ill night came and they
forgot their troubles in sleep.

The next day a strong wind had blown away so much snow that Agnes
determined to try to find her way to Grasmere. It was a difficult task,
for there were brooks to cross; but the brave girl was urged on by the
memory of the little ones she had left behind, and made her way there.

Here she found that her father and mother had started for home on the
first night. As they had not since been heard of, she had little doubt
that they must have fallen into some hole or brook and have perished in
the snow.

Still faithful to her trust, the poor child returned to the cottage,
where she carefully watched over her brothers and sisters, until kind
friends found new homes for the little orphans.

E. M. W.

A MORNING VISIT.

[Illustration: "AND AT LAST NURSE SAYS I MAY CARRY UP HER MORNING
TEA."]

Darling mother! not to see her
For a whole week and a day!
It was hard; but she is better,
And at last nurse says I may
Carry up her morning tea.

Only one wee, tiny minute
Must I wait to kiss her cheek,
And to whisper how I missed her
Every day this long, long week,
And to ask if she missed me.

Often, while they thought me sleeping,
Did I lie an hour and more,
Crying--when the house was quiet--
Softly at her bedroom door,
Where she could not hear nor see.

Oh, it was so dull without her!
Every one was grave and sad;
But I think, now she is better,
Even the little birds look glad
As they hop from tree to tree.

MAGGIE MACDONALD.

GOING TO SEA IN A CAGE.

AN OLD SAILOR'S STORY.

Aye, aye, sir! I've seen a good many queer things in my time, sure
enough; but the queerest thing I ever saw was a bit of work aboard the
old _Mermaid_, when we were homeward bound from Hong Kong and Singapore.
Would you like to hear the story? Well, then, if you'll just come to an
anchor for a minute or two on this coil of rope, I'll tell you all about
it.

The very first day out from Hong Kong I took notice of one young lady,
who was lying on a kind of basket-work sofa, on the sunny side of the
poop-deck. She had the sweetest face I ever saw, but it went to my heart
to see how thin and pale she looked. And well she might, poor thing! for
it seems she had something wrong with her back, so as she couldn't walk
or stand up, or anything; and she was going to England to see some great
doctor or other, and try if _h