sick, it made him well; if well, it made him still better; so altogether it was a good thing.

4. True, it sometimes made him a little sleepy, but he never took it except at night, and surely that was the time for a hard working man to be sleepy. He had tried often to persuade his blind boy to take a little, for he was very pale and delicate, but the boy said, "No, thank you, sir," very firmly, and closed his lips very tightly after he had said it.

5. In the same alley lived Jack Parson's father, and Jack and James were fast friends. One day a lady, who was passing with tracts, gave Jack a small book, as she found that he could read. When night came, and Jack could leave his wood-sawing, he ran up to Mr. Hall's to read his new book to James. Down they sat by the fire, and Jack read in a low tone; but presently Mr. Hall called out:

"Eh! what is that? Read that again, Jack."

6. So Jack read louder:

"A gentleman declares that where he lives there is a dreadful worm which infests his country. It is of a dark color, and generally lives near a spring, and bites the unfortunate people who are in the habit of going there to drink. The symptoms of its bite are terrible. The eyes of the patient become red and fiery, the tongue swells to an immoderate size, and obstructs utterance, and delirium of the most horrid character ensues."

7. "The Lord keep me out of that country forever!" said Mr. Hall. "Read on, Jack; any thing more?" And he rested his glass on his knee, and leaned eagerly forward.

8. Jack continued: "This worm never touches the brute creation, but, strange to say, it seizes only man, and where it once leaves its poison, farewell to health, farewell to life!"

9. "How strange," said Mr. Hall. "And does it tell the name of the terrible worm?"

10. Jack's voice trembled a little, but he read on: "The name of this poisonous creature is 'The Worm of the Still.""

11. Mr. Hall set the tumbler down hard on the table, threw himself back in his chair and went to thinking. The boys hushed- - they knew that the long pipe that wound round and round in the distilleries, through which the whisky ran, was called "the worm," and as the truth of what they had been reading flashed upon them, they went to thinking too. The silence lasted so long, and became so oppressive, that Jack crept out.

12. "Father," said the blind boy, putting out his thin hands and feeling about till he touched him,-“ Father, fling it away, it has not got a tight grip yet; but O!”—

13. James could say no more; but, sinking down, he laid his head on his father's shoulder and burst into tears. Not a word was said, but James felt a tear strike his forehead, then another and another, and he knew that the coil was loosened and its power broken forever. So it was, for from that night Mr. Hall drank no more.

MRS. M. J. MALLARY.

LVI-SMILE WHENEVER YOU CAN.

1. When things don't go to suit you,
And the world seems upside down,
Don't waste your time in fretting,
But drive away that frown;
Since life is oft perplexing,
'Tis much the wisest plan
To bear all trials bravely,

And smile whene'er you can.

2. Why should you dread to-morrow,
And thus despoil to-day?
For when you borrow trouble,

You always have to pay.
It is a good old maxim,

Which should be often preached:
"Don't cross the stream before you,
Until the stream is reached."

3. You might be spared much sighing,
If you would keep in mind
The thought that good and evil
Are always here combined.
There must be something wanting;
And though you roll in wealth,
You may miss from your casket
That precious jewel — health.

4. And though you're strong and sturdy,
You may have an empty purse
(And earth has many trials

Which I consider worse);

But whether joy or sorrow
Fill up your mortal span,
'Twill make your pathway brighter
To smile whene'er you can.

A loving heart and a cheerful countenance are commodities which children should never fail to keep on hand. They will best season their food and soften their pillows. Sour faces and cross words make every thing go wrong. Keep in the sunshine of God's love, and do not give the frowns a chance to deepen into wrinkles.

Half the unhappiness of this life springs from looking back to griefs that are past, and forward with fear to the future.

LVII.-THE LITTLE MATCH SELLER.

1. It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use.

2. They were very large, very large indeed, for they once belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle when he had children of his own.

3. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought any thing of her the whole day, nor had any one given her even a penny.

4. Shivering with cold and hunger she crept along. Poor little child! she looked the picture of misery. The snow-flakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders; but she regarded them not. Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New Year's eve; yes, she remembered that.

5. In a corner between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money.

6. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold.

7. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be of some use, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out" Scratch!" How it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. 8. It seemed to the little girl as if she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.

9. She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and when its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table-cloth, on which stood a splendid dinner service and a steaming roast goose stuffed with apples and dried plums.

10. And, what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in its breast, to the little girl. Then the match went out and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.

11. She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one she had seen through the glass door of the rich merchant.