Annabel Lee
(453) "No, sir," replied the farmer, who knew not that it was the king; "I am not so rich as that; I plough for wages." "How much do you get a day?" asked the king. "Eight groschen" (about twenty cents), said the farmer. ،، Be kind to thy mother, for, lo! on her brow May traces of sorrow be seen :
Oh, well may'st you cherish and comfort her now, For loving and kind hath she been.
Remember thy mother, for thee will she pray As long as God giveth her breath; "That is not much," replied the king; can you With accents of kindness then cheer her lone way get along with this?" "Get along, and have something left." "How is that?"
The farmer smiled and said : "Well, if I must tell you-two groschen are for myself and wife; two I pay my old debts; two I lend away, and two I give away for the Lord's sake." "This is a mystery which I cannot solve," replied the king. "Then I will solve it for you," said the farmer. "I have two old parents at home who kept me when I was weak and needed help; and now that they are weak and need help, I keep them. This is my debt towards which I pay two groschen a day. The third pair of groschen, which I lend away, I spend for my children, that they may receive Christian instruction. This will come handy to me and my wife when we get old. With the last two groschen I maintain two sick sisters, whom I would not be compelled to keep; this I give for the Lord's sake."
The king, well pleased with the answer, said : "Bravely spoken, old man. Now, I will also give you something to guess. Have you ever seen me before?" "Never," said the farmer. "In less than five minutes you shall see me fifty times, and carry in your pocket fifty of my likenesses." "This is a mystery which I cannot unravel," said the farmer. "Then I will do it for you," said the king.
Thrusting his hand into his pocket, and counting him fifty brand-new gold pieces into his hand, stamped with his royal likeness, he said to the astonished farmer, who knew not what was coming: "The coin is genuine, for it also comes from our Lord God, and I am his paymaster. I bid you adieu."
B Be Kind.
E'en to the dark valley of death.
Be kind to thy brother, his heart will have dearth, If the smile of thy love be withdrawn ; The flowers of feeling will fade at their birth If the dew of affection be gone.
Be kind to thy brother, wherever you are, The love of a brother shall be An ornament, purer and richer by far Than pearls from the depths of the sea.
Be kind to thy sister, not many may know The depth of true sisterly love; The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below The surface that sparkles above.
Thy kindness shall bring to thee many sweet hours.
And blessings thy pathway to crown, Affection shall weave thee a garland of flowers, More precious than wealth or renown.
C A Sweet Laura May.
LILY-BUD that blossomed fair, But for a day, Scarce opened to the light of earth, Then passed away, Our baby dear, our little one, Sweet Laura May!
A broken bud-a white soul flown To endless day.
No stain or soil, a lily-bud To bloom alway, In fields elysian-angel land, Sweet Laura May!