said, "My son, why go in there?" and a louder than the boisterous encore of the theatre, a voice saying, "My son, what do you here?" And when you went into the house of sin, a voice saying, "What would your mother do if she knew you were here?" And you were provoked at yourself, and you charged yourself with superstition and fanaticism, and your head got hot with your own thoughts, and you went home and you went to bed, and no sooner had you touched the bed than a voice said, "What a prayerless pillow!" Man! what is the matter? This! You are too near your mother's rocking-chair.

"Oh, pshaw!" you say, "there's nothing in that. I'm five hundred miles off from where I was born-I'm three thousand miles off from the Scotch kirk whose bell was the first music I ever heard.” I cannot help that. You are too near your mother's rocking-chair. "Oh!" you say, "there can't be anything in that; that chair has been vacant a great while." I cannot help that. It is all the mightier for that; it is omnipotent, that vacant mother's chair. whispers. It speaks. It weeps. It carols. It mourns. It mourns. It prays. It warns. It thunders. A young man went off and broke his mother's heart, and while he was away from home his mother died, and the telegraph brought the son, and he came into the room where she lay, and looked upon her face, and cried out, "O mother, mother, what your life could not do your death shall effect. This moment I give my heart to God." And he kept his promise. Another victory for the vacant chair. With reference to your mother, the words of my text were fulfilled: "Thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty." -Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, D.D.

MARRIAGEABLE AGES

In different countries, the marriageable age varies greatly. In Austria, “man” and “woman" are supposed to be capable of conducting a home of their own from the ages of fourteen. In Germany the man must be at least eighteen years of age. In France the man must be eighteen and the woman fifteen; in Belgium the same ages. In Spain the intended husband must have. passed his fourteenth year, and the woman her twelfth. In Hungary, for Roman Catholics, the man must be fourteen years old and the woman twelve; for Protestants, the man must be eighteen and the woman fifteen. In Greece the man must have seen at least fourteen summers and the woman twelve. In Portugal a boy of fourteen is considered marriageable and a woman twelve. In Russia and Saxony they are a little more sensible, and a youth must refrain from entering into matrimony till he can count eighteen years, and the woman 'till she can count sixteen. In Switzerland men from the age of fourteen and woman from the age of twelve are allowed to marry. In Turkey any youth and maid who can walk properly and can understand the necessary religious service, may marry. Among thoughtful people everywhere, it is beginning to be felt that a just comprehension of its high obligations ought to be demanded as essential qualifications for marriage.

They stand with their backs to papa's tall hat,
Though the sweetest murmurs come from that.

The children join in the funny distress,

Till mamma, all sudden, with swift caress,

Makes a pounce right down on the old, tall black hat,
And brings out the baby from under that.

"Baby! Baby!" calling.

And this is the end of the little play,

The children would like to try every day.

A FATHER'S LOVE

-Ella Farman.

The steamship Australia was preparing to leave San Francisco for the Klondike, and two fathers were bidding farewell to their sons.

One strapping young fellow wrung the hand of an old man of military bearing. "Well, Jack," the father said, "I wish you all kinds of good luck, and, my boy, whatever you do, don't drink!" A moment later, with a gulp in his throat, he said: "Good-bye. I can't stand about here, or I shall lose my courage and beg you to stay." And with another handshake he was gone.

Another young chap was given "God-speed" by his old father, and the parent's voice broke as he said: "Now, George, you know there is always a good home to come to if you don't strike anything. Don't stay up there and suffer because of any false pride. If you can't get a fortune this season, come back. You will have as good a show here as many others, and you can always count on a good home!"

How much it means when the good Book says: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."

THE LIBRARY

A library may very properly open out of a dining-room or be the intermediate apartment between the dining-room and the parlor or drawing-room. It should have good light. This is very important, as by day those who are reading should not have their eyes unduly taxed; by night the library is best equipped which has a pleasant central light and two or three good lamps, either in brackets or on tables. Cushioned window-seats add a touch of luxury, and a narrow divan running entirely around the room is also very appropriate and not beyond the most moderate purse, as it may easily be home-made. A few easy chairs, a table in the centre of the room, a desk, and low book-cases in recesses against the walls, and the library has all it needs in the way of what may be called its scaffolding.

In choosing books be as careful as you are in the selection of friends for yourself and children. Get good ones.

A BOY'S GRANDMOTHER

A stitch is always dropping in the everlasting knitting,

And the needles that I've threaded, no, you couldn't count to-day; And I've hunted for the glasses till I thought my head was splitting, When there upon her forehead as calm as clocks they lay.

I've read to her till I was hoarse, the Psalms and the Epistles,

When the other boys were burning tar-barrels down the street;
And I've stayed and learned my verses when I heard their willow whistles,
And I've stayed and said my chapter with fire in both my feet.
And I've had to walk beside her when she went to evening meeting,
When I wanted to be racing, to be kicking, to be off;

And I've waited while she gave the folks a word or two of greeting
First on one foot then the other, and most strangled with a cough.
"You can talk of Young America," I say, "till you are scarlet,
It's Old America, I say, that has the inside track!"

Then she raps me with her thimble and calls me a young varlet,
And then she looks so woe-begone I have to take it back.

But! There always is a peppermint or a penny in her pocket-
There never was a pocket that was half so big and deep-
And she lets the candle in my room burn way down to the socket,
While she stews and putters round about till I am sound asleep.

There's always somebody at home when every one is scattering;
She spreads the jam upon your bread in a way to make you grow;
She always takes a fellow's side when every one is battering;

And when I tear my jacket I know just where to go!

And when I've been in swimming after father said I shouldn't,
And mother has her slipper off, according to the rule,

It sounds as sweet as silver, the voice that says, "I wouldn't-
The boy that won't go swimming such a day would be a fool!"
Sometimes there's something in her voice as if she gave a blessing,
And I look at her a moment and I keep still as a mouse-
And who she is by this time there is no need of guessing,
For there's nothing like a grandmother to have about the house.

THE GENTLEMAN AS GUEST

"A civil guest," as

The gentleman never monopolizes conversation. George Herbert says, "will no more talk all than eat all the feast." He will not break into the speech of another, nor listen with ill-concealed impatience to be