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THE ICELANDERS' CUSTOM.

HE Icelanders have a custom, which is, however, dying out, of singing a guest out of the house. The stirrup-cup having been duly presented, the whole family collect round the door, and speed him on his way by chanting such verses as the following:

'God's right hand be holden o'er thee,

Circling thee with peace profound;
May His shading wings protect thee,
Guardian angels watch around!
Jesus' death and precious bloodshed
Bring thee blessing evermore;
May thy soul, thy life, thy honour,
In His keeping rest secure.'

Mr. Metcalfe assures us that the foregoing is a literal translation of one of the Icelandic chants. Is it not a pity that so pleasing a custom should be given up?

LEFT ON

THE SAND-HILLS. OTHER, we are to have an excursion to the seaside next week, and teacher says, though I am so little, she will try to get me taken with the rest."

'Don't set your heart on it, Ellie, for I should be afraid to let you go.'

Ellie was just going to cry, when her mother, taking her on her lap, said,

'My little girl knows I would not refuse her any pleasure without a good reason; so don't fret, dear: perhaps next year, when you are older and wiser, I shall be able to let you go.'

Ellie, like a sensible child, dried her eyes, and tried to think no more of it; but the next day her teacher called at their house.

'Oh do, pray, Mrs. Dunne,' said that young lady, 'do let little Ellie come. It would be such a pity she should miss the treat, and a day at the sea-side would do her all the good in the world. It is quite a safe place, no cliffs to fall down, and I shall willingly take charge of her for the day, and bring her safe back to town, if you can meet her at the station.'

'Do, mother, let me go!' pleaded the child.

And Mrs. Dunne, thanking the lady for her kind promise, gave a rather reluctant consent.

The long-expected morning' came, and Ellie, dressed in her best clothes, was sent to the school-house, where the happy party were to assemble. She was received at the door by her teacher, Miss Young, who took her hand during the walk, sat beside her in the railway-carriage, and pointed out all that was new or wonderful on the way.

When they arrived at the place, the children were allowed to run about and amuse themselves without restraint. The elder boys began a game of cricket, and others ran races; whilst the girls formed into groups, and gathered wild flowers amongst the sand-hills or shells on the beach.

Towards the middle of the day a bell sounded calling them all to dinner, and soon the various classes were seated in

circles on the green grass. Miss Young

took care that little Ellie should have her share of everything nice, and when the dinner was ended teachers and children again scattered into companies, and amused themselves as they liked best. Ellie, with several other little girls, climbed to the top

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of a hillock, and raced down again, till, hot and tired, they lay on the ground and began building castles of sand. This was rather dull work for Ellie, and as she lay on the dry grass and gazed at the blue sky overhead and the blue sea beneath, with the waves sounding a gentle lullaby, she dropped into a quiet sleep.

Ellie's companions grew tired of castlebuilding and ran off to play hide-andseek among the sand-hills, and so the little girl was left alone. Miss Young had watched her till she joined the other children, and feeling sure that she was safe and happy, she walked to the station to meet a friend whom she expected to join the party, and there she received a message to hasten back to town, as her mother was very ili. Even in the hurry and confusion of the moment Miss Young remembered her promise to Mrs. Dunne, and begged a lady who was with her to ask one of the other teachers to look after Ellie, and bring her safe back. 'Certainly,' replied Mrs. Hunter, 'I shall see that it is all right,' She then hurried back to the party on the sand-hills, and seeing two of the teachers walking together, gave them both a special charge to take care of little Ellie Dunne, and mind that she was not left behind.

The most pleasant things must have an end, and about sunset it was time to think of returning. Mrs. Hunter went about ringing a bell to assemble the children, and soon most of them were collected on a flat green space overhanging the sea, where the clergyman gave a short address, in which he directed their hearts in gratitude to God, Who had given them this as well as every other pleasure and blessing which they enjoyed. Then, after singing an evening hymn, they set off to walk to the station.

'I cannot find Ellie Dunne anywhere!' said Miss Ellis to her friend Miss Green.

'Perhaps she is with that group on the beach who do not seem to have heard Mrs. Hunter's bell. I will walk round that way with my class, and bring her on if she is there. You had better search again at this side of the hill.'

'And if I do not see her,' replied Miss Ellis, I shall conclude she is safe with you. But we can make sure about it when we get to the station.'

However, owing to the confusion caused by such a crowd of children, and the rapidly increasing darkness, the two did not meet again, and each hoped their little charge was in some other carriage with her friend; and so when Mrs. Dunne came to the station, according to appointment, no Ellie was there. Failing to obtain any tidings of her child, the poor woman in a state of distraction rushed off to Miss Young's house, and heard that her little girl had been left in Miss Ellis's care; from her, after a weary search for the house, she could only find out that Ellie was supposed to have returned with Miss Green. No satisfaction could be gained from any one, and the last train for the night having already started, the poor mother had nothing for it but to return home and tell her husband of the loss of their child. What a miserable night they passed, until the first train took them with some kind neighbours to search for the missing Ellie! Over sand-downs, along the sea-beach, and far up into the country, they sought in vain; no tidings could be obtained from either villagers or farmers; and after a day spent in fruitless endeavours to find their darling, the un happy parents returned home by the last train.

(Concluded in our next.)

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AMONG LIONS.

CHAPTER I.

LEASE, Miss Dawkins, may I speak to the girls?'

A very modest request, uttered in a very quiet voice, and proceeding from a head thrust round the corner of the schoolroom door at Moor Thornton: yet Miss Dawkins hesitated before granting it. You are always interrupting us on Saturday afternoons, Gilbert,' she began to

say.

'But this is really something important,' said Gilbert the school-boy, venturing a few steps into the room.

school for another month, of course he looks a good deal to you for amusement.'

6

But it is always such rubbish-boys' fancies,' said Alice; either his fishingtackle is in a mess, or he wants a bit of chalk, or my best penknife. I dare say it is something of that sort this afternoon. At any rate Dora will do quite well for him, and I must get on with my preparation for to-morrow: you know it is Catechising Sunday, and I should not like to be behindhand.'

Miss Dawkins sighed a little. This was her good girl. Alice had been introduced to her some six months since by her father, with the words,-"This is my little righthand, Miss Dawkins: I do not think you will have much trouble with her.'

And, surely enough, Alice learned her lessons steadily, practised her music regu larly, and behaved in every way as a per

6 Have my rabbits got loose?' anxiously severing scholar should. What did she asked a little girl of ten.

'Nonsense, Dora!' said her elder sister; 'they are all safe, you know. It is only some nonsense of Gilbert's; he is always worrying about nothing.'

'Well then, miss, I won't worry you,' returned Gilbert, since you are so prim and proper; but if only Miss Dawkins will let me have Dora for three minutes-just to run to the end of the garden-we shan't be long.'

Dora's face pleaded, too, and Miss Dawkins gave way.

When the door closed on the two the governess turned to Alice, her eldest pupil.

You should not have been so quick, dear, with Gilbert,' she oberved: it is very different my telling him he interrupts lessons, and you showing no interest in his pursuits. You see he is badly off for companions just now; his whooping-cough gone, and yet not allowed to return to

lack, then? and why should Miss Dawkins turn with more satisfaction to careless little Dora, or even rough Gilbert?

They often worried and vexed her, but then there was the penitent kiss, or the ready apology offered, and all went well again. Alice was different; she seldom did wrong, and never asked any one's pardon.

6

In time I shall know her better,' thought Miss Dawkins; no doubt there is a great deal of good principle in her, and I dare say it is shyness which makes her appear so reserved.'

So she said no more, and Aliceconned over her Collect, searched for references, and made notes in a little book she kept for the purpose, till the clock struck five; then she looked up with the remark that Dora had been half an hour in the garden, what could Gilbert be doing with her? Hardly were the words spoken when Dora burst into the room, her eyes dancing with excitement.

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