"I must go," said the latter, rising with a groan, "seems like I never will reach the bottom o' my troubles this year. I keep thinkin' there's nothin' left an' then I get a wasp at each end at once. Well, I'll come over when Mr. Weskin goes--if I have strength." Then she limped home. * * * * * It was about nine that night that she returned and pounded vigorously on her friend's window-pane. Mrs. Lathrop woke from her rocker-nap, went to the window and opened it. Susan stood below and the moon illuminated her smile and her ears with its most silvery beams. "He's just gone!" she announced. "Yes," said Mrs. Lathrop, rubbing her eyes. "He's gone; I come over to tell you." "What--" said Mrs. Lathrop. "I wouldn't care if my ears was as big as a elephant's now." "Why--" asked Mrs. Lathrop. "Mrs. Lathrop, you know as I took them bonds straight after father died an' locked 'em up an' I ain't never unlocked 'em since?" Mrs. Lathrop assented with a single rapt nod. "Well, when I explained to Mr. Weskin as I'd got to have money an' how was the best way to sell a bond, he just looked at me, an' what do you think he said--what _do_ you think he said, Mrs. Lathrop?" Mrs. Lathrop hung far out over the window-sill--her gaze was the gaze of the ever earnest and interested. Susan stood below. Her face was aglow with the joy of the affluent--her very voice might have been for once entitled as silvery. "He said, Mrs. Lathrop, he said, 'Miss Clegg, why don't you go down to the bank and cut your coupons?'" THE TWO PRISONERS BY CAROLYN WELLS Once upon a time there were two Prisoners at the bar, who endeavored to plead for themselves with Tact and Wisdom. One concealed certain Facts prejudicial to his Cause; upon which the Judge said: "If you had Confessed the Truth it would have Biased me in your Favor; as it is, I Condemn you to Punishment." The other stated his Case with absolute Truth and Sincerity, concealing Nothing; and the result was that he was Condemned for his Misdemeanors. MORALS: This Fable teaches that Honesty is the Best Policy, and that the Truth should not Be spoken at All Times. A MODERN ADVANTAGE BY CHARLOTTE BECKER One morning, when the sun shone bright And all the earth was fair, I met a little city child, Whose ravings rent the air. "I lucidly can penetrate The Which," I heard him say,-- "The How is, wonderfully, come To clear the limpid way. "The sentence, rarely, rose and fell From ceiling to the floor; Her words were spotlessly arranged, She gave me, strangely, more." "What troubles you, my little man?" I dared to ask him then,-- He fixed me with a subtle stare, And said, "Most clearly, when "You see I'm occupied, it's rude To question of my aims-- I'm going to the adverb school Of Mr. Henry James!" THE RAGGEDY MAN BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY