on his pony, racing with Tom Archer upon his. It was the way to Sorrel Wood, and Harriett knew well that they were going there, for the carriage was piled with hampers. She drew aside as they went by, and hid herself behind a tree; for she could not bear that they should see her; and after they were all gone, and she could no longer hear the voices, and the merry noise of laughter, and the horses' feet, Harriett thought how, if she had been good-tempered and kind at the last picnic, and had made herself agreeable, she might have been going with them to-day; and now they would have such pleasure amongst the woods, and be so merry over their dinner; and Captain Leslie and the other gentlemen would play with them again, and she was left at home! Mrs. Archer had not chosen to ask her, because she had been a naughty girl.

And Harriett sat down by the side of the road, and burst into tears. Let us hope they were tears of repentance, and that she resolved to try to become more kind and amiable in her conduct, and then we are sure she would become a much happier girl.

THE ISLAND;

OR,

PLAYING AT ROBINSON CRUSOE.

M

CHAPTER I.

LEFT TO THEMSELVES.

R. and Mrs. Hamilton lived in a very pretty house close to the border of a lake. It was not in England, where

you and I live; but a long way off, across the Atlantic Ocean, in America. They did not go there because they liked America better than England, but they were not rich, and they had several little children, so they thought it better to leave dear old England for a few years, and hoped,

if God spared their lives, to return after a time and be once more at home. There are beautiful lakes in America, with lovely scenery all round. It was by one of these lakes that Mr. Hamilton lived. At a short distance off, there was an island on the lake, and Mr. Hamilton kept a boat, so that very often he would row the children backwards and forwards, or when there was enough wind, they would put up a sail; and when the boat had the sail on and a unionjack flag flying at the top, you cannot think how pretty she looked. The boat was called "The Pretty Polly," and when she had just had a new coat of paint, I am sure she quite deserved the name.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had four children. First there was Archibald; he was always called Archy for shortness. Next came Frederick. Archy was ten years old, and Fred was nine. Then came a little girl called Margaret or Marjy, who was between six and seven; and the baby, who could only just run alone; and half the times he tumbled down and had to be picked up again; but he was a good little fellow, and did not often cry. He and Moustaches, the Skye terrier, were great friends; but I think

Moustaches was friends with all the children. They would none of them begin to play without him, and he quite understood how to play "hide-and-seek," and would not begin to bark until some one called out "I spy I," when he would run after the children to catch them, and quite enjoy the fun.

Moustaches was such a hairy little dog, you could scarcely see his eyes. I dare say you will find a portrait of him somewhere in this book. Everybody called him" Mousy," because Moustaches was such a troublesome word to say.

One lovely morning in July, Mr. Hamilton said. to the children, "Come here, all of "Come here, all of you; I have something to tell you."

He placed Archy, Fred, and Margaret in a row, and baby climbed up on his lap, and Mousy came up to listen also, as if he thought himself one of the family.

Then papa said,

"Mamma and I are going away from home for a few days; we are going to New York. You must be sure and be very good children all the while we are away."

"You must mind everything that Jane tells you,"

said papa.

The children all nodded.

"And you mustn't tumble into the water."

No, papa."

"And you

mustn't tumble out of the window."

"No, papa."

"And you mustn't tumble into the kitchen fire." Archy laughed, and they all promised that they would not.

"And now run away, for I am going to be busy."

The children and Moustaches all ran off; and half-an-hour later the car came round, and they assembled again to see papa and mamma set off. Dobbin, the horse, would not stand still; he kept running after Fred and Archy to ask for pieces of bread, because the boys were used to feed him. Then the carpet-bags had to be placed in the car by James the man, and James's face got as red as