the tiller,1 and the men pulled with fresh force, and in a moment brave Bobby, holding up the child with his mouth, was alongside. How rejoiced they all were to see him!

The boat was rowed back to the ship, the halfdrowned boy was recovered, the parents were delighted, and brave Bobby was patted and caressed by every man on board the ship.

At the Cape of Good Hope Bobby's owner was to be landed. He got into the boat, with his wife and child; but he told the sailors to hold the dog tight by the collar, till the boat was some distance from the ship. "You will then see," said he, "what a good swimmer he is."

Bobby pulled and tugged to get loose, but all in vain, for they held him till the boat was near the shore. Then the gentleman held up his handkerchief as a signal, and the dog was set at liberty. Away he went full dash into the sea, and swam off with great delight.

Suddenly he set up a shrill howl, and threw himself out of the water. At first it was thought that he had the cramp, but it was worse than that- a shark was after him. "A shark! a shark!" sounded from the boat to the ship. Bobby swam right and left, and dived and turned round, showing his teeth, and never allowing the shark time to turn on his back, without doing which the monster could not bite him.

1 Tiller, a piece of wood fixed in the rudder, which turns it, and so steers the boat. The man who holds the tiller is the helmsman.

The boat was hastily rowed back to save the dog; but the shark was swift and fierce. Poor Bobby was almost tired out with swimming and turning. Just as the boat got near, the shark turned on his back, and opened his horrid mouth. Bobby was all when his master levelled his gun at the shark and fired.

but gone,

The water was tinged with blood, and the jaws of the shark were shattered. The gentleman pulled the dog into the boat, the child threw his little arms around him; and the men in the boat and the sailors in the ship cried out with joy, "Hurrah! Hurrah! Bobby is safe, the shark is killed! Hurrah! Hurrah!"

ONE day, when Gertrude May was walking with her mother, they met a boy who had a bird to sell.

It was a little wild yellow bird; such as, fly about in the woods and fields. Gertrude's mother bought the bird, and the little girl was much pleased with it. The bird soon became so tame, that he would hop out of the cage, and sit on the rose bushes and geraniums that stood in the window. He would pick up crumbs from the breakfast table, and peck at the lump of sugar that Gertrude held in her hand.

Birds like a clean cage as well as little girls like a clean gown. Gertrude learned to brush out the cage very neatly, with a little broom, that she called her bird-broom. Every morning she gave him fresh seed, and filled his glass cup with clean water.

Sometimes she would place a large basin of water on the table near him. He liked to dive into it, "and dash about, and splash about, and shake his dripping wings.' This was good sport for Gertrude. She loved dearly to see little Yellow-breast take a bath.

Her mother used to tell her that she must be very sure not to forget the little bird for a single day. "It is very cruel to let little birds want seeds or water," said she; "it is bad enough to keep them shut up in a cage."

"Is not Yellow-breast happy in his cage?" asked Gertrude.

"Not as happy as he would be flying in the woods," said her mother. "He feels just as you would if you were always shut up in a small room, and never allowed to go out."

"Then we ought to let him fly," said little Gertrude.

"The ground is covered with snow, now," replied her mother. "His toes would be cold on the ice, and he could not find any berries or seeds on the frosty bushes. I bought him of the boy, for fear he would not take good care of him through the winter. When the spring comes, we will let him go out among the trees and flowers, where he can find other little birds to play with."

"How long will it be before spring?" asked Gertrude.

Her mother replied that it would be about eight weeks. The little girl sighed. She wanted little Yellow-breast to be happy, but she did not like to think about his going away.

When the snow. was all gone, and green leaves were on the bushes, Gertrude said, one morning, "Mother, if you think Yellow-breast will be happier out in the warm air, I am willing to let him go."

Her mother kissed her, and called her a kind little girl. They took the cage from the window, and went out into the garden together. The mother hung the cage on the bough of a cherry tree, and opened the door. Yellow-breast flew out, and perched on the green bough, and warbled a joyous song. He did not go out of the garden, and Gertrude staid and watched him a long time. Some other little birds came to see him, and they seemed to be talking together in the cherry tree. "I am glad he is so happy," said Gertrude.

The next morning she arose early, and went into the garden. She called Yellow-breast, but he did not come. When she went into the parlor, and looked at his empty cage, she felt so sad, that she sat down and cried.

Her mother came in and asked her what was the matter. "I do not want any breakfast," said Ger trude; "for little Yellow-breast will not come any more to eat my crumbs."

"Gertrude must not be selfish," said her mother. "It is selfish to think how sad you will feel at breakfast time, instead of thinking how happy little Yellow-breast will be, playing with other little birds in the open air. It is a long time since he has had any little birds to play with, and he will enjoy it very much."