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Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2092, 15 July 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Presence of Mind-— While travelling in Russia, Peter the Great had to take refuge in a monastery from the inclemency of the weather. The monks received him with the greatest humility and deference, and prepared a banquet for him. One of the young monks presented the monarch with a lurgc glass goblet of wine. The young monk stumbled, the goblet fell to the floor and was shattered into a thousand pieces beyond the hope of repair, while most of the stomachic disturber went down the back of Peters neck. Furious with rage, Peter the Great sprang to his feet and raised his whip, without which he never went out, ami was about to flagellate the monk several consecutive times. The monk, however, folding his arras with dignity, addressed the czar as follows Mv lord and czar, not drop by drop, hut in a perfect gush are God’s precious gifts uonred over thee. May all thy enemies come to grief even as this glass has been shattered to Purer the Great was disarmed. Instead of laving the goad on the monk's back, he made a motion to lay it on I he table, which was carried unanimously. He also appointed the voum' monk Archimandrittcn of Pascherky, which was the least he could do under the circumstances. This is historical. The Penalty of Profanity —The average small hey of the present clay is seldom at a loss for something to say, even in the most embarrassing situations. Bobby, a precocious youth of six summers, had been induig ingln profanity, ami, in order to escape the punishment for which his mother had made preparations, lie crawled under a barn and remained t!v>re in a state of siege for the greater part of an afternoon. When hi* father relumed at night and learned how matters stoo l he made his way, with much difficulty, under the barn in search of the boy. *■ Hello, pa,” said Bobby, cheerfully, as hissireapproached, “ have you been swearing, too 1 ”

The Journey of Life. Ten thousand human beings start together on their journey. After ten years one third at least haveditappeared. At the middle points of the common measure of life but naif are still upon the road. Faster and faster as the ranks grow thinner they that remain till now, beoome weary, and lie down to rise no more. At ninety these have been reduced to a handful of thirty trembling dhtriarebs. Year after year they fall in diminishing numbers. One lingers, pcrhanfca lonelxmarrel, till the century is over. Ho look again and the jenrney of life is finished. W#