There lived a sage in days of yore,And he a handsome pigtail wore;But wondered much and sorrowed moreBecause it hung behind him.

> A Tragic Story> --- William M. Thackeray> > There lived a sage in days of yore,> And he a handsome pigtail wore;> But wondered much, and sorrowed more,> Because it hung behind him.> > He mused upon this curious case,> And swore he'd change the pigtail's place,> And have it hanging at his face,> Not dangling there behind him.> > Says he, "Ah, the mystery I've found--> I'll turn me round,"> --he turned him round;> But still it hung behind him.> > Then round and round, and out and in,> All day the puzzled sage did spin;> In vain--it mattered not a pin--> The pigtail hung behind him.> > And right, and left, and round about,> And up, and down, and in, and out> He turned; but still the pigtail stout> Hung steadily behind him.> > And though his efforts never slack,> And though he twist, and twirl, and tack,> Alas! Still faithful to his back,> The pigtail hangs behind him.

A clever, ugly man every now and then is successful with the ladies, but a handsome fool is irresistible.

What money is better bestowed than that of a schoolboy's tip? How the kindness is recalled by the recipient in after days! It blesses him that gives and him that takes.

'Tis strange what a man may do, and a woman yet think him an angel.

Kindnesses are easily forgotten; but injuries! what worthy man does not keep those in mind?