When dangers close our path, 'tis wise you'll see,
To have more than one place to which to flee;
To save himself this rat is poorly skilled,
His only hole is closed: he's caught, he's killed.

THIS proverb is spoken relative to the folly of those who are, or who place themselves in situations from which it is difficult to make a retreat whenever necessary. This may be illustrated by a settler in the wilderness who has constructed his dwelling so that he has but one door or window from which he can escape, should he be attacked by the Indian savages. As he has no window but on one side of his cabin, the wily savage can so approach that he will not be discovered till at his very door. To escape is im

possible, as his enemy will shoot him down the moment he opens the door. Had the unfortunate man other doors or windows on the other sides of his house, he, or some of his family, might have made their escape to the neighboring settlement, and a force would have been sent to their relief.

The unfortunate rat seen in the picture will soon be killed, as his cunning enemy has closed up the only avenue for his escape. Equally unfortunate is he that puts himself in the power of his enemy, who has so managed as to stop up the only path relied on to escape from his clutches. His error consists in placing himself in such a situation as to venture his all upon one throw, or on one string to his bow." It is our duty and wisdom to provide against contingencies which have happened, or may happen again, and, according to the old proverb, have more than one string to our bow, to replace any which may be broken.

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An illustration of the truth of the proverb may be seen in the practice of travelers who go to the far north during the wintry months, and return at the close of winter. They set out on their return homewards on swift gliding runners. After traveling some days southward, the ice and snow become thinner, and finally disappears, and consequently he cannot travel any farther by such a mode of conveyance. Fortunately he took the precaution to take with him a set of wheels, and by a little management is able to transform his sleigh into a four-wheeled carriage, and thus reach home without much trouble or delay.

The utility of taking heed to the proverb is seen in the manner in which the wise farmer manages his farm. He is in the habit of raising a variety of crops. Should the season prove cold and wet, he can depend on his fields of grass, pasturage, and English grains; should it be hot and dry, he can rely on his fields of Indian corn, and other later crops. The folly of an opposite course was seen a few years since in Ireland. There, a large portion of the inhabitants were dependent for their principal support on their crop of potatoes. When this crop was cut off by disease, having no other on which to rely, they were obliged to depend on the charity of others, to prevent starvation.

In a political aspect, when we wish to overcome our enemies, as in the case of a besieged city, we must first close up the avenues of retreat for the inhabitants, and cut off their means of communication from without, and thus compel them to meet us fairly in an open contest, in prescribed limits. Here, if we be the strongest, we can destroy our enemies, or bring them to submit to our own terms.

He that ceaseth to be a friend, never was a good one. He that does you a very ill turn, will never forgive

you.

He that doeth his own business, hurteth not his hand.
He that eats till he is sick, must fast till he is well.
He that falls to-day, may be up again to-morrow.
He that fears leaves, must not come into a wood.
He that finds a thing, steals it, if he tries not to re
store it.

He that flings dirt at another, dirties himself most.
He that giveth to a good man, selleth well.

He that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing,
He that gropes in the dark, finds what he would not.
He that hath a head of wax, must not walk in the sun.
He that hath been bitten by a serpent, is afraid of a
rope.

He that hath too many irons in the fire, some of them will cool.

He that his money lends, loseth both coin and friends. He is rich that is satisfied.

He is the wretch that does the injury, not he that endures it.

He is wise that hath wit enough for his own affairs.
He is wise that can make a friend of a foe.

He knows which side of his bread is buttered.
He lives long, that lives till all are weary of him.
He looks one way, and rows another.

He

may be heard when he is not seen.

He may be trusted with a house full of millstones.
He
may find fault, but let him mend it if he can.
He must be a wise man himself, who is capable of
distinguishing one.

He must needs swim, that's held up by the chin.
He must not talk of running, that cannot go.

He must stoop, that hath a low door.

He overcomes a stout enemy, that overcomes his own

anger.

He passes sentence before he has the evidence.

He pins his faith upon another man's sleeve.
He preaches well that lives well.

He put a fine feather in his cap.

He robs Peter, to pay Paul.

He has enough to do, who studies to please fools.
He teaches me to be good, that does me good.
Home is home, be it ever so homely.

Honest as the cat, when the meat is out of reach.

One of the boys appears in desperate case;
He thrusts his fists into his playmate's face:
His playmate does not mind for blow or taunt,
He will not fight, and so the other can't.

WE see here two boys, one of whom appears to be in a great passion, and bent upon having a quarrel with his companion. But his companion will not quarrel with him. The angry boy is so much enraged that he thrusts his fists to the other's face, and calls him all sorts of hard names. The peaceable boy is not disturbed, he patiently bears his insults, gives mild answers to his outrageous language, and thus, in scriptural language, turns away wrath.

There have been many mighty men, whom history calls great, who have led victorious armies