although on the cognate subjects of volunteering and prize-firing, I cannot pre tend to groat experience, antl therefore do not wish to be regarded as an authority, still I may be permitted to offer a lay opinion on the recent meeting To my mind it was wretchedly bungled from the very beginning, and it certainly ended in a miserable fizzle. For this- result both the Local Committee (with their ex-Secretary) and the Executivo officers are wholly to

blame. Thi first body -tfcre the means of AuoMnnd being pitcfjed upon aa the scene of the firing thronjgn tlieir confident nspuranee th.it they could raise as much prae-mone.7 horo :<s had be?n sub scribed in Dunodiii Mb., .CJOO odd), rradyet, by unpardonable ri.itli and negligence, they altogether failed to redeem that premise, thus throwing a slrtr upon a community which is second to nono-in New Zealand for liberality and public spirit. Not only that, but they failed disgracefully in the duty which, by courtesy awl precedent, devolved upon them of taking the initiative in improvising means of entertaining our visitor:-. They also made no effort to enlist public- interest or sympathy in the meeting, and, in con clusion, they allowed tlie representatives to depart as coldly as they came. lt> all this they have lowered the city's High prestige for warmth of hospitality and patronage of a great movement. It is gratifying, how ever, to know that one corps—the Artillery —was found spirited and generous enough to take upon itself a part of thf* duties o£ host which should have been discharged by the Committee. X X X As for the Executive ofiicers, they are ccally the incubus which ia battening upon the Association,draining its resources, and discrediting its name throughout the colony. They look upon its annual meet ings as so many pleasant little holidays which they can enjoy on full pay, aS'Aihsn they have, too, a swarm of hangers-on who find employment from year to year as markers, scorers, buglers, etc., etc. The idea of paying the expenses of men fro.n \\ ellington to score, to mark, and to blow the bugle twice or thrice a day for a salary of £3 per-week, when (.their places could bo well lilled by local men, is preposterous truly, but there are many other peculiarities in the system of management that are equally ridiculous and indefensible. The general result, of course, is to raise the oxpenses to such a figure that, as the Volunteers pithily Bay, it costs 30s to tire for every £1 of priz-e ---moncy. No wonder that the competitors were dissatisfied and disgusted.

In connection with this subject, it may not be amiss to mention that strange rumours have been and are current with respect to the shooting itself. It seems that ISS2 ammunition was the kind prescribed for the competitors, despite their objection to it as unreliable by reason of the very loose way in which the cartridges are filled up. Strangely enough, in the opening matches the Wanganui men were found near the head of the list, while the best and steadiest marksmen from other parts of the colony found themselves unable to rise above the level of mediocrity. At last it leaked out. that the men from the City of the Sandhills were using ISSI ammunition on the sly. The news got bruited abroad^ and the example of the 'cute Southerners was so well followed that in the next match Wanganui was nowhere, Auckland and the Thames winning nearly all the prizes. It was too late, however, to affect tho destination of the Rifle Belt.

(Generally, the shooting this year has been much inferior to that of previous contests. For instance, Churton won the rifle belt by a lead of 10 points, with a score of 295, while last year the champion scored 310, and there were at least six others between that number and 295. This year, too, tho carbine bolt was won with a score of 253, while last year there were more than a dozen marks men over that .score, the champion making no less than 312. Again, the Wellington Match was won this year by Gill with 76 points, but Weir, at the last "meeting, had to score !)2 in order to carry it off. Com parisons of this kind tending to the ono conclusion might be multiplied, but there is no need for them. The state ment I make is indisputable. It is to be hoped that when tho tiring next takes place in Auckland the arrangements will be more satisfactory, and that tho treatment of the visitors shall be somewhat commensurate with (lie importance of tho city, and the well-known hospitality of its inhabitants.

SELECTED POETRY.

THE SCHOOL M ARM'S STORY

A frosty chill was in the air- How plainly 1 remember— The briKlit. autumnal lives had paled, Save here and there 1111 ember; The sky looked hard, iho hills were bare. And there were tokens everywhere That, it had come—Xovunbur. I locked the time-worn »chooMioiiso door, The village seat of l«»rninp. Across the smooth vre'l-trodden path My homeward footsteps turning; M 7 heart a troubled question hore. And in my mind, as cut before, A vexing thought was burning-. ■• Why is it up a hill all the way i " Thus ran my meditations ; The lessons had ijono wronirthat day; And I had lost my patience. " Is there no way to soften care. And make it easier to bear Life's borrows and vexations?" Across my pathway, through the \eoo-X, A fallen tree was iyiiwr; On this there sat two little (jirls. And one of them was crying. - I heard her sob : " And if 1 could; I'd act mv lessons awful Rood. But what's the use of trying.'" And then the little hooded head Sank on the other's shoulder: The little weeper sought tho anno. That opened to enfold her. Against the youns heart, kind aai true. She nestled close, and neitheriaew That I was a beholder. And then I heard—ah ! nerer was known Such judgment without malice, Nor queenlier council ever benad In senate house or palace !— I should have failed there, I ara sure. Don't be discouraged ; try once more, And I will help you, Alice." " A.nd I will help you." This is how To softrn caro and "ricvinj^; Life is made easier to bear By helping and by Kivincr. Hero was the an.-wer'l hail ■ -i:«ht, And I, the teachc •, bning tau.liC The secret of true li\ ing. If -'I will help you" were th< ; ruli\ How clr.in K cd beyond all mcasuro l.ii'c would become t Kach hcivy Viud Would be a trolden treasure : Pain and vexation be forgot; Hopo would prevui.l in every lot And life be only pie. -a-a. WoLSTAJi OIXIY.

Something Cnoicrc, %Vrole?;'i» ur.<i Retail, r-t Aickix's, Ti-e I'liai-ms-y, Qne.n-strcet.— Pour's r» per cent. I'\:--,- '!!■,-,, :-in.-. s,,»p, Pear's Tpa.ngparenti-haviiiKbtickfiM.iid Cakos, Pear's Toilet Carbolic Soap, Pcur'ss Uouße and Peart Powder, Pear's Vioiet Powder, Pf»r's Pure Curd Soap, Belgian Komi Soap, 3tolgiWi Opopa nax Hoap, Col Kate's Cdshinero Bouquet Soap, Colgate's Jockey Club Soap, &«.. &„ Gonxiina Eau do Coloeno, thvco aisWC

AUCKLAND, N.Z., SATURDAY, MARCH y, 18S4