of the press is
lost the nation relapses into sodden corruption. I told Mrs. Smith so.
And besides, I have the whole article in type, too. I like Mrs. Smith,
and I like Miss Sally, but the hissing cobra of corruption must be
crunched beneath the heel of a free and independent press. The TIMES
must do its duty, let the chips fall where they may."

"'The pen is mightier than the sword,' page 233, Apt Quotations for All
Occasions," said Eliph', "this being one of three thousand quotations,
arranged alphabetically according to subject, as 'Bird--in the hand,
Bird--of a feather, Bird--killing two with one stone,' et cetery,
including 'Leap--look before you,' and 'Sure--be sure you're right, then
go ahead.' What do you mean to print?"

The editor told him all he had been able to gather regarding the matte
of the fire-extinguishers, and as he talked Eliph' saw the butcher leave
his shop and enter the drug store--he was after chemicals. He turned to
the editor with fresh assurance.

"See page 88, 'Every Man his Own Lawyer,'" he said, "giving all that it
is necessary for any man to know regarding the laws of his native
land, including laws of business, how to draw up legal papers, what
constitutes libel, et cetery. This one division alone being worth the
whole cost of the book, showing among other things what a paper should
print and what it should not. Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and
Compendium of Literature, Science and Art is a marvelous work, including
as it does the chapter on 'Fire--Its Traditions--How to Make a Fire
Without Matches--Fire Fighting--Fire Extinguishers, How Made,' et
cetery, containing directions by which man, woman or butcher can
convert lung-testers into approved fire-extinguishers at a cost of only
twenty-six cents. It is a good book. I just sold Mr. Skinner one."

He watched the editor's face as the meaning of his words dawned on it,
and added:

"Miss Briggs has a copy, morocco binding, including among ten thousand
and one subjects 'What Constitutes Libel.'"

"Then those fire-extinguishers will be all right, after all?" said the
editor. "You want to look out how you trifle with the press. The press
never forgives nor forgets."

"Those lung-testers, prepared according to Jarby's Encyclopedia of
Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art, would put out
the flames of the fiery furnace prepared for Shadrach, Meschach and
Abednego, mentioned in 'Bible Tales,' Condensed and Put into