"find." It was

trash, he made a splendid "find." two old law books. He read and reread them, got all the juice" and sense and argument out of their dry pages, blossomed into a debater, began to dream of being a lawyer, and became so skilled in seeing through and settling knotty questions that, once again, New Salem wondered at this clerk of Offutt's who was as long of head as of arms and legs, and declared that "Abe Lincoln could out-argue any ten men in the settlement."

So he went on from one thing to another, managing to live for several years his pinched, humble, but helpful and honest life. He was just as good-natured, just as friendly, and just as popular as ever.

Once he came upon a poor fellow whom he knew to be in a bad way, chopping up an old hut, which he had been hired to split into firewood. The day was raw, the man was barefooted and thinly clothed; he looked sick and pitiful; he was cold and shivering. Lincoln stopped and spoke to the poor woodchopper.

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See here! how much do you get for this job?" he asked.

"A dollar," said the man.

have it to get me some shoes."

"I've got to

"You

Lincoln took the ax from the man. go in and warm yourself," he said. Then he swung the ax as only Abe Lincoln could; he had that old hut chopped into kindlings so quickly that it was soon finished. Then the poor woodchopper got his dollar and his shoes, and never forgot the kindness of Abraham Lincoln. It was just such humane, friendly, and kindly acts as these that endeared him to his neighbors, and made him respected and popular. So when, later on, he decided for the second time to try his chances "on the stump," he was successful; for almost every one voted for him, and in 1834 he was elected to the Legislature by a majority larger than that of any other man on the ticket.

It was during this canvass for votes that Lincoln went one day into a harvest field where some thirty men were at work. The friend who was with him introduced him to the mowers as a candidate for the Legislature.

"No use," said one of the men, looking

the young fellow over, "we don't vote for any man who can't make a hand" that is, who can't cut a good piece of standing grain. Well, boys, if that's all," said Lincoln, "I'm sure of your votes."

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He took up the "cradle"; he swung it against the grain with those terrible arms of his; he led the rest of the mowers all the way around the field. That satisfied them; they were all Lincoln men after that.

So, you see, by his personal bearing, by his popular ways, and by his real ability, he reached his ambition at last. The poor boy, the farm hand, the storekeeper, entered public life. He became one of the lawmakers of his State.

Politics sometimes means low measures, underhand ways, doing things one may well be ashamed of- anything to secure success. But good politics means honorable measures, uprightness, truth, noble ambitions, persistence, patriotism, and good character. Any boy may aspire to be such a politicianpreferring defeat to dishonor, and feeling jubilant over success honestly obtained.

Abraham Lincoln was this last kind of a

politician. He worked hard for success; but he never stooped to do a mean, a questionable, or an unfriendly act. He raised himself to success from poverty, and, because he was such a man, he won the respect and love of all. ELBRIDGE S. BROOKS. Adapted.

IF I WERE A VOICE

If I were a Voice, a persuasive Voice,

That could travel the wide world through, I would fly on the beams of the morning light,

And speak to men with a gentle might,
And tell them to be true.

I'd fly, I'd fly, o'er land and sea,
Wherever a human heart might be,
Telling a tale or singing a song,

In praise of the Right—in blame of the
Wrong.

If I were a Voice,

a consoling Voice,

I'd fly on the wings of air;

The homes of Sorrow and Guilt I'd seek,
And calm and truthful words I'd speak,
To save them from Despair.

I'd fly, I'd fly, o'er the crowded town, And drop, like the happy sunlight, down Into the hearts of suffering men,

And teach them to rejoice again.

If I were a Voice, a pervading Voice,
I'd seek the kings of earth;

I'd find them alone on their beds at night, And whisper words that should guide them right

Lessons of priceless worth.

I'd fly more swift than the swiftest bird,
And tell them things they never heard
Truths which the ages for aye repeat,
Unknown to the statesmen at their feet.

If I were a Voice, — an immortal Voice,
I'd speak in the people's ear;
And whenever they shouted "Liberty,"
Without deserving to be free,

I'd make their error clear.

I'd fly, I'd fly, on the wings of day,
Rebuking wrong on my world-wide way,
And making all the earth rejoice

If I were a Voice, - an immortal Voice.

CHARLES MACKAY.