While the horses were being changed, one of the insiders, I need not say it was a woman, thrust her head outside of the window, and addressed the young person perched like a bird upon the highest seat. Her voice was soft and persuasive. “Miss!” “Madam!” “I’m so afraid you find it too cold up there. Sha’n’t I change places with you?” The little one gave her voice a droll inflection as she briskly replied: “Oh, dear, no, thank you; I’m very comfortable indeed.” “But,” urged the other, “you don’t look strong; indeed, dear, you don’t. Aren’t you very, _very_ tired, sitting so long without any support to your back?” “Thanks, no; my spine is the strongest part of me.” “But,” still persisted the inside, changing her voice to a loud whisper, “to be sitting alone with all those men!” “They mind their business, and I mind mine,” said the little one reddening; “besides,” she quickly added, “you proposed changing places, I believe!” “Oh!” returned the other, with an accent impossible to convey in words, “if you like it.” “I tell you what, ma’am,” snapped the one in possession, “I’ve been all over Europe alone, and was never once insulted except by persons of my own sex.”—_From Drake’s “Heart of the White Mountains.”_ * * * * * EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE.—It is a curious trait in human nature, that each individual places the highest value on himself; treats the world as if it were only in existence on his account, looks upon himself as if he were the central point round which all things turn—and that yet, in spite of this universal self-appreciation, so many persons make themselves the slaves of others, or of some insignificant desire of their own. This contradiction in the human mind, this inordinate pride of men in combination with ignorance of their own true value, this insatiable self-seeking in connection with so contemptible a depreciation of themselves, is so common that we are only astonished that thoughtful persons, perceiving it in others, are not thereby led to discover it in themselves.… Every man has a price at which he sells himself. What is thy price? Hast thou ever weighed what thou art really worth? Go into thy chamber and devote some moments of earnest thought to an examination of thyself, and try to discover for what earthly good thou wouldst be likely to give thyself away. Look no farther back than the last year; pass in review thy secret thoughts and silent wishes even of the last few weeks only! Ah! a short while will no doubt suffice to show thee thy weak points, which, had they been assailed by any tempter, would soon have revealed to thee at what price thou wouldst have sold thy goodness, thy Christian principles, thy heaven on earth, thy eternal prospects. Thou shudderest? Thou wouldst rather not look into thyself? But if thou valuest thy goodness, thy Christian principles, thy heaven on earth, thy eternal prospects, ah, shrink not from this self-investigation?—_From