THE POPPY LAND EXPRESS.

The first train leaves at six p. m.
For the land where the poppy blows.
The mother is the engineer,

And the passenger laughs and crows.

The palace car is the mother's arms;
The whistle a low, sweet strain.
The passenger winks and nods and blinks
And goes to sleep on the train.

At eight p. m. the next train starts
For the poppy land afar.

The summons clear falls on the ear,
"All aboard for the sleeping car!"

But "What is the fare to poppy land?
I hope it is not too dear."
The fare is this-a hug and a kiss,
And it's paid to the engineer.

So I ask of Him who children took
On His knee in kindness great:
"Take charge, I pray, of the trains each day
That leave at six and eight.

"Keep watch of the passengers," thus I pray, "For to me they are very dear; And special ward, O gracious Lord,

O'er the gentle engineer."

St. Louis Star-Sayings.

FIRST

STEAMBOAT PASSAGE MONEY

Says the narrator of this incident:

MONEY PAID.

I chanced to be in Albany when Fulton arrived with his unheard-of craft, the Claremont, which everybody was so anxious to see. Being ready to leave, and hearing the strange-looking boat was about to return to New York, I went on board, and, inquiring for Mr. Fulton, was directed to the cabin, where I found a plain-looking but gentlemanly-appearing man, wholly alone.

"Mr. Fulton, I presume?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you return to New York with this boat?"
"We shall try to get back, sir."

"Can I have passage down?"

"You can take your chance with us, sir."
"How much is the passage money?"

After a moments hesitation, he named the sum of six dollars, and I laid the coins in his hand.

With his eyes fixed upon the money, he remained so long motionless that I concluded there was a miscount, and asked.

"Is that right, sir?"

The question roused him; he looked up, tears brimming his eyes and his voice faltering as he said:

"Excuse me, sir, but memory was busy, and this is the first pecuniary reward I have ever received for all my exertions in adapting steam to navigation; I would order a bottle of wine to commemorate the event, but really, sir, I am too poor."

The voyage to New York was successful and terminated without accident or delay."

FIRST STEAMBOAT PASSAGE MONEY PAID.

The voyage to New York was successful and terminated without accident or delay.

Four years later, when the Claremont, greatly improved and renamed the North River, and two sister boats, the Car of Neptune and the Paragon, were regularly plying between New York and Albany, I again took passage.

The cabin was below and well filled with passengers. As I paced to and fro, I observed a man watching me closely, and thought he might be Fulton, and as I passed him our eyes met, when he sprang to his feet, eagerly extending his hand and exclaiming:

"I knew it must be you. I have never forgotten your features. Come, I can now afford that bottle of wine."

As we discussed the nice lunch he ordered spread for us, Mr. Fulton ran rapidly and vividly over his experiences of the past few years. He spoke of the world's coldness and sneers, of the hopes, fears, disappointments and difficulties which had followed him through his whole career of discovery up to his final crowning triumph of

success.

"I have again and again recalled our first meeting at Albany, and the vivid emotions caused by your paying me that first passage money. That, sir, seemed then, and still seems, the turning-point in my destiny,—the dividing line between light and darkness-the first actual recognition of my usefulness from my fellow-men. God bless you, sir! That act of yours gave me the courage I needed."