THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

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Charlie did not like to do this, but
finally he did promise, although with
great reluctance. Mrs. Cleaveland felt
easy about him after this, and taking her
work, dismissed the subject from her
mind.

About eleven o’clock, she was aroused
by the sight of several men, who seemed
to be bearing something very carefully
in their arms. Behind them, old Father
Blinker was hobbling at his swiftest pace.
Mrs. Cleaveland gazed long and breath-
lessly. At length, she grew very faint,
for she saw that it was the body of her
darling Charlie that they bore in their
arms. Ina moment, the truth flashed
into her mind. He had disobeyed her,
and ventured on the ice, which, thawed
by the hot sun, yielded beneath his feet,
and he was precipitated into the water.
The party soon came up, and she saw
that her child had been rescued before
life was quite extinct. Charlie still lived,
but but he was so pale and weak, that
he was unable to walk upon his feet, or
even to speak above a whisper.”

- I cannot stay to tell my little friends
all about that sad interview between
Charlie and his mother; but I will tell
them what old Father Blinker had to do
in the affair. He chanced to be hob-
bling by, just as Charlie ventured on to
the lake. He knew the danger that the
boy was incurring, and called to him to
keep off; but it was too late. The ice
had cracked, and Charlie was sinking.
The old man’s first thought was, to
plunge in after him, but then, remem-
bering how old and feeble he was, he
shouted for help at the top of his voice.
He was successful in calling out Mr.
Billingslea, the teacher in the academy,
who was a young and active man, and

soon rescued his truant pupil from a
watery grave. Several other gentlemen
were also aroused by old Father Blinker’s
shouts, and hastened tothe spot. Thus
old Father Blinker was the means of
saving Charlie’s life.

Mrs. Cleaveland was an excellent
nurse, and Charlie soon recovered under
her care. He was very sorry for his
disobedience, and very grateful to Father
Blinker. Indeed, the whole family evinced
their gratitude, by taking-the old man
from the poor-house, and making him an
inmate of their home. He died not long
afterwards, but Emma and Charlie did
not forget him. They decked his grave
with flowers, and spent hours in talking
about him.—School-fellow.

Long-toed Shoes.

omE centuries since it was the fashion
in England and France to wear
shoes and boots with very long
toes. The fashion was brought
about, in the first place, by a nobleman
who wore long toes to hide a very ill-
shaped foot. You will laugh when I
tell you that the whole length of the
shoe or boot was sometimes ayard. We
are told, that in a battle between some
Greek and Norman knights, during the
rage for long-toed shoes, the Normans
were victorious, until they were thrown
from their horses, and then their shoes
were so unmanageable that they could
scarcely walk, so that the Greeks easily
got the upper hand of them, and com-
pletely won the victory.