Then begins your season of rest. The world about you is all your own, and there, where you will, you pitch your solitary tent; there is no living thing to dispute your

choice.

6. When, at last, the spot had been fixed upon, and we came to a halt, one of the Arabs touched the chest of my camel, and uttered, at the same time, a peculiar, gurgling sound. The beast instantly understood and obeyed the sign, and slowly sunk under me, till she brought her body to a level with the ground; then, gladly enough, I alighted. The rest of the camels were unloaded, and turned loose to browse upon the shrubs of the Desert, where there were shrubs, or, where these failed, to wait for the small quantity of food that was allowed them out of our stores.

7. My servants, helped by the Arabs, busied themselves in pitching the tent and kindling the fire. Whilst this was being done, I used to walk away towards the east, confiding in the print of my foot as a guide for my return. Reaching at last some high ground, I could see, and see with delight, the fire of our small encampment; and when, at last, I regained the spot, it seemed a very home that had sprung up for me in the midst of these solitudes.

8. Sometimes, in the earlier part of my journey, the night-breeze blew coldly; when that happened, the dry sand was heaped up outside, round the skirts of the tent, and so the wind, that everywhere else could sweep as he listed along those dreary plains, was forced to turn aside in his course, and make way, as he ought, for the Englishman. Then, within my tent, there were heaps of luxuries, dining-rooms, dressing-rooms, libraries, bedrooms, drawing-rooms, oratories, all crowded into the space of a hearth-rug.

9. The first night, I remember, maps about me, I wanted a light.

with my books and They brought me a

taper, and immediately, from out of the silent Desert, there rushed in a flood of life, unseen before. Monsters of moths, of all shapes and hues, that never before, perhaps, had looked upon the shining of a flame, now madly thronged into my tent, and dashed through the fire of the candle, till they fairly extinguished it with their burning limbs. Those who had failed in attaining this martyrdom, suddenly became serious, and clung, despondingly, to the canvas.

10. By and by, the fragrant tea was brought to me, and big masses of scorched and scorching toast, and the butter that had come all the way to me in this Desert of Asia, from out of that poor, dear, starving Ireland. I feasted like a king, like four kings.

11. When the cold, sullen morning dawned, and my people began to load the camels, I always felt loath to give back to the waste this little spot of ground that had glowed, for a while, with the cheerfulness of a human dwelling. One by one, the cloaks, the saddles, the baggage, the hundred things that strewed the ground, and made it look so familiar, all were taken away, and laid upon the camels. A speck in the broad tracts of Asia remained still impressed with the mark of patent portmanteaus, and the heels of London boots; the embers of the fire lay black and cold upon the sand, and these were the signs we left. John Alexander Kinglake.

Ruth.

XLII. -IN THE CELLAR.

THERE, little boys and girls.

Off to the kitchen! Now there's fun for you. Play blind-man's-buff, until you break your heads;

And, then, sit down beside the roaring fire,
And with wild stories scare yourselves to death.
We'll all be out there, by and by. Meanwhile,
I'll try the cellar; and if David, here,
Will promise good behavior, he shall be
My candle-bearer, basket-bearer, and

2. Look where you step, or you'll stumble! Care for your coat, or you'll crock it!

Down with your crown, man! Be humble! Put your head into your pocket,

Else something or other will knock it.

3. Don't hit that jar of cucumbers

Standing on the broad stair!

They have not waked from their slumbers
Since they stood there.

David.-4. Yet, they have lived in a constant jar!
What remarkable sleepers they are!

7. Those delectable juices

Flowed through the sinuous sluices
Of sweet springs under the orchard;
Climbed into fountains that chained them;

Dripped into cups that retained them,

And swelled till they dropped, and we gained them.

8. Then they were gathered, and tortured

By passage from hopper to vat,

And fell

every apple crushed flat.

Ah! how the bees gathered round them,
And how delicious they found them!

9. Oat-straw, as fragrant as clover,
Was platted, and smoothly turned over,
Weaving a neatly-ribbed basket ;
And, as they built up the casket,
In went the pulp by the scoop-full,
Till the juices flowed by the stoup-full,
Filling the half of a puncheon,

While the men swallowed their luncheon.

10. Pure grew the stream with the stress
Of the lever and screw,

David.

Till the last drops from the press
Were as bright as the dew.

11. There were these juices spilled;
There were these barrels filled;
Sixteen barrels of cider,
Ripening all in a row!

Open the vent-channels wider!
See the froth, drifted like snow,
Blown by the tempest below!

- 12. Hearts, like apples, are hard and sour,
Till crushed by Pain's resistless power;
And yield their juices, rich and bland,
To none but Sorrow's heavy hand.
The purest streams of human love
Flow naturally, never,

But gush by pressure from above,
With God's hand on the lever;
The first are turbidest and meanest ;
The last are sweetest and serenest.
J. G. HOLLAND.

XLIII.-BOB CRATCHIT'S DINNER PARTY.

UP

P rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratchit's wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap, and make a goodly show for sixpence. She laid the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit, second of her daughters, also brave in ribbons; while Master Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into the saucepan of potatoes, and, getting the corners of his monstrous shirt collar into his mouth, rejoiced to find himself so gallantly attired.

2. Now, two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, came tear