For though "this world is sad, I know To be always singing about it. Harper's Weekly. XXX. THE DOG'S REVENGE. 1. Will had been bragging. That is the way the trouble began, and that is the way a good deal of trouble begins, among large people as well as among small ones, Ned Willis had a dog-a little fellow, named Spot; and he had been displaying his tricks to Will that day. In an unlucky moment Will began to brag about his brother's dog, Max. 2. Ned did not believe that a big dog could be as funny as a little one. Then Will waxed warm, and told stories larger than ever; but Ned laughed at his pretensions, and taunted him so much that Will told him that if he would wait he would go over to his brother's and get the dog, and then they would see what Max could do. So Ned threw himself down on the grass and played with Spot, while Will went after Max. In a few minutes he returned, followed by a large Newfoundland dog. 3. Now, what ailed Max that day I can not imagine. Whether it was too warm, or whether he thought it undignified to do his tricks before a small dog, I do not know, though I know that he often went through with them for Will-that he played dead dog, shook hands, held a piece of meat on his nose, etc.; but not a thing would he do that day. He just stood there and wagged his tail and looked at Will. All the commands, shouts and coaxings had no more effect upon him than upon the grass he stood on. 4. Ned began to laugh derisively, and to say: "I told you so," and to otherwise exasperate Will, till his angry passions rose to a fearful height. He seized a stick which he had tried to make Max jump over, and holding the dog by his collar, he gave him several hard blows. Max finally jerked away and ran yelping home, and Will sat down on the grass, feeling hot and angry. 5. Will thought that was the end of it; but not so Max. In his doggish soul his wrongs rankled, and a chance soon came for him to punish his enemy. Later in the day Will went to his brother's house for milk. The family happened to be all away, but that made no difference; for they always left a pail standing on the kitchen table, all ready, and Max was too good a watch dog to allow a stranger to enter. 6. As usual, Will walked into the house, took the pail and turned to go; but a growl arrested him. He looked around. There stood Max, his white teeth uncovered, his tail hanging down, his whole attitude meaning business. "Poor dog," said Will; and he stooped to pat him, though nervously; for he well knew that Max could be very fierce if he chose. 7. At that moment the dog gave another growl, and Will drew back. "Poor doggy! poor Max! good fellow!" said Will, in most seductive tones. But Max growled, his eyes looked fierce, and Will knew that if he moved the dog would fly at him. "I'll 8. "Well, I may as well wait till some of the folks come in," said Will to himself; and he turned to sit down. Max flew at his foot, and held his head by it with an ominous growl. Will dared not move. put this pail down," was the next thought. But Max resented the movement of his hand as well as foot, and in unmistakable tones made Will understand that he must stand on that spot and hold the pail in his hand till the family came home. 1. Here was Will in trouble. Mary was waiting at home for the milk to put in her custard. Ned Willis was waiting in the back yard for him to go in swimming, and both of them knew that he had gone only up to his brother's house for the milk. 2. How Mary would scold at him! How Ned would tease him! How his brother Harry would laugh at him! He made a move to go. Max was ready for him, and this time seized his foot. Will coaxed him, and he let go; but stood ready should he make another move. 3. "Where under the sun are all the family?" was Will's next thought. Then he remembered that his brother was at the office and would not be home till six o'clock, that his brother's wife had gone to the village with his sister, shopping, and that the girl had gone home. 4. He looked at the clock. It was four o'clock two hours before he could hope for release. He heard Ned call him; the calls came nearer. He was coming after him! He would catch him in this plight! How Will's face flushed as he thought of that! If he could lock the door and put down the curtain. But he dared not move. The calls came nearer and nearer, and at last Ned's face looked in at the open window. 5. "Why don't you come along?" was his question. "I can't I don't want to," stammered Will. Max growled, and Ned then knew the reason. Ned turned away, saying: "I heard Mary anxiously inquiring for you. I'll stop and let her know you have a pressing engagement." Ned told Mary; and he told others, too. 6. He went through the village and told everybody he met; and one by one they crept up and peeped through the window at the unfortunate prisoner, each one saying his witty or smart thing at Will's expense. Poor Will! It was rather hard. His every muscle ached like the toothache before his brother came home. With difficulty Harry coaxed the dog away, but not till Will had confessed to the beating. Max did not offer to touch Will again; but he never forgave him, and he met all his advances with a growl. OLIVE THORNE. XXXII.-WONDERS OF THE SEA. 1. "Who can tell of all the wondrous things that live in the sea? In the Indian Ocean, many feet below the surface of the water, grow woods quite as luxuriant as any jungles or thickets we read of in South America. Some of the trees grow forty or fifty feet high. The roots resemble coral; and from the slender stem grows a cluster of very long leaves. 2. "Other trees grow almost as high, and end in one single huge leaf that is about the size of our forest trees. Bushes green, yellow and red-are dotted here and there; and a velvety carpet of diminutive plants covers the ground. 3. "Flowers, in all the tints of the rainbow, ornament the rocks; and large leaves of the iris, of dazzling pink and red, float among them; and sea-anemones, as large and brilliant as cactus-flowers, form beds in the moss. Blue, red, purple and green little fish dart here and there; and between the bushes glides, like a serpent, the long, silvery ribbon-fish. 4. "Thus beautiful it is in the day; but when night comes on, and you suppose all creatures gone to bed, the landscape grows more lovely still. Little crabs and medusæ light up the sea; the sea-pen quivers with green phosphoric light; what was brown and red in the day is changed into bright green, yellow and red; and, amongst all these glittering jewels, the moon-fish floats like a silvery crescent." XXXIII.—A WINTER NIGHT. 1. Backward, forward, as in play, Here and there and everywhere. 2. At eve the children, happy four, Little Jim, his father's pet, His soldiers all in order set; While Bessie looked with silent frown On Harry pacing up and down. 3. Away all day had Harry been; Now what could Bessie's frowning mean? 4. Said Harry, smiling with delight, |