Wishing One's Self Dead

Pcople, sometimes, In tlieir rasb moments, wish themselves dead. If they 8hould be taken at their word, they would plead for life. Au eastern parable illustrates this iiiconsistency: "A certaln feeble olU man had fUth cred a load of sticks and was carrying it home. He became very tired on the roui, and flinglng down his burden, ei id out: 'O, Angel of Dcath, deliver me trom this misery !' "At that Instant, the Angel of Death, n obedience to his summons, appeared bcfore him, and asked him what lic anted. On seeing the frlghtful figure, the old man tremblingly replied: "'O Mand, be pleased to nssist me, that I may lift onee more this burilen upon my shoulder. for this purpose only have I called you !' " A more amuslng illustratiou of the same inconsistency is given in a southern story about "poor old Brudder Moses." He was a superannuated slave who lived in a log cabin by hlmself, and was known far aui1 wide for the fervency of his p raye re. and the loud tone in which he uttered them. One of Mis stereotyped petitions, uttered morning and evening was: "O dat de angel of de Lord would come and take poor old brudder Mojes away froni dis wicked world home to heaven !" Some miscliievous young men, who had often overheard this petltion, thought ther would test the old man's sincerity. One dark nlght several of them stationed themselves at the door and window of Moses' cabin. At his usual hour, the old mad began liis prayer. As soon as he had spoken the familiar phiase, several boisterous knockings interrupted his devotions. "Who's dar?" he exclaimed, with chattering teeth. "The angel of the Lord," answered a sepulcural voice, "eome to take poor Moses to heavon." "Dar's no such nigger about dis house - done gone away dis two years!" chattered the old negro, and, aniid peals of laurhter, his tormentors departed. -