PREFACE.

During the past quarter of a century, it has been a pleasant pastime for me to obey the dictates of my feelings and inscribe them upon paper.

The present volume is a collection of these vagrant pastimes, some of which have wandered far, while others have never before appeared to any eye save the writer's.

To call them home, introduce them to each other, and properly house them, seems a parental duty.

If in them there is a thought that shall inspire others of my profession to feel the dignity and responsibility of the calling, their publication will not have been in vain.

The intent being good, the fruit cannot be evil.

The Author.

DEDICATION.

TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, WHOSE DEVOTION, ENERGY, AND PERSEVERANCE LED ME TO DRINK AT THE FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH, UNTIL I SAW BEAUTY THEREIN, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

INDEX.

[Pg 9]

THE SENSES.

THE EYE.

THE EAR

THE TONGUE.

THE HAND.

THE NOSE.

COMBINED INFLUENCE.

OUR BATTLEFIELD.

[Written for an entertainment given by the Fife and Drum Corps (36 uniformed members) of the Third Ward Grammar School of Long Island City, of which the writer is Principal.]

THE TREE OF STATE.

[The Maple was chosen by vote of the children in the schools of N. Y. State as the State Tree, and the Rose as the State Flower. Nature's Tribute, The Rose, and The Golden Rod were written at the request of the State Department of Public Instruction of N. Y. and sent to the schools of the State for Arbor Day use. Nature's Tribute was set to music.]

THE MORNING GLORY.

[On being requested to give some Morning Glory seeds.]

OCEANUS' MIRROR, TRINITY LAKE, N. Y.

[See Note on "Fidelity."]

OUR POLITICS.

"The purification of politics is an iridescent dream." U. S. Senator, John J. Ingalls, Kansas.

ALONE.

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him."—Gen. 2, 18.