THE RIGHT MUST WIN.

OH, it is hard to work for God,
To rise and take his part

Upon this battle-field of earth,
And not sometimes lose heart!

He hides himself so wondrously,
As though there were no God;
He is least seen when all the powers
Of ill are most abroad.

Or he deserts us at the hour
The fight is all but lost;

And seems to leave us to ourselves
Just when we need him most.

Ill masters good, good seems to change
To ill with greatest ease;

And, worst of all, the good with good
Is at cross-purposes.

Ah! God is other than we think ;
His ways are far above,

Far beyond reason's height, and reached
Only by childlike love.

Workman of God! oh, lose not heart, But learn what God is like;

And in the darkest battle-field

Thou shalt know where to strike.

Thrice blest is he to whom is given
The instinct that can tell

That God is on the field when he
Is most invisible.

Blest, too, is he who can divine
Where real right doth lie,

And dares to take the side that seems
Wrong to man's blindfold eye.

For right is right, since God is God;
And right, the day must win;
To doubt would be disloyalty,

To falter would be sin.

FREDERIC WILLIAM FABER.

MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.

THE most independent men and women I have ever met, are those who have learned to make the best of everything. There is a mine of gold, jewels, and precious gems buried in every heart, if you will only dig deep enough to find it; but I fear there are thousands where it has been permitted to rust and tarnish for want of effort on the part of the possessor. If you have not got the things as you want them, make the best of what you have. Hundreds of men and women waste their time and energy complaining and fault-finding, making life miserable to themselves, and to all around them, complaining of hard times, yet making no effort to make their own times any better; complaining of want of respect and consideration of friends, when, indeed, they are not deserving it at all; folding their hands in idleness because they cannot get employment that they like; envying their neighbor's good health and spirits, when they would have the same if they would just try and do more towards helping themselves. Away with this class of croakers, who are always snuffing hard times in the breeze. They cannot see what the world is coming to, or how they are to live. But if they are determined to go to work in earnest and accomplish something, they will soon see what a change they can effect. I have no patience with a healthy, stout man who complains of want of employment, or lack of the necessaries of life. Ninety-nine cases out of hundred he

has no one to thank for it but himself, - his own idleness or pride. There is more honor in carrying a hodful_of_mortar, and thus earning an honest meal, than there is in looking on and eating the bread that others have earned.

Make the best of everything, and if sickness comes, you will get well all the sooner. If you are not able to labor, some kind heart will find you out and help bridge over the interval until you are. It is astonishing to me that in this broad land, there are any who should lack employment or subsistence.

Make the most of the friendship of those who are kind, and are friends indeed; not try to make the most out of them, as is often the rule. We have no patience with those who are displeased with the whole world, because they are not as wellto-do as others they know of. Ten to one your neighbor is indebted to his own strong will and determined energy for what he has. If one thing fails you, turn to another; only in this way will you ever learn how much there is in this life to cheer, console, and enjoy. It is true, we all are not situated as we would like to be. We have much to accomplish, and we shall never effect anything unless we determine to make the best of everything.

I have in my mind's eye one who was left on the cold charities of the world, an orphan, without money and without friends; not even having good health as a capital to begin with. I know him to-day as well up in the professional world, and occupying a position of which one need not be ashamed, and all the result of making the best of everything, and exerting indomitable energy.

Depend upon it, young man, the world will generally estimate a man at his par value. He may not reach it at once, but he need not fret. If you are good for anything, the public will find you out in due time. Then be up and doing; quit complaining of the hard times, and contribute to make the times softer, and you will be all the better for it.

THE DAGGER SCENE FROM THE WIFE.'

Enter FERRardo, R.

Ferrardo. His heart is in my power as 'twere a thing
Which in my hand I held, and I could crush

With a grasp! Nor can it 'scape my power! her name
That flower of woman's pride, which ta'en away,
From a bright paragon she turns a thing

For basest eyes to look askant upon
Is blasted past the power of rain and sun
To bring it to its pristine hue again.

Now for St. Pierre he also must to-night Take leave of Mantua. [Unlocks door.] friend!

Come forth, my

Enter ST. PIERRE, C.

Dost thou not know me? What an air is this!
A king could not a loftier assume

At high offence! 'Twas thus with thee last night
Nothing but moody looks until the count

With much persuasion waved you to our feast:
I wondered at thee.

St. Pier.

Fer.

Are we alone?

What's this,?

St. Pier. Are we alone? where are the craven minions That overpowered me in the corridor,

And at thy bidding dragged me hither?

Fer.

Pshaw!

Art thou no wiser than to heed them? know'st not 'Twas done upon my instruction

St. Pier.

Fer.

St. Pier.

- mine thy friend's?

Are we alone?

We are alone.

Art sure

You struck me

When I contended with the recreants,

That smite this moment what the one before

They fawn'd upon! Across their arms you struck,
And fell'd me with the blow!

Fer. Stop! you'll repent it if
St. Pier.

now take it back!

you strike!

I ne'er received a blow from mortal man

I tell thee,

But I did pay it back with interest! One by one
I have parted with those virtues of a man

Which precept doth inculcate; but one grace
Remains the growth of nature the true shoot
Abuse could not eradicate, and leave

The trunk and root alive,

The brow whereon doth sit disdain of threat,
Defiance of aggression, and revenge

For contumelv. You did strike me! Come!
I must have blow for blow!

Fer. [Drawing his dagger.] Let fall thy hand Upon my person lo, my dagger's free,

And I will sheathe it in thy heart!

Thy friend, who, when he struck thee, was thy friend
As much as he is now, or ever was:

Who struck thee but that he should seem thy foe,
To hide indeed how much he was thy friend.
Nay, if the lack of quittance for a blow

Which but in show was one, for 'tis the thought
That makes the act must constitute us foes,
My dagger's up! now give a blow indeed,
For one that seemed but one.

St. Pier.

I take't in thought,

And let thy person unprofaned go.

Fer. No animal so wild it will not tame,

Save man. Come, calm thyself, sit down-as yet

Thou know'st not whether to caress thy friend

Or tear him. Should'st thou tear him? Come, sit down.
There's not a man in Italy save thee

Would fret and he the master all at once

Of good ten thousand ducats! Still a brow!

Odd's man, be merry! rub thy hands and laugh,

Thou art rich look here.

St. Pier.

[Showing a casket.

How came I yesternight

To sleep in the chamber of the duke? And why

This morning, when I left the anteroom,

Was I assaulted by thy minions?

Fer.

Pshaw!

Enough, thou slep'st where thou didst sleep, next chamber
To the Duke's wife, and thereby mad'st thy fortune.

For every ducat of the sum I named

Is thine but render me one service more.

St. Pier. Name it.

Just write for me in boasting vein,

Fer.
Confession thou didst pillow yesternight
There, where the honor of the duke forbids
That head save his should lie.

Why do you gaze? 'Tis easily done.