he quiver of a nerve. Not that we are timid when the tiger
is alive, but simply because a fur-store is more convenient than a
jungle, and there is less danger of wetting our feet. If we happened
to be in India and we wanted a tiger, we should unhesitatingly go out
and stand boldly in front of the very first one we saw--tied to a
tree--and we should bring him home instantly if we could find a man
willing to lead him with a string. But this kind of courage is born
in some men. It cannot be acquired; and timid persons who intend to
practice Van Amburgh's method will find it more judicious to begin the
mesmerizing operation by soothing the animal with a howitzer."

[Illustration: FACING THE TIGER]

* * * * *

The lightning-rod man haunts our county as he does the rest of the
civilized portion of the country; and although occasionally he secures
a victim, sometimes it happens that he gets worsted in his attempts to
beguile his fellow-men. Such was his fate upon a recent occasion in
our village.

The other day a lightning-rod man drove up in front of a handsome
edifice standing in the midst of trees and shrubs in Millburg, and
spoke to Mr. Potts, who was sitting on the steps in front. He accosted
Potts as the owner of the residence, and said,

"I see you have no lightning-rods on this house."

"No," said Potts.

"Are you going to put any on?"

"Well, I hadn't thought of it," replied Potts.

"You ought to. A tall building like this is very much exposed. I'd
like to run you up one of my rods; twisted steel, glass fenders,
nickel-plated tips--everything complete. May I put one up to show you?
I'll do the job cheap."

"Certainly you may, if you want to. I haven't the slightest
objection," said Potts.

During the next half hour the man had his ladders up and his
assistants at work, and at the end of that time the job was done. He
called Potts out into the yard to admire it. He said to Potts,

"Now, that is all well enough; but if it was _my_ house, I'd have
another rod put on the other side. There's nothing like being
protected thoroughly."

"That's true," said Potts; "it would be better."

"I'll put up another, shall I?" asked the man.

"Why, of course, if you think it's best," said Potts.

Accordingly, the man went to work again, and soon had the rod in its
place.

"That's a first-rate job," he said to Potts as they both stood eyeing
it. "I like such a man as you are. Big-hea