mpression of her hand, even by brute beasts!
The father's explanation was, doubtless, the true one. Yet have I
ever since wondered, and still do wonder, at the potency which lay
in that maiden's magic touch. I have seen something of the same
power, showing itself in the loving and the good, but never to the
extent as instanced in her, whom, for a better name, I must still
call "Gentle Hand."

A gentle touch, a soft word. Ah! how few of us, when the will is
strong with its purpose, can believe in the power of agencies so
apparently insignificant! And yet all great influences effect their
ends silently, unobtrusively, and with a force that seems at first
glance to be altogether inadequate. Is there not a lesson for us all
in this?

WILL IT PAY?

"I WANT an hour of your time this morning," said Mr. Smith, as he
entered the counting-room of his neighbour, Mr. Jones.

"Will it pay?" inquired Mr. Jones, smiling.

"Not much profit in money," was answered.

Mr. Jones shrugged his shoulders, and arched his eye-brows.

"Time is money," said he.

"But money isn't the all-in-all of life. There's something else in
the world besides dollars."

"Oh yes; and the man that has the dollars can command as much of
this 'something else' that you speak of as he pleases."

"I'm not so sure of that," replied Mr. Smith. "I can tell you
something that money will not procure."

"Say on."

"A contented mind."

"I'll take that risk at a very low percentage, so far as I am
concerned," answered Mr. Jones.

"But, as to this hour of my time that you ask? What is the object?"

"You remember Lloyd who used to do business on the wharf?"

"Yes; what of him? I thought he died in New Orleans a year ago."

"So he did."

"Not worth a dollar!"

"Not worth many dollars, I believe. He was never a very shrewd man,
so far as business was concerned, though honourable and
kind-hearted. He did not prosper after leaving our city."

"Honourable and kind-hearted!" returned Mr. Jones, with a slight air
of contempt. "Such men are as plenty as blackberries. I can point
them out to you by the dozen in every square; but it does not pay to
be on too intimate terms with them."

"Why?"

"You are very apt to suffer through their amiable weaknesses."

"Is this your experience?" inquired Mr. Smith.

"My experience is not very extensive in that line, I flatter
myself," said Mr. Jones; "but I know of some who have suffered."

"I was speaking