After Jotaphat had been captured by the Romans, Josephus, the historian, fled to a cavern with forty other Jews. His companions resolved to kill each other rather than surrender. Josephus pretended to agree, but claimed that, being leader, it was his privilege to arrange them in good order for death, and that, beginning to count from one end to a certain number, they should put to death the person on whom that number should fall, until only one man should remain, who should kill himself. The men agreed, and Josephus so arranged himself and the forty others that at the end of the slaughter he remained, with one other, whom he persuaded to live. How did Josephus arrange his men?

I take it for granted that it is a class prophecy which my correspondent, who is puzzled on this score, asks for. Here is one way which she may like. Write your prophecy as though seen by the Lady of Shalott, and illustrate by tableaux-vivants. The prophet costumes herself like the Lady of Shalott. She should wear a gauzy white gown, and have a netting wound around her, assimilating a spider's web. Her hair should flow loosely about the shoulders, and she should be seated before a spinning-wheel.

"And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she."

Arrange the platform to represent a prettily furnished room, and on the wall hang conspicuously a large mirror.

"And moving thro' a minor clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear."

The Lady of Shalott as she weaves recites in slow, distinct tones the prophecy, and as the destiny of each one is told, have the person referred to pass across the stage before the mirror, and so on, out of sight. The person will be costumed and will act exactly as the prophecy foretells. The awesome effect will be heightened by an accompaniment of slow music.

A very little girl asks what easy thing she may find to do for her mother's birthday. Make a set of table-mats, dear, of coarse white cotton, crocheting them in simple close work, and finishing with a scalloped edge. I saw a very pretty set the other day, and the lady who owned them was proud that her youngest daughter, aged eight, had made them herself.

What do you think of this as a hint for a useful little gift? A Portia pen-wiper is practical, unique, new, and easy of construction. Buy a china doll—one that stands firmly. Make for her several chamois-skin skirts of different lengths, putting on the shortest one first. Pink the edges. The costume should be a red or black student's gown and cap, and put a tiny roll of parchment in her hand. If you have to tie the roll in the hand, use fine silk of the same color as the parchment, and it will scarcely show. The gown should be long and full. The material may be silk, velvet, or cashmere. The cap should have a square top, fastened to a narrow band fitting close to the head. The doll should have the appearance of stateliness. Whenever the chamois is soiled, replace the skirts, and thus the pen-wiper is always clean.

No, Susie and Rowana. I do not care for crystallized grasses. They are old-fashioned, and not in the least pretty. Do not put anything in your vases which simply gathers dust, and is not a thing of beauty. A few growing plants are a great attraction in the house, and you can have geraniums and mignonette all winter if you will begin to care for them now.

Margaret Sangster.