"'To the Editor,--Sir: I am a Boston man; I do not deny it, but glory in the title! Some winters ago I was tempted to go west on business, and found myself snowed up in that great Metropolis of the Lakes,--the Pride of the West,--the Garden City,--in a word, Chicago! It was before the great fire; the hotels were crowded; I was in the fifth story, and, need I say it, I was miserable! In addition to my bodily sufferings, my ear was tortured by the various pronunciations given to the city's name. No sooner had I mastered one than I heard another! At last, driven to desperation, I tried to while away the time in composing the following 'Ode,' in which my feelings, and the three different pronunciations are expressed:-- 'ODE TO CHICAGO. The wind is loud, and on the road The snow lays an embargo, While, in his room, a Boston man Sits snow-bound in Chi-CAR-go. A monkey when he is so sick That he can't make his paw go, Feels better than a Boston man When storm-bound in Chi-CAW-go. A spinster, when she cannot make Her thin and grayish hair grow, Feels happier than a Boston man When storm-bound in Chi-CARE-go. A Boston man would sooner lose His credit, cash, and cargo, He'd sooner be a beggar than A dweller in Chi-CAR-go. A Boston man would sooner far To wigwam with a squaw go, Than to enjoy domestic bliss In the best house in Chi-CAW-go. All the extreme and dreadful lengths A Boston man would dare go, Could ne'er include the direful thought Of DWELLING in Chi-CARE-go. ELIJAH GAY.'" There was a general laugh over this effusion of the Boston bachelor. Mr. Gay was a genial, pleasant man, and although approaching his three-score years and ten, he enjoyed the companionship of young people, and, what is more unusual, the young people sought his company; he entered into their feelings and interests, and was not so devoted to memories of the past but that; he could see the advantages and improvements of the present. "The next article to which I shall call your attention," said Hugh, taking another paper from the basket, "is a grave and scholarly essay upon that momentous subject, ambition. After the story and the poem, no doubt our minds will receive much enjoyment from the contemplation of this instructive theme:-- 'AMBITION Ambition is the curse of nations. If it was not for ambition, America would be a better country. Ambition is wrong. Americans are very ambitious. It is always better to be content with what we have got. Especially when we have got so much. It is not right to be too ambitious. It is said we are going to have Cuba, Mexico and Canada. Of course we can have them if we want to. Or anything else. But we must always remember that ambition is wrong. THOMAS MORRIS.'"