ur father lies mortally
wounded on deck, and the ship will soon blow up. Jump into the boat and
save yourself."

"No," again responded the little fellow; "I must obey my father's
orders."

As there was no time to linger, the boat put off from the ship's side. A
few minutes later the figure of Casabianca was seen in the glare of the
flames, leaning over the prostrate figure of his father.

[Illustration: CASABIANCA ON THE BURNING SHIP]

Soon after, a terrible explosion shook every ship in the bay, while
burning fragments of _L'Orient_ were hurled in the air, falling heavily
to the water in all directions. A dead silence followed this fearful
sound, and then the British boats rowed busily about, picking up those
who had leapt from the burning vessel in time to save their lives. In
this way about seventy were saved. But where was the brave boy,
Casabianca? Not a sign of him was to be seen. The noble lad had perished
with his father, faithful until death.

[Illustration]

Handel, the Great Musician

In the small German town of Halle there once lived a barber-surgeon
named George Handel. In those days barbers were nearly always surgeons
as well, and George Handel was a very respected member of the
profession. He had a large family of sons and daughters, the youngest of
whom was called George Frederick. When quite a small child this little
fellow showed a decided taste for music. In the nursery his only toys
were trumpets, drums, flutes, and anything out of which he could get
musical sounds. As he grew older this intense love of music increased,
until it became the one great thought and pleasure of his life. Seeing
this his father was very distressed and alarmed, for he did not wish his
little son to take up music as the means of earning his living.

At that time organists and musicians were very poorly paid, and George
Handel wanted his boy to get on well in the world. So he tried to turn
the child's mind away from all such ideas, by never allowing him to go
to any place where music was performed, and by sending every instrument
out of his house. But in spite of so much care and trouble taken, it was
impossible to destroy the strongest desire of the boy's nature.

One night, after the household had gone to bed, Mr. Handel was awakened
by the sound of soft music stealing from an unused garret. He arose in
great surprise, and calling his wife they went to find out the cause of
these strange sounds.

Going