Saved By A Puff Of Wind.

forgiveness of ancl make peace with his Maker before hc committed an act beyond recall . With his head buried in his hands he tried to bring himself to a proper frame of mind , but unavailingly . Meanwhile a sudden puff of wind scattered some of the poems , and with them the letter of the would-be suicide ,

and wafted them to the next partition on the left occupied by the old gentleman . A natural curiosity prompted him to read them . His eyes first rested upon the fatal letter , and horrified he read these words , " Adieu to a thankless world . May God bless and orovide for my wife and child . "

In a moment he perceived the little bottle in the corner ol the adjacent partition . By a humane instinct he stretched forth his hand to seize it , but was anticipated by his nei g hbour , who -was on the point of carrying out his fell intent . A severe

struggle ensued—the intention to destroy ancl the determination to save life were in opposition . A scene followed . Mr . Stanley , infuriated at being baulked in his design , exerted his utmost strength to overcome his opponent and regain possession of the bottle .

" How dare you interfere with me , " said Mr . Stanley . " I dare do any thing , " said the old gentleman , " to save you from the commission of an impious crime . Madman , if you make any further resistance , and attempt to force the bottle from my grasp I will g ive you in charge of the police . You will

be brought before the magistrate ; you will be committed for trial ; the facts will be known to your wife ; for her sake , take my advice , come with me to an hotel close by , and , in a private room , you can then tell me your sad history . As God is above us , if you do not agree to this , the whole thing shall become known . "

It need hardly be said that all this conversation was in deep impassioned whispers , inaudible lo every one save the parties concerned . Mr . Stanley left the room , accompanied b y the benevolent stranger . They went to the hotel , a private room was

engaged—Refreshments were ordered , and not until a substantial meal had been partaken of by the pair , would Mr . Weston , the stranger , permit Mr . Stanley to communicate the circumstances which led him to the rash resolve , in which hc had bcen happil y frustrated .

" Before we enter into this unhappy affair , let me , first , utterly destroy and render harmless lhe cursed temptation thc devil had p laced in your hands . " As Mr . Weston spoke , hc drew the little bottle from his pocket , crushed it beneath his foot , and gathering together the little white powder it contained ,

threw it out of the window where it was dispersed b y the wind . In solemn and impressive words , Mr . Weston told Mr . Stanley , that he ought to render devout thanks , that he , a stranger , had been chosen in God ' s mercy , to be the humble

instrument of preventing a heinous crime , less worth y of forg iveness , hereafter , than murder , it being in itself abhorrent to Nature , who instinctively teaches us , that self-preservation is her first and most important law .

As it is not our intention to preach a sermon , we will not further dilate upon the forcible arguments used b y Mr . Weston , suffice it to say , that in a mental prayer , he implored God ' s forgiveness , and it may not be presumptuous to hope it was accorded . My story draws near its end .

Mr . Weston , who , by the way , was a publisher , and had previously , himself , declined some of Mr . Stanley ' s productions , was induced to re-peruse them , saw merit whicli had before been passed over , gave him constant employment in literary

work , congenial to his taste , and the future career of Mr , Stanley was eminently successful . His dearl y loved and devoted wife and darling little girl never knew how near they were losing the husband and father—this was thc only secret he kept from them .

In after years , Mr . Stanley often mentall y ejaculated a fervent prayer of gratitude lo his Heavenl y Father , lhat His Merciful providence had interposed , and thai he had , indeed , been " saved by a puff of wind . "

T' Doctor

T' Doctor

Gl tc' jrkit'ij mail ' s iiuprcisioii . frum Luke Fildvs' jntfuri' . in th < : \\ ' \ -. <( - Jtidiuij dialect , Wor ya ivvei- in u lliiiiiner-stonn , when t' sk y win- as black as a dual ,

An just when il win-at t ' war . sl , an still , l' wind I ' re . sbun'd and i' sun earn aght r Well , iilnn balm In tell y . -i a sloi-y , at . a jiiclui- ln-. iwl up i' my mind , JJuli winice ah win- sunk i ' t blackest neet , but t' siiu-leet cum eloi . se behind .

T' Doctor

When ah . seed that iri-and pietni- at fiu-st , ah win- struck wi' ifc silent tale . Se / . J to niyseii . but that ' s cuppiii , —it ' s ahr cottage i' Bradford-dale ! Ya see Betty lied been for sum tcah , t'furst lime shoo ' el been sight for a wick . For bless ya , shoo ' s just like a aiuril . i' carcin i ' or t' ( rubbled an' sick .

Ahr childer lied all bcen unlucky , air t-vubble for moimy a year . Made Hett y a bit superstitions , an' me full a diiatin an fear ; We'd lost three hi f fall of a chiinley , an' wun fan a sowjer ' s rest : Aiiulhei- went daan i ' t " Captin , " an Polly ' s all t' bird left i't nest ! We'd been liupiii at Poll y ad mend—shoo wor iiuiet an sceni'd ta rest ,

Bud it ' s all varry fine to preyteh hope—poor Betty wor claim an dish-ess ' il : Null ahm flesh an blooid like mi muther , an like her hey a Yoi'ksher heart , An' t' lumps i' my throit oinmust choked ma , when t' doctor ' s leefc step made ma start .

Nah ahr doctor ' s a man wi' a soul , and noan o' them fancy men . At'l send his assistant to ' t poor man an attends bud to t' rich hisscn ; My little lass ad lied t' I ' ayver bad- he'd plenty la clew ya muu knaw—But he knew it wcr life or dceath , an duly wor alius his law .

Ah'd just lied a roar owr mi trubble , and that ' s me afc ya see i't shade Wi a face as long as a fiddle , an sieh tliowts—well , ah wur tlaid ! Happen ya think ahd no cashim—( lewk afc Betty , and judge ycrson ) ; Ah war Ilaid when all felt f doctor ' s fears—mi face wi despair wur wrack'd then .

1 hat s li 1111 sitlin dahn sa watchful—he'd been twice i wun day just like that , An hoath times lewk'd anxious an fearful , woll stoppiu an eapt-like he sat :

I hat s my Polly at s liggin' sa still , thin au white under t' lamp ' s . sai-diin led , An ah'd made up mi mind all wor lost , an shoo wodn't last aht throo that neet .

h ive minutes or moar ho watch'd her , lo me it wor moar like an aar , An ' t silence araand wor dismal , bud mi waiiiu lumps wor waar ; Then he gently put back ( ' shade a I' lamp—an he lewk'd at me an smil'd , An ah knew full wed wot next he'd say— " shoo ' s sav'd is this boiinie child ! "

" It ' s been nobbufc a liaira shave , . lames , bud , ah think all ' s reyt at last . " An aid call agenn sooin it moi-nin , just to knaw at danger ' s past ; " bet her sleep as long as shoo will , dames , " he sell as lie rcytclied Iiis hat , r It ' s Belly , ami nut me , ut ' s dun il—ther ' s no daht at all o' that . "

Nah I' boom of a waited signal-gun at ' s hail'd wi a sowjer ' s shaat , Cud ho now ! to that . sudden gladness , at bmwt . sunlcet i mi heart ; An I hoar ' s my ( ale . painted o ' t canvas—all bud t' after-joy we fan , Air sail nivver forget ahr doctor—an ne ' er timid a better man .

When picturs preyteh heller nur parsons , some gooid they in un sewrl y imparl : If they oppen wcr hearts like ' -f doctor , " Id ' s be thankful wen Nat iu- weds Art . J . KA . MSHKX RII . I ; V .

Ad02003

AUT0C0PYI3T. THE ONLY COPYING APPARATUS THAT REPRODUCES THE NATURAL HANDWRITING IN BLACK . jfc * - ^ . ¦ r- ^ jr-y ^ - . p < y \ ANY i ^<^^ - \ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ . m ' ORDINARY - —— -1 ! - ' iiL-j-J ^ Wm ?^ ' V ation Papers , Menus , Diagrams , Music , & c , reproduced equal to Lithography . Send for Price Lid and Specimens , or call and nee it . THEAUTOCOPYISTCo. 64 , OUEEN VICTORIA ST ., LONDON , E . C .