as pleasantly as possible, by taking me about to see all the beauties of the neighbourhood. There was one place at some distance which they were particularly anxious to show me; but there were many difficulties in the way. First, it was a long drive; next, the road was bad; and thirdly, Mrs. Austin

"Charles is right, however," replied Mary. "I had an adventure once connected with a bunch of harebells, which I am sure it will interest you to hear; but first let me ask where you found these?" "Growing on a high bank, near the road-side. I could get a great deal more there if you wish."

"Yes, I know it is very abundant in some places, but when I was a child I had never seen this species of wild campanula, although my mother had often described to me its slender stems, round leaves, and bell-shaped flowers."

"You must make a mistake, Mary, there are no round leaves on the plants we found; see these little slender blades like grass which grow on the stalk, they cannot be what you mean."

much too delicate to undertake such an expedition.

"Just when we had come to the conclusion that the thing was impossible, an invitation arrived for all of us young people to join a pic-nic got up by some families in the neighbourhood, to this very place. Mrs. Austin willingly allowed us to go under such favourable circumstances; and meantime many were the descriptions which I received from my friends of the beauties of the scenery, and many the pieces of prudent advice from their mother to avoid dangerous parts of the cliffs, as she had heard some years before of a boy, in search of the eggs of sea-fowls, who, having lost his balance on a precipitous wall of rock, had fallen headlong and been dashed to pieces.

"Of course we all promised to be very cautious, but in my heart I thought her exceedingly silly to suppose that girls of our age could be foolish enough to run into danger. It was not likely we would climb cliffs after sea-birds' eggs, like little boys; we, who knew how to conduct ourselves quite as well as grown people. I am sorry to say, that at that time I was very wise and prudent in my own eyes, and consequently apt to despise the advice of my elders.

"The long looked for day arrived at last, and was as fine as we could wish. Early in the morning we set out, and arrived at our destination before noon; and although I had heard so many glowing descriptions, I was not in the least disappointed. It was a noble promontory, jutting out into the sea, in every variety of form. At the base of the cliffs the waves roared

and chafed in angry foam. Inland was a mountain, not very lofty, but extremely picturesque in shape. This we climbed, and arriving at the summit, sat down to enjoy the view, and to rest after our exertions.

"Well, we can't help it now; if the others choose to lag behind, it's not our fault, and I dare say they are not so far as we think; it's only the windings of the path which hide them from our sight, so let us enjoy ourselves while we are here. I am sure we shall meet them all by-and-by.'

"So, on we went for a great way, admiring the scenery and the flowers to our hearts' content, until

Many of the company admired our bouquets, and one gentleman remarked, that we had gathered most of the mountain flowers, but that on the paths near the sea there were a great variety of rare marine plants.

"Oh, do let us go and look for them!' I exclaimed.

"So we shall, presently,' replied the gentleman, 'but some of us are not sufficiently rested.'

"I am not at all tired,' I said, rising quickly. 'Who will come with me?'

lovely blue harebells waving so lightly on that tall cliff; I know them well by description, though I never saw one before. How I wish I could get some; and so we can, for I see a path along the side of the rock, and I am sure if we were there we could reach them; so come along.'

"She followed me up a steep path, until we came to a narrow ledge on the side of the cliff. “That is a very dizzy looking place,' said Caroline. 'I don't think we ought to attempt it.'

"The path is wide enough for our feet,' I replied, 'and it is perfectly safe; but if you are frightened, don't come. I shall gather the harebells myself.'

"I shall certainly not try,' she answered, for my head always grows giddy on great heights; and remember, mamma told us not to walk in dangerous

"Come, we shall get down the hill much faster than those lazy people,' said Caroline, and have half our walk over before they begin theirs. The sea-cliffs are so lovely; it is much pleasanter there; come on, I am a very good guide.'

And off we set, scrambling and stumbling among the heather, until we arrived at the foot of the mountain, and made our way as fast as possible towards the sea. Soon we found the cliff path, which wound round the verge of precipitous rocks, opening here and there in abrupt chasms. I saw, as the gentleman had said, many new and strange marine plants, and soon Caroline and I found ourselves in advance of the rest of our party. We called to each other every moment to look at some wonderful discovery, and rushed towards it simultaneously, for it is surprising how much excitement there is in plant hunting.

"Thus led on by our enthusiasm, we were not aware of having far outstripped our companions, until, on looking back and finding them out of sight, I said, 'Oh! Caroline, how much pleasanter it is to be alone with you; the others don't really care for flowers, and can't understand our pleasure in looking for them.'

"But don't you remember,' replied Caroline, 'mamma told us not to separate from our party, or it would be as bad as going alone, which you know she would not permit.'

"I had not forgotten this at all, but I looked upon it as a foolish and unnecessary prohibition, so I replied:

bells, dear Mary, I'm sure we shall find others as we go on; at all events, it is better not to risk your life for them.'

"Caroline, you're a great coward, but you're right not to come when you are afraid. My head is very steady, so there's no danger to me.'

Accordingly, I climbed to the rocky path, and walked along bravely, turning my face towards the wall of rock which rose above, and determined not to think of the terrible abyss beneath. Gradually the path became more uneven and sloping, but still pride kept me up until I came to the point where the harebells waved overhead; I stretched my arm to catch their fragile stalks, but in the act I turned slightly round, and caught sight of the precipice beneath. A strange infatuation seized me, I was impelled to stand and gaze on the waves as they fretted and chafed against the rocks, until my eyes swam and my brain reeled. I cannot fully describe to you the sensations which I experienced at that terrible moment; but I lost all presence of mind, and the feeling I was most conscious of was a strange desire to precipitate myself downward; it seemed to me that there was a necessity to do so, from which there could be no escape. My feet certainly were firmly placed, but I dared not move one step in any direction, lest I should be obliged to fling myself forward into those restless billows which roared for my destruction.

"I gave one piercing shriek, and with a great effort compelled myself to turn from the sight which almost maddened me, and catching hold of some roots of heath which grew near the harebells, I clung to them

31

as if for life. The mere act of holding by this slight support gave me a feeling of confidence.

"Caroline heard my shriek of despair, and called out What is the matter? If you are giddy, oh! take care; stay quiet, and I will try to come to you.' Accordingly, she came on cautiously, holding by the heath until within arm's length of me. She told me afterwards, that the idea of the great danger I was in prevented her thinking of herself, and thus she was enabled to walk steadily to my relief.

"'Give me your hand, Mary,' she said, gently, ‘and I will lead you back; the path is wide enough, and you are quite safe if you do not look down.

"Oh! Caroline,' I gasped, 'I cannot stir; do not ask me; indeed, I dare not let go the heath to give you my hand; it is all I have to cling to, and I shall certainly fall if I attempt ever to leave this. Oh! that I had taken your mother's advice.' "Indeed, I wish you had,' replied Caroline, but we must try to do the best we can now. Do, dear Mary, give me your hand, and then shut your eyes, and I will guide you in safety.'

་

"No, no,' I cried, 'I cannot let go my hold, I cannot move, I feel paralysed.'

"She then tried to take my hand by force, but I struggled and screamed violently.

"Well, stay where you are, if you must,' she said, ' and I will go and look for help,' and she left me alone. The agonies of terror which I suffered during the long

time she was away, I shall never forget. My mind was in too excited and confused a state to permit me to form a prayer to Him who alone could strengthen me and send relief. It did flash across me that I could not expect God's protection in a situation of danger to which my own pride and disobedience had brought me. Then I longed to acknowledge my fault and beg forgiveness, but I could not, for my faculties all felt paralysed. Yet, God heard the unspoken prayer: for 'He is more ready to hear than we to pray.'

"Caroline could not find any one for a long time. Our friends had gone off in scattered parties in an opposite direction, each supposing we were with some of the others; and after she had gone a great way she turned to come back, fearing to leave me any longer alone.

"Meantime I heard steps approaching the summit of the cliff, and hope revived. I called out as loudly as I could, Help, help!' The steps ceased, and I knew some one was looking down the wall of rock against which I clung. Then a voice called out, 'Mary, is it you?'

"And soon he came round the cliff, and stood where Caroline had been before, and told me to give him my hand, but I could not. Then a gentleman of the party, who had been walking with Edward, came to the other side, and, in spite of my screams, they each seized a hand and led me along the dizzy ledge to safe ground. By this time I was so ill from terror and excitement that I could only lie on the grass and sob convulsively. Caroline, Grace, and several others had now joined us, and they assisted me to the carriage which was to convey us home.

"A long and severe nervous fever followed my adventure. As I could not be moved, my dear mother came and nursed me tenderly, though she was deeply grieved at hearing the cause of my illness. However, it was a useful lesson to me against pride and self-conceit, and ever since the blue harebell has been associated in my mind with humility and lowliness of heart."

"THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS.

R.

10. A young man who was jealous for his master's honour?

11. "His visage was so marred more than any man's, and his form more than the sons of men (Isa. lii. 14). Give a fulfilment of this.

12. Which was the honest tribe in Israel?

13. A proof that God observes the acts of children?

14. A man and his two sons who hid themselves from an angel?

15. What relation was Esther to Mordecai? 16. What people waited for a good man to say grace before they sat down to their feast?

17. What king of Israel loved farming?` 18. In what passage of Scripture do we find mention of "wise ladies ?"

19. Where, in prophetic Scripture, do we read of "pastors?"

20. Who did a brave deed upon "

ANSWERS.

1. Issachar (1 Chron. xii. 32). 2. Ebed-melech (Jer. xxxix. 16). 3. The dew (Numb. xi. 9).

a snowy day ?"

7. Jer. xliii. 10.

8. Elam (Jer. xlix. 36).

9. They put out his eyes. Jer. xlii. 11.

STRAY

WHEN Agatharchus boasted of his rapid brush, Zeuxis answered, "I take a long time." A cutting remark from a Zeuxis; but there are those who fancy they must have Zeuxis's touch, simply because they take his time.

THE word "too" or "to" was originally used to intensify verbs as well as adjectives. A remarkable illustration of this use of the word is to be found in Judges ix. 53, a passage often misunderstood, from persons thinking that the word "to" is used here as the sign of the infinitive mood. The passage reads thus-" And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his scull." "To brake" is not the infinitive mood here, for then the word should be spelt "break;" but "to" is here an intensifying particle, and the passage means (not that she did it "to break," or for the purpose of breaking his skull), that she "all to brake" (ie., completely brake or broke) his skull. We still commonly use the word "to" (spelt "too") to intensify adjectives, as "too good," "too large," &c.

IN one of the good Bishop Latimer's sermons occurs the following quaint description of the omnipresence of the Evil one :

NOTES.

clamour and crush, went on to the hospital in which were many of his wounded men. His demeanour towards them was full of kindness, expressive of tender-hearted interest. He stopped at every bed, and looked with a parental eye on suffering humanity. To every man he addressed himself with a cheerful countenance and cheering words. There was one man who had lost his right arm, which had been cut off close to the shoulder-joint. He especially claimed his attention, and, stopping at his bed, the following interesting dialogue took place :—" Well, Jack, what's the matter with you?" "I have lost my right arm, your honour." Lord Nelson, upon hearing these words, was immediately reminded of his own loss, and after a pause, looking down at his own empty sleeve, and then at the sailor, he said, in a playful tone of voice, "Well, Jack, then you and I are spoiled for fishermen. Cheer up, my brave fellow!"

THE other day we came across the following curious Saxon verse, purporting to contain one of the precepts of King Alfred :

Thus qwath Alurrd, engle frofre,

Wolde ge nu liben and lusten gure lonerd,
And be yu wolde wisen wiseliche winges,
Hu ge mihten werlds warthecipe welden

And ec pure soule samne to Christe

Wise weren the cwethen the said the King Alfred.

WE often waste our pity. "How miserable they must be!" we say of others, forgetting that their standard of happiness may not be the same as ours. According to Mr. Oliphant, the Kirghiz consider the banks of the Syr a Paradise, because they find upon them trees actually six feet high! Judged by our own standard, too, many an humble hut would excite our envy rather than our compassion, if we knew more about it. Bright joys are scattered in dark dwellings, as golden amber litters the gloomy Baltic shores; and if sympathy can soothe sorrow, nowhere is it more sincere and copious-no matter if a little coarse-than in lowly homes. Balm grows in the poorest soil, and comforters are plentiful in cottages.

WHEN, after having fought the battle of Copenhagen, Lord Nelson arrived at the Yarmouth roads, and landed on the jetty, his popularity was so great, that he was immediately surrounded with the populace. But Nelson, regardless of all, forced his way sailor-like through the crowd, and, heedless of the

Thus quoth Alfred, England's comfort,

Would that ye did now love and long after your Lord,
And he would govern you wisely,

That ye might have honour in this world,

And yet unite your souls to Christ.

Wise were the sayings of King Alfred.

We fear that if a monarch of the present day were to publish the like good counsel, the wits of the world would twit him fer a twaddler, and laugh at the idea of his being called "the comfort of his country."

AN echo, the echo of the cheeriest of sounds-the roguish laughter of my little toddling, blue-eyed fairy; and yet there is sadness in the sound as it comes back to me from the distant corner of the quaint old quadrangle, over the damp grass, littered with russet, gold, and crimson. It is not the fallen leaves, or the neglected grass plat, or the smoky-red houses of antique fashion; wearily gazing at one another with lack-lustre eyes, that must be credited with the sadness. All echoes have that mournful timbre. They are the ghosts of voices. No wonder the Caribs thought the dead were speaking when the weird tones rang, or fell far off in dying cadence, as they wandered in their densely-shaded woods. In the north of Europe echoes are still listened to with awe as spirit voices.