chilling waves that dash against the base of the dreary North Cape
once washed shores clothed in luxuriant vegetation. Stately forests
stood where now only stunted shrubs struggle a few inches above ground.
The mammoth, and other animals that require a warm climate, roamed in
multitudes through those regions. Their bones, found in great abundance
when the banks of the lakes and rivers thaw out and crumble away in the
spring, form an important article of traffic.

The people who live in the dreary regions of the far North are,
generally speaking, industrious, sober, simple-minded, and contented.
They have few pleasures, and their lives are toilsome. But in whatever
region we find them--in the fishing villages of the northernmost coast
of Norway or Lapland, and even in Greenland--they fondly believe their
country to be the best and most favored part of the world. We must beg
leave to differ with them. We love our changing seasons, that gradually
come and go, the sweet succession of day and night, the joyous life that
fills our fields and woods, and the comforts, luxuries, and all the
advantages of civilization. But it is a great blessing to mankind that,
wherever our lot may be cast in this great and wonderful world,

"Our first, best country ever is at home."

A BOARDING-SCHOOL CLUB.

BY ELINOR ELLIOTT.

"Well, Mildred, what does she say?" asked Dr. Clifford of his pretty
eldest daughter, as she came to the end of her long letter; and the
shower of questions following showed how eager were all at the breakfast
table to hear from the sister away at boarding-school.

"She says so much," laughs Mildred, "that I will read it to you."

ELM BANK, ---- 13, 1880.

DEAR MILLY,--I am rejoiced to know your first party was a success,
and that you were spared the ignominious fate of "full many a
flower born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on
the"--ball-room wall.

Your dress must have been a beauty, but I do not envy you. "Fine
clo'" I have forsworn, and I would not exchange my jolly
school-days for all your festive parties.

Tell papa I must have some new boots--very thick, with broad soles
and low heels--and entreat him not to send them C. O. D., for I
truly can't pay the expressage.

We girls have formed a club for the "Abolition and Extirpation of
Grotesque Idiotic Style."

Our initials, A, E, G, I, S, as you see, spell "Aegis," wh