court, not forgetting your two precious brothers, just outside the gate of the town to-morrow evening at sunset!"

Of course, Ferko promised faithfully to do this, and made himself a bed very comfortably under the shade of an old thorn-bush, where he slept peacefully till morning.

Next day, he waited till an hour before sunset, according to the wolf's directions; and then he went to the King, and accompanied him and his court just outside the gates of the town in sight of the beleaguering army. At sunset, they heard a sound of trumpets and drums, and saw banners waving, and beheld the besiegers advancing towards the

town.

The King and his courtiers, among whom were Ferko's two brothers, got dreadfully frightened, and rushed pell mell back to the gates of the city.

But Ferko had locked them, and flung the keys in the moat, as the wolf had told him.

While they were all clamouring at the gates, they heard a hollow tramping sound from the north, as of an innumerable army; and, turning that way, they beheld a vast dark cloud, stretching as far as the eyes could see. They then knew that it was Ferko's army; and they all rushed

up on a little hill by the side of the city gates, to see what the end would be.

On the dark cloud's coming nearer, they found it was composed of a countless number of wolves, large and fierce, evidently very savage from hunger.

They rushed upon the besieging army, and routed them, tearing them in pieces, and devouring them.

The King was in great glee at the sight; when, all of a sudden he perceived a party of gaunt grim wolves, headed by a huge monster, who seemed to direct and guide them, advancing towards the hillock where they were.

The King felt rather alarmed, but consoled himself by thinking the King of the Wolves was coming to pay homage to him. However, he was mistaken; for the wolves rushed on the party and began tearing them fiercely to pieces. The King clung to Ferko for safety, who begged the wolf, with tears in his eyes, to spare them.

"Remember!" said the fierce creature, "the King himself ordered us to provide our own provisions for ourselves. Do not forget your promise not to interfere, Ferko! Where is the Princess? Place her on my back, and do you catch hold of my tail, and run behind me!"

There was no time to be lost, so Ferko did as he was told, just catching a last glimpse of a huge wolf flying at the King's throat.

The poor Princess had fainted from terror at the beginning of the attack, so she did not see the tragical fate of her father. The wolf galloped on with the Princess, and Ferko running beside him to the city gate, where, pausing for a moment, he told Ferko to whistle. This he did, when a water-rat ran out of the moat with the keys in his mouth.

Ferko unlocked the gates, and carried in the poor Princess. He took a grateful leave of his friend the wolf, who trotted back to his companions.

All night long the trembling people in the city lay awake listening to their howling; but next morning by daybreak nothing was to be seen on the vast plain but white shining bones from one end to the other.

After the customary period of mourning had elapsed, Ferko married the beautiful Princess, and in her right became king of the country; and they lived very happily ever after.

F. H.

F. L.

K

THE NECK.

(From the German.)

ONE Christmas morning, many years ago,
Across the meadows, white with new-fall'n snow,
I saw, in eager haste, two merry children go:

Two merry boys, and hand in hand entwined,
Along a path that to the stream inclined,
They ran, with rosy cheeks kissed by the frosty wind.

But suddenly they heard a dulcet sound,
That murmured faintly, hovering around.
They gazed about in awe-when, seated on the
ground,

They spied a human form, an agéd man,

Hard by the stream (that ever slower ran,

Choked by the frost): and thus his mellow song began