All the afternoon she sat there so quiet that I thought sometimes she must be asleep, but when I looked more closely I could see every once in a while a great tear rolling down her cheek which she would wipe away hastily with her cotton handkerchief.

The depot was crowded, and all was bustle and hurry until the 9.50 train going east came due; then every passenger left except the old lady. It is very rare, indeed, that any one takes the night express, and almost always after I have struck ten, the depot becomes silent and empty.

The ticket agent put on his great coat, and bidding Simmons keep his wits about him for once in his life, departed for home.

But he had no sooner gone than that functionary stretched himself out upon the table, as usual, and began to snore vociferously.

Then it was I witnessed such a sight as I never had before and never expect to again.

The fire had gone down-it was a cold night, and the wind howled dismally outside. The lamps grew dim and flared, casting weird shadows upon the wall. By and by I heard a smothered sob from the corner, then another. I looked in that direction. She had risen from her seat, and oh! the look of agony on the poor pinched face.

"I can't believe it," she sobbed, wringing her thin, white hands. “Oh! I can't believe it! My babies! my babies! how often have I held them in my arms and kissed them; and how often they used to say back to me,' Ise love you, mamma,' and now, O God! they've turned against me. Where am I going? To the poor-house! No! no! no! i cannot! I will not! Oh, the disgrace!"

And sinking upon her knees, she sobbed out in prayer: “O God! spare me this and take me home! O God, spare me this disgrace; spare me !"

The wind rose higher and swept through the crevices, icy cold. How it moaned and seemed to sob like something human that is hurt. I began to shake, but the kneeling figure never stirred. The thin shawl had dropped from het shoulders unheeded. Simmons turned over and drew his heavy blanket more closely about him.

Oh, how cold! Only one lamp remained, burning dimly; the other two had gone out for want of oil. I could hardly see, it was so dark.

At last she became quieter and ceased to moan. Then I grew drowsy, and kind of lost the run of things after 1. had struck twelve, when some one entered the depot with a bright light. I started up. It was the brightest light I ever saw, and seemed to fill the room full of glory. I could see 'twas a man. He walked to the kneeling figure and touched her upon the shoulder. She started up and turned her face wildly around. I heard him say:

""Tis train time, ma'am. Come!" A look of joy came over her face. "I'm ready," she whispered.

"Then give me your pass, ma'am."

She reached him a worn old book, which he took and from it read aloud:

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

"That's the pass over our road, ma'am. Are you ready?" The light died away, and darkness fell in its place. My hand touched the stroke of one. Simmons awoke with a start and snatched his lantern. The whistles sounded down brakes; the train was due. He ran to the corner and shook the old woman.

"Wake up, marm; 'tis train time."

But she never heeded. He gave one look at the wnite set face, and, dropping his lantern, fled.

The up-train halted, the conductor shouted "All aboard," but no one made a move that way.

The next morning, when the ticket agent came, he found her frozen to death. They whispered among themselves, ind the coroner made out the verdict "apoplexy," and it was in some way hushed up.

They laid her out in the depot, and advertised for her friends, but no one came. So after the second day, they buried her.

The last look on the sweet old face, lit up with a smile so unearthly, I keep with me yet; and when I think of the occurrence of that night, I know she went out on the other train, that never stopped at the poor-house.

AN INVITATION TO THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

BY A GENTLEMAN WITH A SLIGHT IMPEDIMENT IN HIS SPEECH.

I have found out a gig-gig-gift for my fuf-fuf-fair,
I have found where the rattle-snakes bub-bub-breed.
Won't
you c-c-c-come, and I'll show you the bub-bub-bear,
And the lions and tit-tit-tigers at fuf-fuf-fuf-feed.

I know where the c-c-c-co-cockatoo's song

Makes mum-mum-mum~~melody through the sweet vale; Where the m-monkeys gig-gig-grin all the day long, Or gracefully swing by the tit-tit-tit-tit-tail.

You shall pip-pip-play, dear, some did-did-delicate

joke,

With the bub-bub

pip-pip-pole;

-bear on the tit-tit-top of his pip

But observe, 'tis for-for-for-bidden to pip-pip-poke At the bub-bub-bear with your pip-pip-pink pip pip-pip-pip-parasol.

You shall see the huge elephant pip-pip-pip—play;
You shall gig-gig-gaze on the stit-tit-ately raccoon,
And then, did-did-dear, together we'll stray,

To the cage of the bub-bub-blue fuf-fuf-faced bab-bab bab

-boon.

You wished (I r-r-r-remember it well,

And I 1-1-1-loved you m-m-more for the wish) fo witness the bub-bub-bub-beautiful pip-pipican swallow the 1-1-live 1-1-1-little fuf-fuf-fish.

-pel

Then c-c-come, did-did-dearest, n-n-n-never say “nun-nunun-nun -nay;”

I'll tit-tit-treat you, my love, to a bub-bub-bub-'bus, Tis but thrup-pip-pip-pip-pence a pip-pip-piece al

the way,

To see the hip-pip-pip-(I beg your pardon!)—

To see the hip-pip-pip-pip-(ahem!)

The hip-pip-pip-pip-pop-pop-pop-pop—(I mean)

The hip-po-po-po--(dear me, love, you know)

The hippo-pot-pot-pot-('pon my word I'm quite ashamed of myself.)

The hip-pip-pop---the hip-po-pot,

To see the Hippop-potamus.

THE CHRISTIAN MAIDEN AND THE LION.

FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE.

'Give the Christians to the lions!" was the savage Roman's cry,

And the vestal virgins added their voices shrill and high; And the Cæsar gave the order, “Loose the lions from their den!

For Rome must have a spectacle worthy of gods and men."

Forth to the broad arena a little band was led,

But words forbear to utter how the sinless blood was shed.
No sigh the victims proffered, but now and then a prayer
From lips of age and lips of youth rose upward on the air;
And the savage Cæsar muttered, “By Hercules! I swear,
Braver than gladiators these dogs of Christians are.”
Then a lictor bending slavishly, saluting with his axe,
Said, "Mighty Imperator! the sport one feature lacks:
We have an Afric lion, savage, and great of limb,
Fasting since yester-eve; is the Grecian maid for him?"
The Emperor assented. With a frantic roar and bound,
The monster, bursting from his den, gazed terribly around.
And toward him moved a maiden, slowly, but yet serene;
"By Venus!" cried the Emperor, "she walketh like a queen."
Unconscious of the myriad eyes she crossed the blood-
soaked sand,

Till face to face the maid and beast in opposition stand;
The daughter of Athene, in white arrayed, and fair,

Gazed on the monster's lowered brow, and breathed a silent

prayer.

Then forth she drew a crucifix and held it high in air.

Lo, and behold! a miracle! the lion's fury fled,
And a the Christian maiden's feet he laid his lordly head;
While he fearlessly caressed, he slowly rose, and then,
Witne soft, backward look at her, retreated to his den.
One shout rose from the multitude, tossed like a stormy sea:
"The Gods have so decreed it; let the Grecian maid go free!"
Within the catacombs that night a saint with snowy hair
Folded upon his aged breast his daughter young and fair;
And the gathered brethren lift a chant of praise and prayer;
From the monster or the desert, from the heathen fierce
and wild,

God has restored to love and life his sinless, trusting child.

BSSSS

ON THE CHANNEL BOAT.

"What! Fred, you here? I didn't see
You come aboard at Dover.

I met the Browns last week; they said
That you were coming over,
But didn't say how soon."

"Oh, yes;

I came by the Britannic;

And what a rush there was for berths! 'Twas almost like a panic.

I'm mighty glad to meet you, Will. Where are you going?"

"Paris."

"Good! so am I. I've got to meet
My cousin, Charley Harris,

To-morrow. He and I have planned
A little trip together

Through Switzerland on foot; I hope
We'll have some decent weather."

"Take care there! hold your hat; it blows."

"Yes; how this steamer tosses! I'm never sea-sick; Charley is, Though, every time he crosses. Who's with you, Will?"

"I'm traveling with

My sister and my mother;

They're both below. I came on deck;

It's close enough to smother

Down there. These chaps don't care a sna

For ventilation, hang 'em!

Where did you stop in London? We

Were stopping at the Langham."

"You were? why, so was I. But then
I only got there Sunday,

At breakfast time, and went away
The afternoon of Monday.

And yet, within the short sojourn

I lost my heart completely;