get a book and write or copy someone else's ideas. Be original or nothing. It would be far more honest for you to go to meeting dressed in some one else's clothes than to dress your mind in some one's thoughts. Above all things never borrow a thought, an essay or even a plot of a story, and send it to this magazine. If you have nothing original, don't send anything. I have the utmost contempt for one who would willfully steal the thoughts, ideas or words of another and then palm them off upon me as original. Girls, think about this and be careful you never plagiarize anyone. MISCELLANEOUS. OUR MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. MARY A. THOMAS. HEY have done a vast amount of 1 good, are still doing and will cont tinue to do good, until the youth of Zion are educated, refined, purified and prepared to fill the responsible positions in which they will be placed. And places that will require men and women of deep thought, good judgment, and of well-balanced, in tellectual minds, will be ready and waiting. The academies, colleges and schools of our country and Territory, afford good facilities and great advantages for obtaining an education. But it can not all be grasped, and secured at such places. A young graduate from college has only just commenced to climb the tree of knowledge. He has merely cultivated or brought out (to a degree) the faculties of his mind, and buckled on the armor of usefulness, which, (if he is careful never to undo its clasps) will shield and aid him in fighting the battles of life. And if he has written "Excelsior" on his banner he will perhaps see his wildest dreams | and aspirations realized. There are many ways in which | an observing person may glean knowledge and wisdome. One who has resolved to be a useful member in society, to honor his Creator by being all He designed him to be, can look around him and find study and reflection for the mind in the simplest and most humble thing of And to behold the God's creation. beautiful, glorious, and mighty works of nature, move as it were the very depths of the soul. Who can look upon our own beautiful summer skies, and watch the snow white wreaths of foamy clouds, looming above our rugged mountain peaks, and reflect upon the surpassing beauty of the scene, and fail to trace the touch of an Almighty hand? In the Doctrine and Covenants, page 183, in a revelation given to Hyrum Smith, we find these words. I. "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Behold, I am God and give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word." 3. "Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my com mandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich; behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." No vast amount of knowledge can be crammed or forced into the mind in a month nor yet in a year. We need not hope by a few short years of hard study to master all the many branches of education that an average mind is capable of grasping in this life; but it is accomplished by perseverance, industry and hard dint of study, by picking up a little here, and a little there; an item from one, and a hint from another. And we can always learn something from each exercise listened to in our Mutual Improvement meetings. Life is school of improvement from childhood to the grave. Nay, nor is our thirst for knowledge smothered in the tomb; but it goes with us to the spirit world, and will rise with us in the morning of the resurrection. a Brother Parley P. Pratt in his "Key to Theology," page 120, says: "The spirit world is an intermediate state, a probation, a place of preparation, improvement, instruction, or education, where spirits are chastened and improved and where, if found worthy, they may be taught a knowledge of the gospel." Let us all be earnest and energetic in our search for wisdom and truth. Calling on our Heavenly Father to aid us in overcoming the imperfections of the flesh, in taking an active part in building up His kingdom. In putting down error of all kind, rudeness, vulgarity, in speaking evil of one another, and everything that is hurt ful to society or unbecoming to a lady or gentleman, and supplanting in their stead, a true reverence and love for God and the precious principles of our religion. SUNSET SONNETS. Poised on the outer edges of the world From nearest heights day's westward course was whirled. Now as adown the west she wings her way, Stained tufts of down that drift from her pierced breast Float backward to the eastern mountain's crest, Cheating the night who grasps for living preyRending the down-then with a furious zest And swifter pinion follows after day. Before the leaden casket of the storm, And darker sapphire from the casket rolled- JOSEPH BARNARD lived to an old age. His hair retained its natural color, but his beard was gray. When asked to explain this, he replied, "I suppose I have worked my jaws more than my brains, and thus the lower part of my head is more bleached." I HARK to the river by night and by day; Its voice like eternity sweeps through my soul; It wails not, it laughs not, but hidden away Within its deep melody high passions roll, Which draw my fond spirit so winsome awayI call it in fondness My River. I walk by my river; its banks and its glades Entice me to follow its beckon and call; I linger and loiter amid its fair glades; I hearken and gaze at each ripple and fall, And grope for the secret which shyly evades My blind, eager search by my River. I talk to my river; it answers me not, I sing to my river and hope to attune I laugh to my river in airiest mirth, earth The sails of my fancy with merry gales fill; birth And still all unwon is my River. I weep by my river and fancy I hear I pray by my river, pour out my whole soul No. 2. To Him in whose praise chant the spheres as they roll; And lo, like a silver-stringed harp. float above W LIGHTS AND SHADES. [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14.] HILE thus speaking, the Bishop took a sheet of note paper from the quire he picked out of the drawer, replaced the package, and again seated himself ready for writing. It seemed strange to Jacob, if a man who might consider himself "crossed in love," could so readily conquer a feeling of revenge, as to write a good recommendation for his rival, when he had it in his power to do otherwise. But he said nothing, neither did the Bishop speak again until he had finished writing, and folded the note. As he handed it to Jacob, the latter remarked, "I was wishing to ask you, Bishop Smith, to come over to Brother Hillon's this evening, and-marry Gwyn and me-if-you would be so kindof course, we shall go to the city soon, but I thought-" He paused and the Bishop answered him thus, "In my judgment, it would be better for you to wait and go to the city first. Begin your married life right, which will be safer and easier than righting it afterward.. That's my advice, though you did not ask for it." out first confiding with her the precious secret that Gwyn had favored his suit and promised to become his wife. He "Gwyn wanted me to ask your advice." Jacob's honesty and conscientiousness would not allow him to withhold this fact, however much his ❘ felt humbled and penitent. inclination might have been not to admit it. He went on and confessed, "But I was afraid it would be as it is; so did not want it." Both gentlemen smiled at this frank admission, and then the Bishop said, "If Gwyn wishes to be married to you this evening, I will agree to perform the ceremony; although I should rather see you both begin life better." Jacob could but admit, now, that Gwyn had not favored the idea of being married at that time; that he alone had desired it. Then the Bishop asked, "Does your father know and approve of this contemplated union ?" "No, sır," Jacob replied, "but I am sure he will be pleased with it when he does know; he thinks everything of Gwyn." "That is all right, my young friend," said Bishop Smith, "but as long as your father lives, and does his duty by you as a father, walking uprightly as a servant of God, you should never get in so great a hurry over any matter of importance, as to forget the respect due to him. You may know that a certain course would be entirely satisfactory to him, but it will be all the more so, if you consult him first." The young man knew that what his Bishop said was correct, when he thought of it; and he thought, too, of his dear, good mother: how she had prayed for and advised him, kindly and wisely; and how he should have dishonored her in her position, show ing disrespect and ingratitude for all her love and faithfulness, had he stood up before her and been married, with He begged the Bishop's pardon for having been so thoughtless, and confessed that the fear of some one of Gwyn's former lovers winning her away from him, had made him thus hasty. "Oh! my dear boy, you must have more faith in woman than that," said the Bishop, "or you will not be very happy, even after marriage. If there's a woman in the world, besides Fanny Smith, that is worthy to be trusted, I believe it to be Gwyn Lloyd. Now see that you make her and yourself happy by showing her that you trust her implicitly; never look upon her and her admirers, (she is sure to be admired everywhere, such women always are,) with the eye of suspicion. Let her know that you have no desire to restrain her young, pure, buoyant nature. She will only love and trust you the more for the perfect confidence you place in her. Gwyn's truthfulness, her simplicity, her candor, and above all, her intrinsic faith in God, are safe-guards to her character, which many persons are not favored with in so high a degree, even among our highly-favored people, the Latter-day Saints. You are greatly blessed, Brother Jacob, in securing such a prize. Love and trust her as you should, and you will both be happy." No words of counsel and encouragement could have been more appropriate, or better calculated to do good than those words of Bishop Smith to his young friend. Jacob determined to profit by them. He thanked the Bishop warmly and left the office. Pretty Chloe Lee was outside the door as Jacob approached his sister's home; he had concluded not to go to his work again that day, but to take an afternoon's holiday. as well be told, that Chloe was glad of all this, for she enjoyed the opportunity thus given, of speaking with Jacob alone, without the appearance of having turned traitor in the scheme which had been laid to entrap him. "We have all been so anxious to see you, Jacob," said the belle beauty, approaching him as he neared her, and gracefully extending her hand. "Your mother has been telling us you are twenty-one today, and we girls have been planning such a lot of fun with you." The two remained out and conversed in low tones. "Are you going to whip me?" Jacob enquired laughingly, shrugging his shoulders. "No, that was not mentioned in the programme," said Chloe, "we all think better of you, than that you need such treatment." He watched the young beauty shaking the wool dust from her apron and sleeves, and wondered why he had not fallen in love with her, whose father was one of the "well-to-do" Americans of the place, whose beauty was everywhere spoken of, and who had often shown a decided preference for his company; instead of settling his affections upon the penniless little Welsh orphan, who had no particular | side the door while the singing lasted, outward attractions, and who had never, at any time, betrayed her love for him, until he had that day asked for, and even pleaded for it. The thought of all this simply passed through his mind; it brought no regrets that he was going to marry Gwyn instead of Chloe. Since he had made up his mind to abandon the thought of marrying hastily, and not to fret about Gwyn's other admirers, he felt a quiet satisfaction in the love he had that day come to realize, which he had never before known. As he walked up the path now, he felt serenely blessed and happy. It must have shown in his bearing and countenance, for Chloe noticed something about him which inspired the thought that she had never before considered Jacob Howe dignified, or really handsome, but now his appearance was even grand, almost majestic. Chloe's first thought, when she saw Jacob coming, was to run to the door and tell the girls to make ready for an onslaught; but they had persuaded Grandma Wilson to sing, and she had just commenced, "I'm sitting on the stile, Mary;" and it would not do to interrupt the singing. The truth may "That's good; what is the game then, and who proposed it?" asked Jacob, wondering if Chloe would own to being one of the instigators of the plan he knew had been arranged, as he believed her to be. "I guess I must not tell," answered the girl, "but if you'll come in now, and sing with us and be friendly, I'll see that you are not hurt, and shall be ever so pleased." This was said in such a pretty, coaxing way, and Chloe's strangely, handsome, dark eyes and sweetly-smiling, rose-bud lips were turned toward Jacob in such a bewitching manner that he actually owned to himself that he had never before known that the "belle-beauty of F.," was really so beautiful. He did not go on drinking in the subtle influence of the bewildering beauty beside him though, as many a |