434 



RECREATION. 



like you every day," said Paresis fondly, as 

 Nell made two gulps of the fat and swal- 

 lowed the steak bone whole. 



The Microbe's appreciative reply was de- 

 ferred as the waiter came forward to re- 

 move the debris. 



Discovering that there was none* he 

 glanced at the Microbe and then, with fell 

 suspicion, at Paresis, whom he carefully 

 avoided for the balance of the meal. 



The Microbe takes his coffee black, and 

 so, on returning from the bar with the 

 cigars, Paresis proceeded, with a happy 

 smile, to pour the contents of the milk pitch- 

 er into his glass. 



The smile changed to an expression of 

 disgust, and he looked under the table, 

 where, wiggling her caudal appendage 

 apologetically, Nell was eating bread and 

 milk out of the empty sugar bowl. 



" See here, my Christian friend," he ob- 

 served wrathfully, " are you aware what 

 sort of a climate you're leaving behind for 

 the next canoeist who patronizes this hos- 

 telry? " 



" After me the deluge," said the Microbe, 



biting off the end of his cigar, and leaving 

 the reckoning to be settled by Paresis, who 

 rejoined him later on the float 



The wind had moderated considerably 

 and, hoisting all canvas, the canoes sailed 

 Northward, past Rockland and then out 

 Eastward of the light, keeping West of the 

 tide rip that troubles the water South of 

 Croton Point. It was late in the night when 

 they ran ashore on the sands of the Horse- 

 shoe Beach. 



m " Although usually energetic," said Pare- 

 sis, " I feel somewhat averse to the labor of 

 pitching the tent this evening." 



So unfolding the cots and placing them 

 above high water mark, they covered them 

 with blankets and the tent canvas and crept 

 into them, Nell, as usual, occupying the 

 best part of the Microbe's couch. 



" I have learned at last," said Paresis, 

 " how you acquired that beautiful semicir- 

 cular attitude which makes you such a de- 

 lightful bed-fellow." 



" How?" queried the Microbe, sleepily. 



" Curling around that dog," explained 

 Paresis. But the Microbe was asleep. 



HIS VERSION OF IT. 



S. H. GRAY. 



In those old days when Spanish dons were noted o'er the world, 

 When gallant knights in many fights the flag of Spain unfurled, 

 Great scholars saw, and with eclat, proclaimed the world was flat; 

 And gloried o'er the precious lore they carried 'neath their hat. 

 'Twas then Columbus proved to them they did not know it all, 

 And that instead of being flat, the world was like a ball. 



Then William Shakespeare wrote his plays, and acted in 'em, too, 

 Or, maybe Bacon wrote 'em up, — but either one will do; 

 The question of the authorship has not been settled yet, 

 Has caused pugnacious pigmies to snap and bite, and fret; 

 But while those doughty bookish men in acrimony rage, 

 We know some mind proclaimed the truth, that " All the world's a 

 stage." 



In fact, in these enlightened days we aim to know it all, 



We know beyond all bounds of doubt the world is like a ball; 



Without the least contention, too, philosophers engage, 



That he was right, whoever wrote, that " All the world's a stage 



And yet one truth is paramount, a truth we can't conceal, 



That in this great, progressive age, the world is all awheel. 



