" Blind."

" BLIND . "

WE take this from the Herald and Presbyter . Only an old blind fiddler playing in a deserted street , before an empty house , on the walls of which is a placard reading : « Premises to be let . "

Who cares for an old blind fiddler ? Perhaps his dog does ; the clog that is attached to him by a string . Who knows a clog ' s heart ? There they stand before the vacant house in the deserted street , and no one sees them but the old gray cat

prowling over the long black rafters . No one cares for this blind man in all London . Tho Avind is blowing , and small flakes of snow are falling , ever ancl anon alighting on the Avithered cheek and hardly melting there , because his cheek is so cold , ancl he is shivering from head to foot . When he feels the SHOAV falling faster , he turns from the house AA'here he has

Avaited , hat in hand , for the chance penny , thinking ; " Surely I have earned something . " But he has found that people Avill listen to his music and never dream of paying , just as though they needed charity . Aimlessly he turns doAvn one street and

up another , and the snoAV is falling faster . He must walk to keep Avarm , and has no place on Avhich to " lay his head . " So up and doAvn the streets they go—the dog ancl he . He has groAvn beAvilclered in the turns of the streets , and so at last

they are back before the empty house . He is so weary UOAV that he must rest . They find their Avay to the broad stone steps , UOAV Avhite , and he sits down thinking : " It ' s a quiet street ; may be a policeman won ' t tell me to ' move on' for

a while , and I must rest . " " Miriam , " he says , talking to his dead wife , who he fancies can ahvays see and hear him , " ask the angel to come for me soon . Ask God to let him come . " So Avhispering to his spirit-Avife he

begins to feel warmer , and falls asleep . He dreams that the angel came and took him up through the snoAV-flakes . Hp ! up ! And at last they reached a golden gate Avhich stood ajar . The angel touched it , and as it opened wide they entered in .

" Blind."

The Lamb was the light thereof . The angel had changed his robe while coming through the snoAV-flakes , and it Avas Avhite and glistening . Then Miriam met him just within the gate . " Reuben " she said , " I ' m glad you

came . I asked the Lord , and he sent the angel . Reuben , my husband . " Just then came One of soft and beautiful presence , Avho took him in his open arms ancl kissed his forehead , and blessed him ; and when he stood aside for the approach

of the angels they saAV Avhere the kiss had left its impress , a new name , and the name Avas " Beloved . " Then came the dear disciple , the Lord's beloved on earth , and took his hands , uttering the one Avord " Beloved ! " and the sweetness of

the tone echoed through the vaults of heaven , ancl the angels sang the chorus , " Beloved S beloved 1 beloved 1 " till the arches rang again .

Next morning the piteous moaning of a little dog clreAv tho attention of the passerby . They saAV a peculiar looking heap on the door-steps , Avhich was found to be the body of an old blind man , still clasping in his arms his bow and fiddle . On his face such a smile as made their hearts stand

still , and the rough hands tremble , as they lifted him into the cart that Avas to bear him away , and one man Avhispered to another , " He looks as though he saAV an angel . "

The Brakeman's Story.

THE BRAKEMAN'S STORY .

From the "Keystone . " "YES , sir , " said the brakeman , as he stood by the stove Avarming his numbed hands , " after coming in from braking . " People think , as they sit in their warm

seats and only hear us call out the different stations , that we have a nice , soft , easy time . But Ave knoAV better . Imagine yourself out on a flat car all night , Avith the snov ? clashing into your face , your hands on a cold iron brake , and think if that ' s easy ; or up on top of a freight car , running along , the wind cutting like a 2 F