"Mr. Sneed, I am delighted to see you," said Mrs. Howard, as a very tall and very slim gentleman, elegantly dressed, approached. "You do me honor, madam. It is the superlative felicity of my sublunary existence to congratulate you on this auspicious occasion," replied Mr. Sneed, as he gently pressed the gloved hand of the lady. That sounds just like Master Simon Sneed, only very much intensified. Simon is a salesman still in a large establishment--has never risen above that position and probably never will; for, born to be a gentleman, he feels as much above his business as his business really is above him. Simon's father and mother say a pleasant word to the bride, and pass on. And here comes a great fat woman, whose tongue flies like the shuttle in a loom. Well, it is the captain's mother. Since her son has been prosperous, she has had an easy time of it, and has grown very corpulent. "Who do you think has come, Katy?" puffed Mrs. Howard. "I don't know. Who?" "Mrs. Colvin, that was! Mrs. McCarty, that is." Some of the very good-natured people laughed, and some of the very fastidious ones turned up their noses, when they saw Mrs. McCarty so warmly received by the bride; but she did not care who laughed or who sneered; she was not too proud to welcome, in the hour of prosperity and happiness, those who had been her friends in adversity. "Mrs. Howard, I congratulate you," said a fat man, who was puffing and blowing at the heat of the room. It was an ex-mayor and after he had said a few pleasant words, he passed on to make room for a hundred more who were waiting to speak to the bride. That was a very pleasant party; but as we are opposed to crowded rooms and late hours, we may as well retire. The next day the happy couple started upon a bridal tour, and on their return, Captain Howard sailed for Liverpool, in his fine ship, with Mrs. Howard as a passenger. And now my young friend, adieu. If you are poor, don't be too proud to work at any honest occupation; but be too proud to do wrong--too proud to degrade yourself in your own eyes, by doing a mean act; and in this sense you may truly be "Poor and Proud."