beneath the moat,
where it maintained a divided mind for many weeks, but finally reconciled
its differences and asked to be taken before the New President.

"My child," said he, "nothing is so beautiful as harmony. My Cabinet
Selections were all made before our former interview, but you have
supplied a noble instance of patriotism in subordinating your personal
preferences to the general good. Go now to your beautiful homes and be
happy."

It is not recorded that the Delegation was happy.

A Forfeited Right

The Chief of the Weather Bureau having predicted a fine day, a Thrifty
Person hastened to lay in a large stock of umbrellas, which he exposed
for sale on the sidewalk; but the weather remained clear, and nobody
would buy. Thereupon the Thrifty Person brought an action against the
Chief of the Weather Bureau for the cost of the umbrellas.

"Your Honour," said the defendant's attorney, when the case was called,
"I move that this astonishing action be dismissed. Not only is my client
in no way responsible for the loss, but he distinctly foreshadowed the
very thing that caused it."

"That is just it, your Honour," replied the counsel for the plaintiff;
"the defendant by making a correct forecast fooled my client in the only
way that he could do so. He has lied so much and so notoriously that he
has neither the legal nor moral right to tell the truth."

Judgment for the plaintiff.

Revenge

An Insurance Agent was trying to induce a Hard Man to Deal With to take
out a policy on his house. After listening to him for an hour, while he
painted in vivid colours the extreme danger of fire consuming the house,
the Hard Man to Deal With said:

"Do you really think it likely that my house will burn down inside the
time that policy will run?"

"Certainly," replied the Insurance Agent; "have I not been trying all
this time to convince you that I do?"

"Then," said the Hard Man to Deal With, "why are you so anxious to have
your Company bet me money that it will not?"

The Agent was silent and thoughtful for a moment; then he drew the other
apart into an unfrequented place and whispered in his ear:

"My friend, I will impart to you a dark secret. Years ago the Company
betrayed my sweetheart by promise of marriage. Under an assumed name I
have wormed myself into its service for revenge; and as there is a heaven
above us, I will have its heart's blood!"

An Optimist

Two Frogs in th