A FORTUNE-TELLING BOOK.


"I WISH that I had a fortune-book," said one of 

three boys, as they walked together down to the 

river to skate. "I want to know what my luck is 

to be. I've tried to buy one; but there's none to 

sell."

"I have got one," said the barber's son.

"Got one!" cried William eagerly. 

"Why did you not tell us about it before? 

Where is it?"

"Down at the shop," answered the   barber's son.

"And it does tell what's coming to pass, does it?" 

asked the third boy.

"Yes, it does."

"But how do you know?" asked the third boy. 

"You have not lived long enough to know if it has 

told your fortune right."

"Why, you see it is a very old book," said the 

barber's son. "My grandfather had it, and it told 

his fortune; then my father had it, and it told his; 

and it all came to pass."

"It beats all," cried William. "What a prize! Why 

don't you go round telling fortunes? You would 

make lots of money.''

"I am afraid nobody would believe me," 

said the barber's son, humbly.

"Well, show it to us," said they.

"Come down to the shop, then, tonight," 

he said; "come just after we shut up."

"Sell it to me," cried William.

"I can not part with mine," the barber's son 

answered; "but you can get one where mine 

came from."

"I will have one. But we will come and try our 

luck with yours."

"Agreed," said they all.

The two boys were before time, and hung around 

the shop until every customer had gone, and the 

shutters were put up; then in they went. The 

barber's son asked them to be seated, and drew 

a little table out, and placed a lamp on it. Then 

he went to the back part of the shop, and 

opening a little trunk, took the book out, 

and laid it upon the table, the boys narrowly 

eying him all the time.

"There," he said in a very sober tone, when he 

laid the book on the table; "there, boys, that is 

my fortune-telling book. What it says is sure."

The two boys eagerly gazed on the table. "The 

Bible!" they exclaimed at once, shrinking back.

"Yes," said the barber's son, "that was my 

father's Bible; and it says there are but just two 

ways for you and for me to try our chances in 

this world. One is called the ' broad way,' and 

the other the 'strait and narrow way.'" Such a 

fortune-telling book the boys were not thinking 

of; but it is the only kind that does not deceive 

us. 





Chatterbox.