56 



Whether of beast, or of bird, or flower ; 



The man of experience makes the best preacher. 



Best lawj'er, best farmer, best doctor or teacher. 



A good old parson in onr town — 



In former days there were some such, — 

 Had one church member who got down, 

 Through liquoring a grain too much. 

 And so the good old parson preached 



On drunkenness a searching sermon. 

 Which fell upon the culprit's head. 



As dews distilled on ancient Hermon, 

 So pointed, pungent, sharp, and plain. 

 He thought he had not preached in vain. 

 One busj^body went, 



When sermon time was done. 

 To give his fechng vent, 



And asked the guilty one, 

 (To harrow ui^ his soul. 



And hear what he would say,) 

 How he the sermon liked. 

 The parson preached that day. 

 " I liked the parson's speech first rate," 



Replied the fallen man, 

 " Because I thought he seemed to speak 

 Like an experienced man." 



Some people dread the thought of toil. 

 As if their dignity would spoil. 



By anything like labor ; 

 So pardon me if I devote 

 One moment to an anecdote 



Related by my neighbor. 



A lazy, loafing, genteel man. 



Whose wife, when something shocked her. 

 Became so very sick one night, she sent 



Her husband for the doctor. 



Two miles, — he could not go afoot — 



That seemed so much like labor. 

 So walked a mile the other way. 



And routed up his neighbor, 



And asked if he would lend his marc. 



To go for the physician, — 

 His wife was very sick, and in 



A critical condition. 



