The shaft was pitch dark, and it was therefore impossible to judge his rate of descent, as he hung—literally between life and death—with every faculty strained to the one act of clinging to the rope.
His hands were numb with cold and little by little he felt them slipping. Another moment and he went.
But not far, for when he let go he was not three feet from the bottom of the shaft. All the same he felt decidedly shaky as he groped about for his lost candle, which he found, and then coolly completed the exploration for which he had descended.
DRINK OR TEMPERANCE?
A temperance orator was describing to his audience how his own life had been influenced by total abstinence.
“You know,” said he, “that I am chief of my department. Three years ago there were two men in our office who held positions superior to mine. One was dismissed through drunkenness; the other was led into crime, and is now serving a long term of imprisonment, and all through the influence of strong drink. Now, what I ask,” he cried, growing eloquent, “what has raised me to my present high position?”
“Drink!” was the vociferous but unexpected reply, which he received from a number of the audience.
HE WANTED TO KNOW.
His five-year-old boy was perched on his knee, and the fond father gazed at him with eyes that beamed with paternal pride.
“Papa”—pointing out of the window—“what are those men doing over there?”