but at last we got ashore and pulled the boat up after us.
Among the rocks we found a quantity of drift-wood; we gathered some, and
built a fire. Uncle James produced some bread and crackers from his
basket, and, after roasting some of the nice, fat mackerel on sharp
sticks before the fire, we sat down to what seemed to us a delicious
breakfast. We were in excellent spirits, and George and I cracked jokes
and laughed to our hearts' content. After our hunger had been satisfied,
we wandered over the island, which we christened Mackerel Island, and,
sitting upon a high cliff, watched the seals as they bobbed their heads
out of the water, and turned their intelligent, dog-like faces, with
visible curiosity, toward us. They did not seem to be at all afraid, for
they swam close to the rock upon which we sat. We whistled, and they
were evidently attracted by the sound. These seals are numerous in some
of the bays on the New England coast. Most of them are small, but
occasionally one is seen of considerable size. Their fur is coarse and
of little value, but they are sought after by fishermen for the sake of
their oil, which commands a ready sale for a good price. After we had
got fully rested, we launched our boat, rowed homeward, and soon landed
upon the beach.

SPRING AND SUMMER.

BY DORA READ GOODALE.

In Spring we note the breaking
Of every baby bud;
In Spring we note the waking
Of wild flowers of the wood;
In Summer's fuller power,
In Summer's deeper soul,
We watch no single flower,--
We see, we breathe the whole.

THE AX OF RANIER.

BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

Once upon a time, there lived on the borders of a forest an old woman
named Jehanne, who had an only son, a youth of twenty-one years, who was
called Ranier. Where the two had originally come from no one knew; but
they had lived in their little hut for many years. Ranier was a
wood-cutter, and depended on his daily labor for the support of himself
and mother, while the latter eked out their scanty means by spinning.
The son, although poor, was not without learning, for an old monk in a
neighboring convent had taught him to read and write, and had given him
instructions in arithmetic. Ranier was handsome, active and strong, and
very much attached to his mother, to whom he paid all the honor and
obedience due from a son to a parent.

One morning in spring, Ranier went to his work in the forest with his ax
on his should