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FROM UNDERWOODS."

LEAVE not, my soul, the unfoughten field, nor leave
Thy debts dishonored, nor thy place desert
Without due service rendered. For thy life
Up, spirit, and defend that fort of clay,
Thy body, now beleaguered; whether soon
Or late she fall; whether today thy friends
Bewail thee dead, or, after years, a man
Grown old in honor and the friend of peace:
Contend, my soul, for moments and for hours.
Each is with service pregnant; each reclaimed,
Is as a kingdom conquered, where to reign.

Robert Louis Stevenson.

MISS MICKLE of Toronto sends me the following modern version: "When the summer is past and all the fruits are gathered, for everything has grown and ripened. and is dying, then the great Manitou knows that his work for the year is over, and being weary he goes to Manitoulin Island to rest and smoke his pipe in peace before the winter comes. And as he lies there smoking, the fire in his pipe warms the earth, and the smoke of it spreads over the nations and covers every lake and hill. It is believed that Manitoulin Island was so named from this legend, but of that I am not sure."

PEOPLE WHO APPEAR OLD.

PEOPLE who appear old must expect to be considered so, and, if they apply for positions with every appearance that senility has struck them and that they have gone to seed, they cannot expect favorable consideration. If gray haired applicants for positions would only appreciate the value of appearances and would "brace up" when they seek situations "well groomed" and well dressed, with elastic steps, showing that they still possess fire, force, and enthusiasm - they would eliminate an obstacle greater than their gray hairs.

- go

We think ourselves into incapacity by looking for signs of age and dwelling on them, and the body follows the thought. We should, therefore, avoid the appearance of age in every possible way-by dress, carriage, conversation, and especially by our attitude toward people and things. It is not difficult to preserve the buoyancy and freshness of youth, but it must be done by constant effort and practice. A musician who expects to make only one or two important appearances a year must keep up his practice. Youthfulness cannot be put on for a day if old age has had a grip on you for months.

It is important to preserve the fire of youth as long as possible, to carry freshness and vigor into old age by keeping up a hearty interest in everything that interests youth. Many of us seem to think that youthful sports and pastimes are foolish, and before we know it we get entirely out of sympathy with all young life, and consequently really old, whatever our years. We must think youthful thoughts, associate with young people and interest them. When a person ceases to interest the young he may be sure that he is showing signs of old age.

Success.

HAIL, welcome tide of life, where no tremendous billows roll,

How wondrous to myself appears this halcyon calm of soul!

The wearied bird blown o'er the deep would sooner quit

its shore

Than I would cross the gulf again that Time has brought me o'er!

Campbell.

By ceaseless action all that is subsists,
Constant volutions of the unwearied wheel
That Nature rides upon, maintain her wealth,
Her beauty, her fertility she dreads

An instant's pause and lives but while she moves.

MRS. MARY A. LIVERMORE once wrote:

Some years ago I resolved to cultivate habitual cheerfulness under all circumstances. It has not been an easy task, but I have succeeded; and now, drifting on to my eightieth birthday, burdened with heavy cares, stripped of those nearest and dearest to me by death, I am not sorrowful. I am not going down hill,' as people say of the old, but up hill' all the way, and I am sure that life is better further on."

6

How happy is he born and taught
That serveth not another's will,
Whose armor is his honest thought,

And simple truth his utmost skill!

Who hath his life from rumors freed,
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
Nor ruin make oppressors great.

Who God doth late and early pray
More of his grace than gifts to lend,
And entertains the harmless day
With a religious book or friend.

This man is freed from servile hands,
Of hope to rise or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands,
And, having nothing, yet hath all.

Sir Henry Wotton, 1630.

AGE COMMANDMENTS.

HERE are the ten commandments which S. Marcus Rothschild of Chicago lays down in his book, just published, on the subject, "How to Prolong Life One Hundred Years on Earth":

I. Thou shalt not eat more than three times in the twenty-four hours. Commence with fruits, nuts, whole wheat bread, vegetables.

2. Thou shalt drink distilled water.

3. Thou shalt walk and run out of doors four hours of the twenty-four.

4. Thou shalt bathe daily in cold water.

5. Thou shalt wear lightweight clothing only, but a trifle heavier when the weather is cold.

6. Thou shalt sleep near an open window and lie not longer in bed than nine hours at one time.

7. Thou must let the sun shine on thy dwelling place. 8. Thou must do all thy work and attend to all thy pleasures with regularity.

9. Thou shalt keep thy body in regulation weight and live a natural life.

10. Thou shalt be cheerful and companionable.