Such Is Life

One cheerlees cvcning, in the early part oí May, The rain, haying poured in torrents al tbc live-long day, StiU drizzled, whiloswift guats of chilly wind, Dark clouds and muddy streets, distraeted frame and inind ; A woman, no strangor mid the. busy strifo Of the niales of the city to fill the wants of life, Turned from her weekly labor, with thoae heartthrobs kecnly light So well known te working peoile on the sixth day'8 cherished night. 8he was neither young, nor old, but was somewhat jiassing fair. Though better looking might have been, ïf bearing leSB of care, For it helps not woman's beauty, bringing children forth in sorrow, And sharing Adam's curse besides, taking thouglit unto the morrow ; But, to our sketch : 'Ti8 right-well known, by toüers in this city, How much in jourueyings back and forth, and carfare more's the pity, öood pioplo are constrained to spend, in precious time and mom y, In getting back and forth from werk, 'tis anything but f unny ! Our woman had a natient mare, whose Christian name was Bettie, A buBiness wagon Bettie drew, quite useful, though not pretty And, as her mistress stepped aloft, amiitst the blastand drizzle, To talie lier Beat, that evening drear, Bet seemed clitied to grizzle; She tossed hcrhead, drewback hereare, and, bouncing up her haunches, Her ïniBtress soused on cushions wet, with unbeconiing huinches, Then tooï to clattering down the street, with such uneasy vigor That, epiteful, or coquettish grown, Bet surely showed her figure. " Whoa ! Bettie I Stop !" the woman cried, half fraüUc with the clatter ; Bet, lveeding neither sound nor stram, f or might and maiu did patter, Wbile spry yormg nags took in the scène with sly, approving glances, Applauding well her escapade, with sundry rearB and prances, MBaMMMBaM And lines of people going home, along the Bidewalk Btreaniing, Withevery grade rf awo or inirth their countenanceB beaming, Just gazed upon the womao lone, hnrled by theui helter skelter ! " Man'e inhumimity to man," urged not a Boltl to help her. " Pueh on behlnd." a newsboy cried, " Wake up," a i teamBter shouted ; " So-ho ! Bettie !" plead the worried dame, but Bet lhe caiition flouted ; She'd have her way, the perverse brute, and, while inBisting on it, A blast more vícíoub than the reBt blew off the woman's bonnet I Then rose Bhe strongly in her might, her nerve did not forsake her, And held the reins with steady hands, appealing to her Maker. God will help those who help themselves, and Boon, though flerce and foaming, A few right well-directed jerks curtailed Bet's random roaming. Then to the Bidewalk drawing close, despite brute f orce resisting, With courteous, although piteouB voice, to aid her by asBisting Her check-rein tie to ring close by, she begged a passing Btranger. He staried, viewed the storm-tossed form, thinks he, Bome played-out Granger. Not of my set I see ; " what check 1" then moved him on right sneaking. Surirised the lady looked and pained most on the point of weeping. Would all men in that bnsy crowd in her sad pngnt thua Bcorn h' r ? She turncd one hopeless loot aboilt, and, coming round the Her qxück eye caugkt a sight whicli causcd her heart with oy to quiver; A young tod 'molding her poor kat aloft with cheery vigor Carne passing on. God blees the boy Í He eoon was close beBide her, And, grasping firm the restive mare, with soothing words he plied her. The lady emoothed her toilet toBsed, Bet soon gave up the túsale, The boy smiled on a bright, new coin, as off the parties rustle; And throngh long nionths, that pesky scène recalled raid bursts of laughter, The lady never faila to bless the staimch young lad who helped her.