XXIII.--THE BIRD OF PARADISE.

1. This bird is nearly as large as a crow, and is of a rich, coffee-brown color. The head and neck are of a pure straw-yellow above, and rich metallic-green beneath. The long plumy tufts of golden orange feathers spring from the sides beneath each wing, and when the bird is at repose it is partially concealed by them.

2. At a time of excitement, however, the wings are raised vertically over the back, the head is bent down and stretched out, and the long plumes are raised up and expanded until they form two magnificent golden fans, striped with deep red at the base, and fading off into the pale brown tint of the finely divided and softly waving points.

3. The whole bird is then overshadowed by them, the crouching body, yellow head and emerald-green throat forming but the foundation and setting to the golden glory which waves above. When seen in this attitude the Bird of Paradise really deserves its name, and must be ranked as one of the most beautiful and most wonderful of living things.

Harper's Magazine.

XXIV. GRACE DARLING.

1. Longstone light-house is built upon one of the Farn Islands, on the coast of Northumberland, England, and it was in this very dreary place that the gentle and modest Grace Darling lived with her father, apart from the busy scenes of life.

2. Yet even from that lonely spot came news of a heroism and courage that made the whole country ring

with the praises of the simple-minded occupants of the storm-beaten light-house.

3. It was on the morning of the 7th of September, 1838, at daybreak, that John Darling, the light-keeper of the Longstone light-house, discovered, about a mile distant, a steamer that was being dashed to pieces on the rocks by the fury of the waves.

4. Several of the crew of the ill-fated ship were clinging to the wreck, expecting that every wave would sweep them into the boiling sea. What was to be done? Could any help be given, and the poor sailors saved from a watery grave?

5. Although the tempest was raging fearfully, Grace Darling and her father resolved, at the risk of their own lives, to try to rescue their fellow-creatures; and for this purpose they launched their small boat through the tempestuous sea, and pulled for the wrecked ship.

6. Now on the crest of the wave, then in the deep valley of the sea, the father and daughter strained to the utmost in their mission of mercy. At last they reached the wreck, and succeeded in getting the nine poor sufferers into their boat.

7. So furious was the storm that for three days it was impossible to take the shipwrecked sailors to the mainland. They were compelled to remain in the light-house on the rocky island.

8. Grace Darling was just twenty-three years old when she assisted her father to row the boat to the wreck, and in two years after she died of consumption. Her fame spread throughout Europe and America, and her name was spoken among all classes of society with profound respect and admiration.

9. Let this little sketch of Grace Darling suggest to you that, in whatever situation in life you may be placed, you have it in your power to do acts of kindness that will you the esteem of others.

secure to

XXV.-WINK.

1. I have a kitty, and, what do you think? Her name is Puss, but I call her "Wink," And the reason why I call her so

Is this: O, ever so long ago,

My mother brought her home one day
In a little basket, all the way

From dear me, where was it?—I can't remember,
It was so long-the name of the town,

But the month, I'm sure, was June- or December.
And when mother set the basket down

On the kitchen floor, she said, "Little Grace,
Just peep in here, but take care of your face,
For it's something 'live and it may jump up."
I thought, much as could be, it must be a pup,
For brother Jem had been teasing hard

For a black one, all fuzzy, and full of his fun, Like the one that lives in Joe Cassidy's yard;

He rolls over and over-he's too fat to run.

2. But no! when I looked in, there lay a kitty, All cuddled up close, so silky and pretty, A blue cat-Aunt Eleanor says she's Maltese ; I don't know what that is, it may be her fleece, 'Cause it shines so; but soon as my new kitty saw That the basket was open, she stretched out her paw To shake hands with her mistress, and just seemed to know

She had come to a good home where people would treat her

Like one of God's creatures, and nobody throw Stones and brickbats to hurt her, or cruelly beat her.

3. So she looked up at me and said softly, "You?

you?"

And winked just as hard as ever you knew.
"Yes, it's I-little Gracie," I answered her then,
And O, don't you think, she began winking again!
Jemmy laughed so did I- but she didn't get

cross

At our fun, like May Fisher and Lilian Morse,
But was just as good-natured as could be, and lay
As still as a mouse, with nothing to say.

I caught her up, then, and hugged her and kissed
her-

They were little soft hugs, and she liked them,
I guess-

But Jemmy screamed out, "You are choking her,
sister!"

And frightened her so she hid in my dress. She's got used to him now, and don't care for his

noise,

For she's found out he's just like the rest of the

4. Jem says, "She's a stupid, and can't tell a rat From a rose-bush;" but I know better than that, And she isn't afraid of them either, but thinks

It isn't quite right to kill them for sport, So she lies on the mat in the wood-shed and winks At their pranks, and they never got caught. I don't care, I am sure, for rats like to live Just as well as we do, and if people would give Them their food every day in a little tin dish, They'd learn to be honest, perhaps, and eat fish And pick bones, like the cats, and behave very well, As poor Wink does. That's all. I've no more to

tell.

Christian Union.

XXVI. FIRE-SCREENS.

1. "Nonsense!" exclaimed Lewis, throwing down his book.

2. His mother looked around from her sewing; "What is nonsense, my son?"

3. "Why, mother, just listen," and picking up his book again, Lewis read: "We built a roaring fire on the ice, and, wrapping our buffalo skins around us, lay down to sleep;" then he goes right on to say that they kept the fire burning all night, and that the ice was only a foot thick.

4. "Well, what fault do you find with that?"

5. "In the first place, I do not believe they could build a fire on the ice, for the ice would melt and the water would put the fire out. But supposing they could, how long would it take a big fire to melt through a foot of ice?"

6. Mrs. Morrill did not answer; but there was something in her quiet smile that made Lewis feel a little uncertain. 66 Say, mother, would it not melt right

through?"

7. Just then a new idea came into his head. "I will find out this very night!" he exclaimed; "there is a tub of water in the yard, frozen over, and it is not eight o'clock yet."

8. "May I go out with Lewis, mother?" asked Walter, who, though a small boy, had been listening to what had been said.

9. In a short time the two boys came back with rosy faces and numb fingers. "We built a fire right in the tub!" shouted Walter.

10. "It did burn," cried Lewis. "The ice was so thin it would hardly bear the wood. We made a little pile