"i Ha'n't A Mother Like The Rest."

The weather bad been unusually mild for two or three days before Christ mas, so that the ice of the big pond was ratber rotteu ; but daring Hany thought he could bravo it; ït would be a pity to spoi! the fun now, snd so many admiring eyes fixed upon him, too He made a bold da6h - his little figure upright, and graceful, was balancea up on the ice. Then there was a crash the dangerous cake gave wsy ; and with a loud cry Harry feil amid tho rush o; ice and water. The group at the window seemed foi a moment puralyzed with hurror. Then there was a scattering for the pond; and a sci eaming and crying f rom one and all. H's under the water ! - father 1 i'ather! JJarry'á going under the ice!" Every partiële of color had gone irom Farmer May's face ; he trembled in every limb, and threw up his hands widely. His strengt h seemed to have ebüed away in the tide of grief. " O, help rne !" he cried. " My boy - my boy ! and I can't Bwim !" ''Eut I can !" shouted a voico, brave and clear as an angel's, almost; "I can Bwim, and I'll sttve him !" and dasbing pat weeping Mother May, Joseph Oraig plunged headlong into the freezing water, swimming for dear lile. Hovv they walched him, breathless and excited, their hearts hanging by a thread as it were I How they shuddered when they saw him grasp once, twk'.e, at a dark object uuder the water, and then rise, his face gashed and ing hom contact with the ugly ice corijers. He was sorne way out now, acd made a third dive, theu there was a laint hurrah, and, bruasting the ice, hejust mauaged to swim to the bank, with one arm holding up poor Harry. " My child I my boy ! - thank God ;" cried the happy parent, folding him in his arms. They bore him to the roaring fire in the eilting-rooin, and rubbed him until he opened his eyesand emiled. Very .-oon he able to git up, and laugh and talk naturally. And vvhere was Josepb all this time ? Sitting on the kitchen fioor, squeezing his wet clothes, and rubbing ihe great painful gushes in bis arma and face, from which the blood was still stre ming. "Josepb!" He listened; it was Farmer May's voioe, unusually soft and tender. The poor ipprentice lad shook like a leaf; before hé was avvare, a sltong arm canic rc.uud behind him, ing bun from the floor. He found hiiuself, a8 if by magie, witling beside Harry, and Harry'a bright head resting on bis boscim, vvith great teurs rolling down the gruteful boy 's cheeks. " il' tberti's anything you wish for' duw, Joseph," 8aid the farmer, husküy, " anything you'd like to have, just name it, my boy You huve savecl us many ü"year ftf Rorrow, and giveo us cause to semember this Cbns mas befare all others. Gome, epeak out, my boy." How could he speak, when he telt so happy ? Twice he tried to gulp down t'iö soba rismg in his throal - sobs of joy they were. " Only be kind to me, Air," he ganped out at lengtbj "only drop a kind word ncw and then, for I ha'n't any niother like th rest." How wns it now tb Farmer May? He feit all at onie what great lack there had been iti bis otiaerwise kindly beart. Il quite broke bim down, that appoal to h betler nature; so ha leaned on Motber Ma 's shoulder, and sobbed aloud. Josaph sat is it in a dieum ; his beauliful Chris mis ■ had come at last - no more hunger aod thirsting of spirit now. How ttie joyotis ruü gparlrs of fire-light ran up the white wal!, tbe whole room fchiningl Harry squeezing hi.n tightly wit h one arm, and ïiny, tier cheeks flusbed with erying, thrusting her prett}' doll into his lap, whis pering, " There, there 1 keep it, j.iseph. I doii't wan't it, indeed, and doublédeed, I don'c;" and then running away in the corner, hr face turned to the wail, lest by looking back shumight repent tbe immense sacrifice. Well - wöil, tears cannot always lnst, and very eoon the May family were feright and Miiiling again, Joseph the happieut of all. And when the Christ mas diüiier was set on, and all tbe friends were gathered about it, they made a place for Joe among the obildren; and Motber May could not heap bis plute enough with tbe good things; and the poor lud feit as if be was more ready to cry than to langb, at all the kiuuly words whioh every one had for bim. Oh ! what a Messing there is often in a few kinds words.