YOU may plant the cone of a California Pine in a vase of earth, and cover it with a glass, and set it in your window to catch the sunbeams, and keeping the earth moist the pine will grow until it reaches the top of the glass, and it will search all around to find some way out of its prison, and will press with all its vital force toward Heaven. But the glass resists the pressure, and those little branches turn back to earth, the stunted pine soon withers to the very root. But plant that cone in its native soil, and give it showers and sunshine, and it will lift its branches higher and higher, for thousands of years, until it forms the loftiest pile of verdure on the face of the earth. So a man may plant his hopes on a little spot of earth, and close himself in with the covering of earthly pleasures, and for awhile he may long to break through his prison walls and come forth to a freer life. But, in the end, if he keeps his covering on, his growth will be downward and dwarfed. But let him break forth from the contracted circle of a worldly life, let him cultivate hopes worthy his immortal destiny, let him look upon God as his Father, and himself as the heir of boundless creation, and he shall grow in greatness and in joy; “he shall be made a king and reign forever!” “If thou cans’t plant a noble deed And never flag till it succeed Though in the strife thy heart shall bleed, Go on, brave soul, thy hour will come— Thou’lt win the prize, and reach the goal.” —_Selected._ [Illustration: LYING IN WAIT.] _Volume 15, Number 7._ Copyright, 1887, by D. LOTHROP COMPANY. _December 17, 1887._ THE PANSY. [Illustration: OUR TIGER.] OUR TIGER. [Illustration: N]OW, dear children, do not expect a terrible story of a wild animal, for our Tiger was only a dog. When Jennie and I were little, we teased our papa for a dog to play with, and one night our hearts were made glad by his bringing one home to us. It had been living in one of the large freight depots in Boston, and had been so teased by little urchins, that often lounge about such places, that he was fast getting to be very cross and snappish, so it was thought best to get rid of him. He never outgrew his dislike for boys, and would not allow them to touch him at all, but would often chase them, and sometimes bite them if they came on the premises. This hatred extended even to the youngest children, and from a little boy baby he would walk away in disgust, while he would allow a little girl to pull him about without a word of complaint.