Sometimes a good man is just off to the train,
      (That is, it is time to go);
    And he can’t put his hand on his Sunday hat! 
      It surely must vex him, I know.

    If somebody wants to drive a nail,
      It’s “Where is the hammer, my dear?”
    And so it goes, week in, week out,
      And truly all the year.

    How ’twould gladden the women of Outovplace,
      If the boys and girls themselves
    Should wake up some morning determined quite
      To use hooks, closets and shelves.

The Boy Who Dared to Be a Daniel.

BY S. JENNIE SMITH.

Sunday-school was dismissed and the children were going, some in one direction, some in another, to their homes.  The majority of them were chatting merrily of the proposed strawberry festival, but one little fellow seemed to be engrossed with more serious thoughts.  He was alone and apparently unconscious of the nearness of his companions until a lad about his own age joined him and inquired, “Say, Ralph, what are you thinking of?  You look as wise as an owl.”

“I should hope I was a little bit wiser than a bird,” answered Ralph, with a smile.  “But I was just awondering, Ned, if I could be brave enough to go into the lion’s den like Daniel did.  I wouldn’t like to stop praying to God, but it would be pretty hard to make up your mind to face a lot of lions.”

“Yes, indeed; but then father says that we don’t need grace to do those hard things until we are called upon to do them, and then if we ask God, He will give us the strength we require.  All we’ve got to do is to attend to the duty nearest us, and seek for strength for that.”

Ned was the minister’s son and had enjoyed many an instructive talk with his kind father.

“He says, too, that we are often called upon to face other kinds of lions in this life, if we persist as we ought in doing the right.  But here we part, Ralph, good-bye,” and the boy turned off into a side road, leaving Ralph again alone.

Ralph’s way led through a quiet country lane, for his home was beyond the village where nearly all of his companions lived.

“Well, I won’t have to go into the lion’s den to-day,” he said to himself, as he sauntered along; “and when I do I guess God will give me the strength,” and with this thought a gayer frame of mind came to him.  “But it must be grand to be a Daniel.”

Just then two large boys crept stealthily from the bushes that lined one side of the road and looked anxiously around.  “Say, John, there’s Ralph,” one of them muttered.  “He’ll tell we didn’t go to Sunday-school.  Let’s frighten him into promising not to.”

“Hello!” cried John, in a loud voice.

Ralph turned and was surprised to see his brothers approaching him.

“Going home?” one of them asked.

“Why, yes, Tom, ain’t you?”

“No, not yet; and if any one inquires where we are, just mention that we’ve been to Sunday-school and will be home soon.”