Because of this
ever-amusing indifference to sect, there has grown up a
doubt in extreme circles whether Franklin was what is called
a religious man. But it is quite certain, nothing is more
certain, that he recognized the Divine Providence, the being
and love of God, the work and gospel of Jesus Christ, and
immortality of man, and that he was eager to take part as a
Christian man in the best work of the Christian Church.

Dr. Hale admits that Franklin "did not know the difference between an
Episcopalian and a Roman Catholic," but thinks that he was nevertheless
"one of the men who, as the English Prayer Book says in its grand way,
'profess and call themselves Christians.'"

After Franklin's death, an epitaph, written by himself when twenty-three
years of age, was found among his papers. Though it was not chiseled upon
his tomb, we may quote it here:

=The body of
B. FRANKLIN,
Printer,
Like the cover of an old book,
its contents torn out,
and stripped of its lettering and gilding,
lies here, food for worms.
But the work shall not be wholly lost;
for it will, as he believed, appear once more,
in a new and more perfect edition,
corrected and amended
by the Author.
He was born January 17, 1706.
Died 17. B.F.=

THE OSTRICH PUNCHING OF ARROYO AL.

I was broke in Arizony, and was gloomy as a tomb
When I got a chance at punchin' for an outfit called Star-Plume;
I didn't ask no wherefores, but jest lit out with my tarp,
As happy as an angel with the newest make o' harp.

When I struck out from the bunkhouse, for my first day on the range,
I thought the tracks we follered was peculiar like and strange,
And when I asked about it, the roundup foreman sez:
"You ain't a punchin' cattle, but are herdin' ostriches."

Well, we chased a bunch o' critters on the hot and sandy plain,
Though 'twas like a purp a-racin' with a U.S.A. mail train;
But at last we got 'em herded in a wire fence corral,
And the foreman sez, offhand like: "Jest go in and rope one, Al."
Well, the first one that I tackled was an Eiffel Tower bird,
But the noose ain't pinched his thorax 'fore several things occurred:
He spread his millinery jest as if he meant to fly,
And then he reached out with a