Our Boys. Various

      Such an arrow as he wrought—

      Almost passed a boy's believing.

      When he drew the bow-string taut,

      Out of sight and quick as thought

      Up it went, the blue air cleaving.

      Who was Sammie, would you know?

      It was grandpa—he was little

      Nearly eighty years ago;

      But 'tis no doubt as fine a bow

      As the best he still could whittle.

      

A YOUNG SALT.

HE COULDN'T SAY NO.

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t was sad and it was strange!

      He just was full of knowledge,

      His studies swept the whole broad range

      Of High School and of College;

      He read in Greek and Latin too,

      Loud Sanscrit he could utter,

      But one small thing he couldn't do

      That comes as pat to me and you

      As eating bread and butter:

      He couldn't say "No!" He couldn't say "No!"

      I'm sorry to say it was really so!

      He'd diddle, and dawdle, and stutter, but oh!

      When it came to the point he could never say "No!"

      Geometry he knew by rote,

      Like any Harvard Proctor;

      He'd sing a fugue out, note by note;

      Knew Physics like a Doctor;

      He spoke in German and in French;

      Knew each Botanic table;

      But one small word that you'll agree

      Comes pat enough to you and me,

      To speak he was not able:

      For he couldn't say "No!" He couldn't say "No!"

      'Tis dreadful, of course, but 'twas really so.

      He'd diddle, and dawdle, and stutter, but oh!

      When it came to the point he could never say "No!"

      And he could fence, and swim, and float,

      And use the gloves with ease too,

      Could play base ball, and row a boat,

      And hang on a trapeze too;

      His temper was beyond rebuke,

      And nothing made him lose it;

      His strength was something quite superb,

      But what's the use of having nerve

      If one can never use it?

      He couldn't say "No!" He couldn't say "No!"

      If one asked him to come, if one asked him to go,

      He'd diddle, and dawdle, and stutter, but oh!

      When it came to the point he could never say "No!"

      When he was but a little lad,

      In life's small ways progressing,

      He fell into this habit bad

      Of always acquiescing;

      'Twas such an amiable trait,

      To friend as well as stranger,

      That half unconsciously at last

      The custom held him hard and fast

      Before he knew the danger,

      And he couldn't say "No!" He couldn't say "No!"

      To his prospects you see 'twas a terrible blow.

      He'd diddle, and dawdle, and stutter, but oh!

      When it came to the point he could never say "No!"

      And so for all his weary days

      The best of chances failed him;

      He lived in strange and troublous ways

      And never knew what ailed him;

      He'd go to skate when ice was thin;

      He'd join in deeds unlawful,

      He'd lend his name to worthless notes,

      He'd speculate in stocks and oats;

      'Twas positively awful,

      For he couldn't say "No!" He couldn't say "No!"

      He would veer like a weather-cock turning so slow;

      He'd diddle, and dawdle, and stutter, but oh!

      When it came to the point he could never say "No!"

      Then boys and girls who hear my song,

      Pray heed its theme alarming:

      Be good, be wise, be kind, be strong—

      These traits are always charming,

      But all your learning, all your skill

      With well-trained brain and muscle,

      Might just as well be left alone,

      If you can't cultivate backbone

      To help you in life's tussle,

      And learn to say "No!" Yes, learn to say "No!"

      Or you'll fall from the heights to the rapids below!

      You may waver, and falter, and tremble, but oh!

      When your conscience requires it, be sure and shout "No!"

      M.E.B.

THE CHRISTMAS MONKS.

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ll children have wondered unceasingly from their very first Christmas up to their very last Christmas, where the Christmas presents come from. It is very easy to say that Santa Claus brought them. All well regulated people know that, of course; about the reindeer, and the sledge, and the pack crammed with toys, the chimney, and all the rest of it—that is all true, of course, and everybody knows about it; but that is not the question which puzzles. What children want to know is, where do these Christmas presents come from in the first place? Where does Santa Claus get them? Well, the answer to that is, In the garden of the Christmas Monks. This has not been known until very lately; that is, it has not been known till very lately except in the immediate vicinity of the Christmas Monks. There, of course, it has been known for ages. It is rather an out-of-the-way place; and that accounts for our never hearing of it before.

      The Convent of the Christmas Monks is a most charmingly picturesque pile of old buildings; there are towers and turrets, and peaked roofs and