know what he is talking about, the next time you hear of one."

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Faith, but the craythur did sing last night! I was for giving him a penny to go into the next street; the varmint! disturbing of a gintleman's repose."

"Now, boys, are all ready for service ?" said Ellis, "the bells have finished."

"Pat, what are you doing?"

The last-named gentleman having been caught in the act of pinning a ticket, marked "REDUCED PRICE 4/6" to Dysart Leland's surplice.

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Really, Pat, I know we shall all get in a hobble, the precentor is so particular."

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Sure, but its myself that only wanted to show what a prize he is," said the Irish boy.

"Hush, get in order, boys," and with moderately sober visages the lads arranged themselves for service, Ellis at their head.

Pray don't think our Charlie wished to set himself up as a model, because he took upon him to reprove Pat, oh, dear, no,—he is only a sweet, good-tempered, gentle boy, who, in his position as head chorister, is obliged to take the lead, and keep the others under him from getting into mischief, if possible. A loveable boy is Charlie, yet brimful of fun and merriment as a boy need be, good also he is, and possessing self-control in no ordinary degree, loved and respected by both masters and school-fellows.

Dysart Leland was especially fond of him, a feeling almost of brotherhood having sprung up between the two boys. The father of Dysart quite agreed with his little

son's choice of a friend, though the relations of Ellis, if indeed he possessed any, were very poor; the boy himself never mentioning anyone of his kin, with the exception of an old grandmother, and of her he spoke but seldom.

Mr. Leland, though an eminent and wealthy legal practitioner, did not "trust in the multitude of his riches;" but set far more value on the noble character of his son's friend than on his worldly prospects or social position.

After service the boys adjourned to the organ room for practice, Dr. Westwood following them.

"Well, Melville," he said, "how do you think you shall like your new duties ? "

"Very much," replied the boy, "I love music."

"I'm glad you do; you will have plenty of it here. Now, boys, to your desks."

Scales, exercises, &c., and the Services for the following day were gone through to the doctor's satisfaction. The anthem for the morning was also taken, and the remainder of the time devoted to the practice of the one destined to be sung in the afternoon, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," by S. S. Wesley.

Arthur was charmed with Charlie's voice as he sang the part set for soprano solo, "Love one another, with a pure heart, fervently," and he observed that as he sang, little Dysie, who was standing by Charlie's side, pressed closer to him, as if some tender tie existed between them, which indeed there did, a tie of true boyish friendship.

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When do you enter the Grammar School as a boarder, Melville?" asked the organist.

"Not until the end of July, sir, after the holidays."

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Oh, well, you must be a good boy, and try to please Mr. Ellsworth."

"Boys get all your books turned up before you go home, it is better than being obliged to go in the choir before service. Good morning!" and the organist walked off, taking Charlie with him to unlock the doors.

"My, what a sell," remarked Master Jackie Spenser, as he amused himself with hunting in a waste-paper box, probably in the hope of discovering hidden treasure.

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Oh, lads! lads! come here, quick! Here's a whole drove of young mice, as cosy as can be; my, what a prime lark! We may have a pie now, your uncle's pie, Thompson, only his was made of hedgehog. Here they are, five youngsters and their mammy."

"How jolly! What a spree," cried the other boys.

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fun."

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Stop," shouted Pat, "let me be afther seeing the

Oh, the young varmint," as a mouse made an ineffectual attempt to dart up his sleeve; "I'll pay him out for it."

So saying, he seized the aforesaid varmint by the ears, and retreated with him to a corner of the room, apparently with the charitable design of measuring him for a new suit of clothes.

"What's up, lads ?" asked the cheery voice of Charlie, at the door; "what's the matter with that old rubbishbox? What on earth have you got there?

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Why, the matter is this, Mr. Charles Henry Ellis, we've been so lucky as to discover a whole shoal of fat young mice, and we've thoughts of a pie. They'd be as

tender as chickens, as tender, in fact, as the frogs your grandfather used to eat in France, Louis Durand."

"I shouldn't care if I'd a limb of an old croaker to demolish now," said Louis, and looked as though he meant it.

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"No wonder you possess such a gift for leaping," said Master Jackie; I suppose it comes of eating frogs. I once heard of a man who ate mutton until he didn't dare to look a sheep in the face. Hallo! look at the young scamp," as a little mouse sprang lightly out of the box, and down one of the organ pipes.

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Sure, but the craythur must be fond of music, I'm thinking," broke in Pat, coming from his retirement; "What's to be done now?"

"I vote," said Jackie, pieces."

"that we take the organ to

"And I," said Charlie, "that we leave him alone, and when he's tired he'll come out of his own accord."

"Let's be off; are you ready? Come along, lads," continued Charlie, and with a whoop and a clatter off they went, little Dysie crying out that he wanted his dinner, and badly, too.

CHAPTER IV.

PAT'S LITTLE BOX.

OW refreshing is a good meal when one has been working hard, be the labour either mental or bodily toil.

As a rule, the boys of Norstone Grammar School fared well, abundance of nourishing palatable food being provided, and in the end Mr. Ellsworth reaped the benefit, for who can work effectively upon insufficient or innutritious diet?

At this time a sound might have been heard, floating forth on the clear summer air; not a musical sound, yet one that most certainly bore on its wings a cheering influence, for certain of our young friends, engaged in the delightful task of feeding Mrs. Ellsworth's cat with mice, started up from the pleasant occupation, and raised a shout of, "Dinner! lads, dinner!".

"And welcome, too," growled Master Pat. "It's myself that's beginning to feel as if I'd be glad to make its acquaintance. Faith, but if it tastes half as good as it smells, I'll not care how soon I've a share.”

Two large tables filled almost the entire length of the dining-room, barely allowing space at each end to admit