obstinate for the first time in his life; and at last Halbert advanced alone, heedless of the warning growl of his companion. He had proceeded but a few steps when he fell over a precipice, which was hidden from his sight by a snow-wreath.

In the meanwhile Malcolm snuffed the little candle again and again which he had placed in the window as a guide, or beacon, to his son in his dark and dangerous walk, Then he put more wood upon the fire, and tried to comfort his poor wife, though his own heart was sadly anxious all the while. Often did he go to the door, but no footstep sounded on the crackling ice, no figure could be seen on the wide waste of snow. 66 Perhaps the doctor is not at home, and he is waiting for him," said his mother, who felt so uneasy at her child's absence that she almost forgot her own pain. At last, when it was nearly midnight, Malcolm heard the well-known bark of the faithful Shag. "My son! my son!" cried both parents at the same moment-the cottage door opened, and Shag entered without his master. "My brave boy has perished in the snow!" exclaimed the mother. At the same moment the father saw a small packet fastened round the neck of the dog, who was lying panting upon the floor. "Our boy lives," he cried: "here is the medicine tied with his handkerchief; he has fallen into one of the pits, but he is safe. Trust in God. I will go out, and Shag will lead me to the place that I may save my child." In an instant Shag was again on his feet, and manifested the greatest joy as they started together from the cottage.

Shag went on straight and steadily for some distance, and then suddenly turned down a path which led to the bottom of the crag over which Halbert had fallen. The way down was steep and dangerous, and Malcolm was

F

frequently obliged to support himself by the frozen branches of the trees. Fortunately, however, the snow had ceased to fall, and the clouds were fast drifting away from the moon. At last, Malcolm stood at the opposite side of the pit into which his son had fallen. He called aloud,-he strained his eyes, but could neither hear nor see anything. Shag was making his way down an almost perpendicular path, and Malcolm resolved to follow at any risk. Having reached the bottom, Shag scrambled to a ledge of rock which was nearly hidden by the snow, and began to whine and scratch in a strange and violent manner. Malcolm still followed him, and, after some search, he found what appeared to be the dead body of his son. He hastily tore off the jacket, which was soaked with blood and snow, and, wrapping Halbert in his plaid, strapped him across his shoulders, and with much toil and difficulty reascended to the path at the top. When he reached home, Halbert was placed in his mother's bed; and, after some time, was aroused from the torpid and dangerous sleep which the severe cold of the night had brought on him. He was much bruised, and his ankle was out of joint, but he had received no other serious hurt. When he recovered his senses, he fixed his eyes on his mother, and his first words were, "Thank God! but did you get the medicine, mother?" When he fell, Shag had descended after him, and the affectionate son used the little strength he had left to tie the bottle, which the doctor had given him, round the neck of the dog, and sent him home with it.

TRY AGAIN;

OR,

KING ROBERT BRUCE AND THE SPIDER.

KING BRUCE of Scotland flung himself down
In a lonely mood to think;

'Tis true he was monarch, and wore a crown,
But his heart was beginning to sink.

For he had been trying to do a great deed,
To make his people glad ;

He had tried and tried, but couldn't succeed,
And so he became quite sad.

He flung himself down in low despair,

As grieved as man could be ;

And after a while, as he pondered there,

"I'll give it all up," said he.

Now just at the moment a spider dropped,

With its silken cobweb clue;

And the King in the midst of his thinking stopped
To see what the spider would do.

'Twas a long way up to the ceiling dome,

And it hung by a rope so fine,

That how it would get to its cobweb home,
King Bruce could not divine.

It soon began to cling and crawl

Straight up with strong endeavour,

But down it came, with a slipping sprawl,
As near to the ground as ever.

Up, up it ran, not a second it stayed
To utter the least complaint,

Till it fell still lower, and there it lay
A little dizzy and faint.

Its head grew steady-again it went,
And travelled a half yard higher;
'Twas a delicate thread it had to tread,
And a road where its feet would tire.

Again it fell and swung below,

But again it quickly mounted,

Till up and down, now fast, now slow,
Nine brave attempts were counted.

"Sure," cried the King, "that foolish thing Will strive no more to climb,

When it toils so hard to reach and cling,
And tumbles every time."

But up the insect went once more—
Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute;

He's only a foot from his cobweb door-
will he lose or win it?

Oh! say

Steadily, steadily, inch by inch,
Higher and higher he got,

And a bold little run at the very

Put him into his native spot.

last pinch,

"Bravo! bravo!" the King cried out, "All honour to those who try.

The spider up there defied despair;

He conquered, and why shouldn't I?"

And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind,
And gossips tell the tale,

That he tried once more as he tried before,
And that time he did not fail.

Pay goodly heed, all ye who read,
And beware of saying, "I can't ;
'Tis a cowardly word, and apt to lead
To Idleness, Folly, and Want.

your heart despair

Whenever you

find your

Of doing some goodly thing,

Con over this strain, try bravely again,
And remember the Spider and King.

SUGAR.

MOST sugar is made from the sugar-cane, which is a grass or reed-like plant, growing to the height of twelve feet, or more. It is raised in almost all hot countries; and the care of the plant, and the preparation of the sugar, which is made from its juice, employ a great number of people. For fresh cuttings have to be planted in the fields every year, and the land must be frequently hoed, to keep down the weeds, which grow so fast in hot climates. When the stalks, or canes, have grown to their full height, they are cut down and chopped into short lengths, and then squeezed in a strong mill, between iron rollers, to make all the juice run out. Then this juice is boiled and skimmed a great many times, in order to remove all dirt, and other substances which would spoil the sugar. After this, it stands for a long time in a vat to crystallise, and then is