father was, and that he couldn't have said so; but oh, I'm sure he did.'

And with this long speech Kittie lays her curly head against Kate's shoulder, and looks up into her eyes.

'Your father said what was quite true, my darling. That great and good God whom you pray to bless you, is the same Whom you mean when you say, "Our Father;" and it is He who will be your Father, who will love you, and take care of you and Patty.'

Kate paused, thinking how she should make it clear to the little things, and then she went on,—

'Your mother said she was going Home: she is gone to live with that Father in Heaven, and there she waits for her little girls; she will not come back, Patty. But, my dears, you must not think you are alone any more. Your Father in Heaven watches over you always, though you cannot see Him; and you must often say a little prayer to that kind Father, asking Him to bring you both safely Home to live with Him for ever, and never again to be parted from those you love.'

'Could He take us now?' asks Kittie. 'He is so wise and good,' says Kate, 'that, whether it is a long time or a very short time, you may be sure it is the best for you, for He never makes a mistake.'

'Oh, why won't He take us now to our dear father and mother? I want to go!' sobs poor little Patty. Nurse is very cross: she told a gentleman to-day that we should soon forget them; but I know I never shall, and Kittie says so, too.'

'Nurse did not wish to be unkind, dear, but she thought, perhaps, in a little while you would not cry so much, nor ask for them so often; so, dear little ones, try to be happy again: the summer is coming, and then

'Oh,' interrupts Kittie, 'I wish the

summer would never come, for we shall have to go to our aunt, and I heard nurse say she is such a cross old lady; and I know she wears spectacles and a very large cap, and is very dreadful.'

Kate laughs merrily, and says that is all nonsense; that she knows aunt lives in a very pretty cottage, in a place where there are hills, and rocks, and caves, and where very many little girls and boys go for a great treat in their holidays; that if aunt wears spectacles, it is because she is an old lady, and cannot see so well as little girls with bright eyes.

Ah,' she says, 'you will have so much to tell me after your visit there; and I shouldn't be surprised if you were to say, "Oh, we do love our aunty, and we do want to go again!" But now I must go.'

'No, no, don't go!' cry both little girls; we don't feel alone now: do stay and talk to us.'

Kate kisses them, and says she will come again soon, but now she must go; so away she runs, looking back and nodding as she crosses the garden to her own home.

The little girls look brighter and happier for her kind visit; and when nurse comes in to take them to tea in the nursery they go with her cheerfully. So we will go away from behind the screen, where we have been pretending to be-go away, hoping they will never feel alone' again, having such a good Father to care for them, for it was He who put it into Kate's heart to wish to comfort them; and we will hope that, whenever they need any comfort and help, they will ask that Heavenly Father to give it, just as they used to ask their own dear father and mother to give them what they wanted; and that they will not complain when things are not as they like, but Le contented, because God knows what is best for every one; and if they don't quite under

THE LITTLE HAYMAKERS.

By the Author of

"The Joy of Unselfishness.'

T was a bright summer's day about the middle of June, when the labourers were busy in the meadows mowing the tall grass. The crops were heavy, for it was a fine season, and the great thing now was to make the hay and get it up quickly before a change of weather.

There were two or three fields belonging to a gentleman whose name was Turner; and two little boys, sons of his, were amusing themselves this morning watching the mowers. They were patiently waiting, too, for the hour when the first part of the work should be ended, and the grass raked into long rows, or, better still, into cocks.

Perhaps we ought hardly to call Walter and Robert little boys, since one was twelve and the other ten years of age. They had two sisters younger than themselves, whom they petted very much. Amy, who was only seven years of age, was the special favourite.

'I wish the girls could come out,' said Walter; it would be much more fun if they were here.'

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"They have not finished lessons yet, I expect,' answered Robert: they are never free till twelve o'clock.' As he spoke the church clock struck the hour. 'Hurrah!' cried he, a few minutes more, and they'll be here: you see if they are not.'

However, five minutes went by, and there was no sign of the girls, though Walter strained his eyes to look the whole length of the field and of the long garden to see if they had started out.

I'll go and fetch them,' cried Robert; and off he started.

The boys attended a day-school in the neighbourhood, and this was the first day of their Midsummer holidays.

Mrs. Turner taught her two little girls every morning for a couple of hours. They always sat in an upstairs room at the back of the house, looking out upon the garden; here, too, the boys daily prepared their tasks for their master.

Something happened this morning which prevented Mrs. Turner sitting down to the lessons at the usual hour of ten. A letter came with sad news about a brother of hers, who lived some twelve miles down the line of rail. He had met with a serious accident, from which the doctor thought it likely he might not recover. So Mr. Turner advised her to pack up and go off to Dingwell, in the hope that she might be of use in nursing the sick man. The railway guide was consulted, and it was found that the earliest train for Dingwell started at noon. Mrs. Turner lost no time in making herself ready for the journey, and then went into the schoolroom half an hour later than usual.

The children noticed that their mother was graver than at other times, and every now and then a tear started to her eyes. By-and-by she rose up from her seat, saying that she must leave early this morning, as she had to make a journey. 'I have heard,' she said, that your uncle is very ill; he had a fall from his horse yesterday, which has hurt him dreadfully.'

'Oh, mother!' cried both little girls, how terrible! Are you going to see him?"

'Yes, dears, I am going at once. And now I wish you to be very good little girls, and give no trouble to your father or to anybody.'

All right, mother dear,' answered Rose, who was grieved to see her mother's eyes filled with tears.

'You, Rose, as the elder, must take care

of Amy; and you know the best way of taking care of her is to set her a good example; and my little one must be as good as gold-as good, in fact, as father and mother could wish her to be.'

Amy put her arm fondly round her mother's neck and promised.

CHAPTER II.

'HARK!' cried Amy, about five or six minutes afterwards, that was the front door; it's mother gone out. How quick she has been dressing!'

'Never mind about that,' replied the sister, attend to your spelling.'

The spelling was finished, and the music. begun, when the schoolroom door was thrown open. In bounded Robert, crying in quick, boyish tones,

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Come along, girls! why don't you come into the hayfield?'

By this time he had startled his sisters, who were intent upon their duet. 'Don't talk,' said Rose, 'you only make us play all wrong; and we can't come just yet."

'Nonsense!' replied the boy; 'you've done quite enough for to-day. It's so lovely out of doors, so warm and bright, and Walter and I can't do without you.'

Is the grass all cut yet?' asked Rose, with a wistful glance out of the window. 'Yes, every bit, and we have the rakes and the forks all ready.'

Then suppose we go out now,' said Rose, doubtfully; and perhaps we can practise again by-and-by.'

'Oh, no!' said Amy; 'we must not do so.' "Why not?'

Because mother said we must stay here till half-past twelve, and do our lessons.'

'My little pet,' said Robert, going up to Amy, and coaxing her, 'you must come out, for we can't do without you.'

And Rose, who was sorely tempted, tried in vain to persuade her sister to give way. But as Amy was determined to do her mother's bidding the elder sister was forced to do the same, for she feared to go away and leave her, lest she should be found out. So Robert went off disappointed, and before he had gone many yards Rose saw Walter coming.

'Amy,' she said, "if Walter comes to fetch us we must go. It's of no use to refuse him; so don't you say anything to him about what mother told us to do. Walter's a big boy, and knows very well what is right for us.'

Rose knew enough of her eldest brother's honesty and obedience to be sure that he would not persuade his sisters to disobey, and yet she wished very much to get out into the meadow; so she thought it safest not to let him know what orders had been given.

(To be continued.)

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

AND

THE GRAND-DUCHESS MARIE OF RUSSIA.

IS Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, second son of Queen Victoria, was born at Windsor Castle on August 6, 1844. When he was just fourteen he entered the Navy, and ever since he has been nearly as much at sea as on land.

When serving on board the St. George he visited America, the West Indies, and other foreign lands. In 1867 he was appointed to the command of the Galatea, in which he has visited