(60, 110, 159, 160-2, 177, 181, 234, 295.)

1. THE boat lay on the shore, tied to a big stone. Edwin had been playing near it on the beach, with his younger sister, Kate. "Come, Kate," said he, "let us get into the boat, and rock it to and fro."

2. "You forget, Edwin," said Kate, "that father for-både our getting into a boat when he was not pres'ent."" O, but he meant that we should not get into a boat that was float'ing; now, this boat is high and dry on the shore; and where's the danger?"

3. Little Kate al-lowed herself to be per-suad'ed. She stepped into the boat with her brother, and they began to rock it. But they did not see that the tide was coming in all the while, and that the boat was

almost afloat. They only thought of the good time they were having.

4. All at once Kate said, "It seems to me, brother, that the boat is afloat. I think we ought to get out."

"Not yet, Kate," said Edwin; "you see I can pull it up to the big stone to which it is tied. Let us rock in it a while longer."

5. They kept on rocking, with their faces turned away from the shore; but when they looked round, they saw that the rope, by which the boat had been held, had become loosened, and that the boat was not only afloat, but drifting away into deep water.

6. Kate was much fright'ened; but Edwin told her that there was an oar in the boat, and that he could scull with it as soon as he had taken out the rudder. That was more ea'si-ly said than done, Master Edwin!

7. In trying to take out the rudder, the oar slipped out of his hands, and float'ed away. He tried to reach it, but it was be-yond his grasp. At this, Kate clasped her hands, and said, "O Edwin! what shall we do now?"

sea.

8. The boat drift'ed with the cur'rent, and the children began to fear they should be carried far out to E Far off on the ho-ri'zon they could see the white sails of ships and sloops, but none of them came so near that they could make their cries heard, although they shouted many times.

9. They passed sev'er-al isl'ands, and at length came to one which seemed to be the last between the har'bor and the wide, wide sea. "I will try to run

THE LOST CHILDREN.

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the boat ashore on that isl'and," said Edwin. Kate could an'swer only by sobs.

10. Edwin took hold of the rud'der, and guid'ed it as well as he could. Will he reach the island? Yes! he has reached it; the keel grates on the sand and the pebbles of the shore; the children can once more jump on the dry land.

11. They got out of the boat on the island, and Edwin pulled the boat, as well as he could, upon the shore. "Oh! what shall we do here, on this little des'o-late island?" asked Kate.

12. The island was not much larger than their father's cow-yard. There were rocks in the middle, and some small huc'kle-ber-ry bushes. In a crev'ice of the rocks was some char'coal, which had been left by a fishing-party.

CIV. THE LOST CHILDREN.

PART II.

1. "Now, do not cry, Kate," said Edwin; "I am very sorry that I did not mind father; I wish we had never got into the boat. But we should be thank'ful we have not been carried out to sea by the big waves and the current.

2. "Here we are on this nice little isl'and; and if we have to stay here all night, it will be no great harm; the weather is warm and pleasant, and here I can dig a plenty of clams; so cheer up, sister Kate." Kate wiped her eyes, and even tried to laugh.

3. They found in the boat a box of matches, a blan

ket, some po-ta'toes, and a pot for fish. They found some rain water in a hollow of the rocks. Edwin made a fire, and Kate sat down, and boiled some pota'toes for supper.

4. They made a good supper; but when they thought how anx'ious their parents would be, they felt very badly. As soon as it was dark, they wrapped themselves up in the blank'et and went to sleep.

5. Meanwhile their father and mother suf'fered great anx-i'e-ty. The town cri'er was sent in search of the children, but nothing could be learned about them. Early the next day their father took a boat and visit-ed the isl'ands in the harbor.

6. At last he came to the island on which the children had landed, and there he saw them on the shore, waving their hand'ker-chiefs. Soon he landed. He was too happy to scold them; but they both begged his pardon for their wrong-doing.

7. He took them home to their mother, and very happy they all were that night at the tea-table. But before Edwin went to sleep, he knelt, and gave devout thanks to the Father of all for the happy result of what might have been a very sad ad-ven'ture.

CV. THE SEASONS.

SPRING.

1. Of the seasons of the year,
Which to you is the most dear?

2. Me the Spring-time pleases best:
Then the fields in green are dressed.

THE SEASONS.

3. Then the blossoms, red and white,
Are a pleasure to the sight.

4. Then the song of many a bird
Is at early daylight heard.
5. Then we find the vi'o-let blue,

And the harebell, wet with dew.

6. And the col'um-bine looks up, With its red and yellow cup.

36

SUMMER.

7. Summer is the time for me;
Joy is then in all I see.

8. Then the roses are in bloom;
All the garden they per-fume.
9. Then what joy it is to stray
Where the men are making hay!

10. Then what joy it is to lie

On the hay, and see the sky!

11. Then what joy it is to roam Where the ocean billows foam!

12. Cherries, straw'ber-ries, and flowers Fill the happy, happy hours.

AUTUMN.

13. Spring and Summer you may praise, Give me Autumn's merry days!

14. Then the apple and the peach Are within our easy reach.

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