“I believe you will, my boy; but you have been in the choir such a short time. I know you were trained, and well, too, before you came to us; still, it takes a great deal of courage to sing before a congregation. However, do your best, and if you break down, we shall forgive you."

So saying, he disappeared, and the boys marched in for service.

It was as Dr. Westwood had said, the cathedral was crowded, the dean and chapter being present.

Poor little Arthur, how his childish heart fluttered; but he soon contrived to steady himself, and was quite calm, though deeply flushed, when the anthem began. The first chorus went off beautifully, and at its close, the sestett commenced. There was a faint indication of tremulousness about the first note; but, gathering strength. as he went on, the lovely voice rose higher and higher, floating out in one tide of sweet pellucid melody. The little hands were folded on the book in front of him, the handsome head slightly thrown back, the beauteous dark eyes beaming with light and tender feeling. A pretty picture he made, as pretty as Charlie, yet so different: the one calm, and almost angelic, the other so rich and glowing.

The congregation stared in amazement when they saw the singer. The dean looked at the precentor, and the precentor looked at the dean in astonishment.

Beautifully did the child render it, without a mistake, to the unspeakable delight of his guardian and little Katie.

After service, the dean and the precentor hurried to

the vestry.

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Melville," said the dean, "did you sing the first part in that sestett ?

"Well, I never was more surprised in my life. Dr. Leslie," to that gentleman, who had just come up, "it was a very fortunate day that your little boy was elected into our choir, he is getting on wonderfully well. Dr. Westwood informs me that he is very painstaking, and gives him scarcely any trouble. Were you not charmed with his singing to-day?"

"Indeed I was, and I hope that he will continue to go on as he has begun."

"Are you fond of singing, Arthur?" asked the Dean.

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'Yes, sir, I am, very fond, I like nothing better," replied the child.

46

'Oh, very well; I shall call some day and hear you play." "Dr. Westwood tells me that you refused your holiday. Is it so?" enquired the precentor.

Yes, sir; at least, I said I did not care to have any," answered Arthur, "because I have been such a short time in the choir, and I should not go out anywhere visiting. I wish to become a good singer."

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Well, if you go on as you have begun, you will certainly obtain your wish, and soon, for you sang well

to-day. We are much pleased with you, Arthur; persevere, and who knows but that some day you may even attain to perfection."

HE sea! the boundless, mighty, glistening sea! how unspeakably grand it is, how awe-inspiring!

Who can ever forget his first visit to the sea, when standing alone by its restless waves, what inexplicable emotions filled his being? Then was the infinite greatness of the Creator brought home to the mind in all its magnitude and incomprehensibleness. Surely He Who controls the mighty ocean, Who measures its waters in the hollow of His hand, Who bids the storm-waves sink to rest, must be Almighty, must be what we in our finite comprehension shall never be able to understand.

Oh sea, changeless in nought but change, bid thy stormvoices tell us of our own puerility, our own insignificance and nothingness, when compared with Him who sets thee thy bounds which thou canst not pass!

With what kingly majesty do the foam-crowned billows rise, and with resistless, gigantic force, precipitate themselves upon the ripple-marked beach.

Ever-restless, ever-changing, ever-rolling waves of the mighty sea, ye do but follow Nature's universal law of

change. The billows of time, with noiseless movement, roll ever on to the shore of Eternity, and their progress, though silent, is none the less sure than thine own.

I must ever remember my first sight of the sea,-I stood by its waters alone, and in silence gazed until a feeling of indefinable awe and sadness stole over me.. I felt myself to be at best but an atom in Jehovah's great world, and then the wonder arose that He, Who, as King of all kings, and Lord of all Lords, forever reigns, should deign to regard poor, powerless, fallen man.

How unspeakably grand the thought, yet how mysterious, how full of subtle power and sweetness!

But we are at Norstone now, and here is Master Pat, bidding adieu to Mrs. Spenser, before they take their departure for the sea-side.

"Good-bye, mother," says Jackie, throwing both arms. round her neck, and kissing her, "good-bye, we'll write soon, perhaps a line to-morrow, to let you know of our arrival in Drayton."

"Good-bye," shouted both boys, when seated in the chaise, and waved their straw-hats as they drove off.

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Father, shall we catch the train?" asked Jackie.

"Yes, my boy, plenty of time. You must be careful, Jackie, while you are at Drayton, not to venture too far into the sea, and get drowned."

“I'll mind, father. Oh, here's the station; what fun!" It was Tuesday, and one of the trip days to Drayton, consequently the platform was crowded by a mixed multitude. Having obtained their tickets, and seen their luggage safely transferred to the guard's van, the boys