some fellers say, this world never owed anybody a
livin' yit!" said Uncle Ezra Mudge, as he whetted his scythe and tried
the edge on the broad part of his thumb. "Thet heresy wuz invented fer
the lazy cuss thet wuz too ornery to git up in the mornin' and hustle
fer grub while the grass wuz wet.

"Some fellers seem ter act on the habit thet the world not only owes 'em
a livin' but air willin' fer some body else to do the collectin' fer
'em. Leastways, they never do much hustlin' in thet direction
theirselves. En I hev noticed thet when other fellers collect the livin'
fer a feller, they giner'ly confisticate the most ov it in
commissions!"

"Doing Pretty Well."

There are many that you meet with
Who are always full of gloom,
And they chew the rag forever
'Bout the darkness of their doom;
But as through the world we journey,
There's a joy that none may tell
When we meet the pleasant people
Who are "doing pretty well."

There are fellows by the dozens
Who are always in the skies,
And forever capture fortunes
Of the most gigantic size;
But we stagger from their presence
And their glories that repel,
For the quiet-spoken persons
Who are "doing pretty well."

O, it's neither sun nor shadow
All the time from year to year,--
And it's neither all of pleasure
Or of pain,--the journey here!
But whatever clouds may gather
Or what sunshine, for a spell
Let us keep a steady temper
And keep "doing pretty well!"

Caught on the Fly.

Hitch your wagon to a star, if you will, but always stand ready to throw
the harness on the mules, also.

The man who masters the world may trust in Providence, but he climbs to
greatness on the stepping stones of hard work.

In the economy of farmers entirely up against the crab-grass in the
cotton-patch, the mule is mightier than the sword.

What shall it matter though sorrows distress us?
God sends the sun and the shadows to bless us!
And through all the years
Joy ever appears,
With a little of love and a little of laughter
To fashion this life for a jolly hereafter!

The Kingbolt Philosopher.

"I want ter say," remarked Uncle Ezra Mudge as he began his Sunday
shaving and stropped his razor on his thumb-nail, "I want ter say thet
eddication is a big thing, but there air some things it can't do. One of
'em is ter give brains te