25. No Difference

No Difference

BOSTON ELM.—In the heart of the old olm of Boston Common, which had been the city’s pride for a century, but which, like all earthly things, came to an end, was found a flattened bullet which had been concealed there for two hundred years, as was shown by the number of rings enclosing it. The wood had closed over it, but could not throw off the wound or conceal it.

ROYAL LADY.—A royal English lady once asked if she must be saved by the same Jesus who saved her coachman. When informed that there is no difference, she replied: “Then I will not be saved.” When the haughty Queen Elizabeth came down to death, she shrieked: “My kingdom for a moment of time.”

JUDAS TREE.—We have heard of a singular tree that illustrates the deceitfulness of sin. It is called the Judas tree. The blossoms appear before the leaves, and they are of brilliant crimson. The flaming beauty of the flowers attracts innumerable insects; and the wandering bee is drawn to it to gather honey. But every bee that alights upon the blossoms imbibes a fatal opiate, and drops dead from among the crimson flowers to the earth. Beneath this enticing tree, the earth is strewed with its victims.

PECULIAR DANGER.—Nettleton once said to a highly prominent man, “I have often thought that persons in your situation, people of liberal education and high standing in society, are in peculiar danger of losing their souls.”

MAP OUTLINE.—A book-case which stood a long time at one place was at last removed, when it was found that the exact image of the back and some other portions was left on the wall. But in the midst of this picture was another, the outline of a map which had hung on the wall before the book-case was placed there.

LAWYER AND CLIENT.—A lawyer undertook the defense of a robber on the promise of a thousand crowns reward. He won the case, and his client brought him the coveted money. The night being stormy, the lawyer invited him to lodge in his house. At midnight the robber arose, gagged the lawyer, retook the thousand crowns, and gathering all the treasure he could find, bade his helpless defender good-bye.

FOOLISH OSTRICH.—The ostrich, when chased, buries its head in the sand, and thinks itself safe from the hunter because it does not see him.

HE SAID IT.—Because of a common soldier’s prompt action in assisting Napoleon when his horse became unmanageable, the general said: “Thank you, captain.” The soldier immediately asked, “Of what regiment?” Napoleon, pleased with his quick perception and ready trust, replied: “Of my guards,” and then rode away. The soldier laid down his gun and proceeded to the company of staff officers. They were astonished at his apparent presumption, as they had not been aware of his promotion, and when he announced that he was captain of the guards they were loth to believe, but, pointing to Napoleon, the man replied: “He said it.”

CHANGES CREDIT.—A few years ago there was a shop-girl in Chicago whose credit perhaps was not worth a dollar; the next day, however, she could have purchased a thousand dollars’ worth of anything she wanted. What made the difference? Simply this, she had married a rich, husband, and of course, with him she received an interest in all that was his.