Fifth. On the hills and mountains, burning Sought what trees' most pleasant shade? Answer. "They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under ОAKS and PopLARS and ELMS, because the shadow thereof is good."— [Hos. iv: 13. Sixth. When another prophet telleth Of God's judgments falling fast, Whilst his heart with sorrow swelleth, Answer.-"The VINE is dried up, and the FIG-TREE languisheth; the POMEGRANATE-TREE, the PALM-TREE also, and the APPLE-TREE, even all the trees of the field are withered; because joy is withered away from the sons of men."[Joel i: 12. Seventh. After words of solemn warning To the people in their sin, Then what hope, like gleams of dawning, Through the prophet's voice flows in? Answer.-" But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return. As a TEIL-TREE and as an OAK, whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof."-[Isa. vi: 13. Eighth. Unto Israel returning, Hear the promise of his Lord; God to his dear children turning, Speaks to them what precious word? Answer.-"I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon; his branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the OLIVETREE."-[Joel xiv: 5, 6. Ninth. When God called the "weeping prophet," When he said, “What dost thou see?" Spring's first brightly-blooming tree? Answer.-"The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? ALMOND-TREE." -[Jer. i: 11. And I said, I see a rod of an Tenth.- When Elijah's spirit failed him, And he asked that he might die, When the angel touched and hailed him, Answer.—“ But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a JUNIPER-TREE; and he requested for himself that he might die."--[I. Kings xix: 4. Eleventh- When the Lord directed David TREES. Out to battle how to go, O'er against what trees, then said he, Answer.-"Come upon them over against the MULBERRYAnd it shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the MULBERRY-TREES, that then thou shalt go out to battle."-[I. Chron. xiv: 14, 15. Twelfth. What tree, that now on Lebanon, In solemn beauty reigns, In the grand days of Solomon Grew, like, upon the plains, Zaccheus, who ran on before, When Jesus passed that way? Answer.-"And the CEDAR-TREES made he as the SYCAMORE-TREES that are in the low plains in abundance." "And Zaccheus ran before and climbed up into a SYCAMORE-TREE to see Jesus.”—[II. Chron. ix: 27; Luke xix: 4. Thirte'th.—What trees that Hiram sent, with gold Made terraces, as we are told, Answer.--"And the king made of the ALMUG-TREES pillars to the house of the Lord."--I. Kings x: 12. Fourt'th. Of what trees did Ezekiel write, When he Assyria's strength and might And beauty would declare? Answer.-"The CEDARS in the garden of God could not hide him; the FIR-TREES were not like his boughs; and the CHESTNUT-TREES* were not like his branches, nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty."[Ezek. xxxi: 8. Fifteenth.-And now what tree more fair than all And yet its wondrous leaves may fall To bless both you and me? Answer." In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river was there the TREE OF LIFE, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."-[Rev. xxii: 1, 2. TEMPERANCE DIALOGUE.-E. MURRAY. Room in Town Hall. A number of men consulting Chairman at the table. Enter a man with a box, cover tied on. Applicant.-Good morning, gentlemen. Chairman.-Will you take a seat and wait a moment, please? We are making up our estimates of expenses for last year. Applicant places box down carefully at a little distance and seats himself. Committee write, consult, etc. Chairman-Now, sir, what can we do for you? Applicant.-If you please, I would like a permit to raise and exhibit rattlesnakes. 1st. Com.-Raise what? Applicant.-Rattlesnakes, sir. 2d. Com.-What did you say? Applicant.-Yes, sir, rattlesnakes, like these, sir (lifting the box-lid a hair's breadth). All the Committee (excitedly).—Shut the lid! Shut it down! I say, sir, shut it, shut it! Chairman (sternly).-What do you mean by bringing these creatures into our council-room, sir? Old gentleman.-Don't you think-ah-that box-ah-had better be removed? *The Chestnut-tree of the Scriptures is the Plane tree, such as "The Persian adorned with mantles and jewels." 3d. Com.-Second that motion. Applicant. But, sir, I assure you that they are perfectly harmless, if you do not meddle with them. 4th. Com.-Meddle with them! Why, man alive, what if they meddle with us? Applicant. They are in a box, no one need open it that does not choose to. 5th. Com.-Suppose they should get loose. 6th Com.-Fortunately I have an umbrella handy. Old gentleman.-Suppose-ah-with your leave, I'll open — ah-the door. It might be necessary-ah-to retreat precipitately. Applicant.-Your alarm is entirely unnecessary, gentle. men. Chairman.-We had better get rid of the man and his snakes together. What do you want? Applicant.-A license, gentlemen, to keep and exhibit rattlesnakes. Chairman.-Where do you intend to keep them? 1st Com.-In our council room, it appears. Applicant.-No, sir, certainly not, sir. In my store on one of the principal squares. I intend to have a show of snakes, tame ones, make a small charge, say five or ten cents for handling them, have a band of music to make it pleasant for the young people. I expect to make such a profit that I can afford to pay a good price for a license. Help to reduce your expenses, gentlemen. 2d. Com.--But what if your tame snakes should bite some of those who handle them? Applicant.-Oh, well, of course, that is the fault of the person who handles them. They should handle them gently. 3d. Com.-(Poking the box with a cane.) Are they tame now? Applicant (uneasily).-Take care, please, sir; I am not sure what temper they are in just now. What will be the price of the license, please? 4th Com.-Now, I like that. "Pretty City Fathers" you must think we are to let young people walk into a store where they can handle poisonous snakes. We would deserve to be hung as high as Haman. Applicant.-But you license whiskey stores. 5th. Com.-Why, the fathers and mothers would mob us. Applicant.-But, you license 6th Com.-They would indict us, and justly, too. Applicant.-But you license whiskey Chairman.-Come, you take yourself and your snakes off. Applicant.-But you license whiskey selling, and I can prove by statistics that that poisons more people than all the snakes in the world. 1st. Com.—I move that the petitioner has leave to withdraw. Applicant.-But you license— 2d. Com.-I second the motion. Applicant.-Whiskey selling. Chairman.-Are you ready for the question? Applicant.-But, sir; no, sir. Committee.-Question! Question! Applicant.-Whiskey selling poisons more people— Chairman.-All in the affirmative say Aye. Applicant.-Than my poor snakes. 'Committee.-Aye! Aye! Aye! Chairman-Negative, by the usual sign. Applicant.-But, gentlemen, why do you license whiskey selling? Chairman.-It is a vote. Applicant. But, gentlemen, gentlemen, my rattlers are tame. Old gentleman.-Tame, fiddlesticks. 3d. Com.-Take them away, at once, sir. Applicant (snatching up the box and untying it).—Just see, gentlemen. Take care, sir. Fourth Committee tries to push him out, the box falls, and there is a general stampede, leaving old gentleman on a chair, swinging the umbrella and crying "Fire!" -Popular Educator. |