turned despairingly to his comrade. In an instant Ben had leaped from the cab, fallen, recovered himself, and sped like a deer on beside the train. A race with a locomotive, a vain contest, it would seem. Yet the fleet fellow kept up, lost a pace, regained it, was now actually ahead. He sprang in front of the engine-alas, too late!

"O God!" groaned the engineer. He drew back and shut his eyes, lest he should see not only the beautiful little life of the child crushed out, but also that of his friend— noble, heroic, Ben. In his heart he already felt the dreadful shock which he knew would in reality be scarcely perceptible; hardly more than the resistance of the flowers and sturdy grass of the fields before the scythe. It did not come. How could that be possible? Instead, he heard a cheer. Again he thrust his head out of the window. Could he believe his sight? There was Ben alive and unscathed-Ben, with the child in his arms. The engine came, to a stop at last, about a hundred yards farther along.

A woman was observed rushing from the direction of a house near the railroad. Half crazed, she had seen the danger of her little one, while powerless to avert it. Then she beheld the brave man's effort to snatch the child from the very jaws of death, if need be to purchase its life with his own. At the supreme moment she was stricken with a sudden blindness; she reeled, and would have lost consciousness but for that quick shout of joy. What? Saved? Marvelous! Could she credit the assurance of that call? Or was it a delusion-a knell in her ears, which took on a

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glad ring to mock her? The blessed doubt gave her renewed strength, however. She almost flew to the spot. The Lord be praised! It was true. The child, who had clung to Ben half dazed with fright, now began to cry piteously. The mother caught it in a frantic embrace, murmured a few broken words of fervent gratitude to its brave deliverer, and then sank swooning to the ground.

Several laborers in a field beyond, who had also witnessed the intrepid rescue, hastened to the scene. Car windows were raised, and nervous passengers inquired why the train had come to a standstill. When the reason for the commotion became known, what a thrill of feeling it caused! What a cheer went up for the brave fireman! Many were eager to make a handsome purse for him then and there. But Ben said:

"No; thank you, sirs! A hundred thousand dollars wouldn't have paid me for throwing away my life, or that mother for the loss of her baby. But my own life and the child's have been, as I might say, given back, thank God! And that's the only reward I want."

With these words Ben turned away, drew his gingham shirt sleeve across his grimy brow, and sprang to his place upon the engine. The engineer sounded the whistle, the passengers scrambled into the cars again, and the train sped on.

Resist beginnings; all too late the cure,

When ills have gathered strength by long delay.

THE WHITE LADY

ELLEN WALSH

Many years ago, in a far-away country across the sea, lived a beautiful lady. When men and women met this lady as she was walking or riding, they would turn to look at her, so great was the beauty of her countenance.

She was as good as she was beautiful. She seemed to give all her attention to the care of the poor, the sick, and those in trouble, and whatever she did, whether great deed or small, was done for the honor and glory of God.

Our White Lady could do wonderful deeds. She was known to travel very many miles in one day, in order to help some one in need. One time a large number of people came to see her to ask her advice about various matters. They remained so long it became necessary to give them something to eat. The poor cook was in great distress because there was not food enough in the house for a dozen persons, to say nothing about feeding hundreds. Our Lady graciously ordered the food to be placed upon the tables, and lo! all the guests had sufficient to eat and a large amount was left.

Our Lady had many companions who came to live and work with her. They all wore white dresses like hers. After a time so many came that the place where they were

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living was too small to accommodate them all and give lodging to those who journeyed from afar.

Near by lived a wealthy chieftain who had acres and acres of land. One day our Lady took with her four companions and went up the high hill to the castle where the chieftain lived.

Just at the entrance to the great gate they met the owner coming out, with a wolf walking beside him. The chieftain was a large man, with long gray hair and gray, bushy beard. His eyes were dark and piercing. The wolf beside him was a ferocious looking animal.

Instead of kindly inviting the women to enter his castle, the chief asked in a loud, harsh voice what they wanted there. The White Lady spoke a word or two to her Guardian Angel, and then turning to the chief she said:

"We come, my lord, to tell you that our houses, below in the valley, under the great oak tree, are now too small for our community. We need more land on which to build, more houses. Will you, please, give us a few acres of the land near our home?"

The old chieftain scowled and spoke louder than ever: "Why should I give land to you and your companions?"

"For the sake of the dear Lord for whom we try to work," answered the lady. "We feed the hungry, care for the sick, and strive to aid all the needy who come to us. We need only a few of your acres."

Let the sick die and the hungry starve," said the chief. "Why should you care for them?"

"For the sake of Jesus, who died for you and for me and for all."

This answer seemed to enrage the chief more than ever, and again he refused to give her any land.

Her companions gently urged her to leave, for his cruel looks and cross words made them fear for their lives. The huge wolf had been coming nearer and nearer until he lay at the feet of the White Lady and seemed as peaceful as a dove. But her companions feared him.

Our White Lady lingered and continued to urge the chief to give her the land. At last she said to him:

"Will you give me as much land as my mantle will cover?"

The chief looked at her, and as he saw before him a small woman, with her white mantle reaching from her neck to the ground, he laughed aloud, and his laugh made her companions tremble more than his cross words.

"Yes; you may have all the land that your mantle will cover;" and he laughed louder than ever.

The White Lady removed her mantle from her shoulders and, handing it to her four companions, bade them take it by the four corners and spread it over the land.

Taking the mantle, the four began to stretch it out, their faces beaming with hope and happiness. They began dancing away, away over the land and the mantle kept growing larger and larger.

The chief was so amazed he could scarcely believe his own eyes, when he saw the mantle covering many, many acres, for the maidens lost no time in dancing over the hills