Like yon retired in Troutbeck's winding lane,
Or this o'erlooking Calgarth's lovely plain-
The former's ritual of the ancient school,
The latter claiming less restricted rule-
Yet one their aim, the glory of the Lord,
Who form'd the scenes around them with His word,
Well pleased to see according with His plan.
The simplest effort of His creature, man.

How sweet it is this day to stand and gaze,
Near to St. Catherine's gate, on all yon maze
Of mountain, moorland, woodland, mead, and lake-
The gliding shallop with its long, bright wake-
Castle and rill and hamlet smiling nigh,
And lonely cot half hiding from the eye
By ghyll remote, down which clear waters fall,
While calmest sunshine brightly mantles all,
And worship's voice comes on the Sabbath air
In reverent cadence from that house of prayer!
Good men there are by whom such scenes are trod,
Who "look through Nature up to Nature's God;"
But oft methinks that in that higher tone

Of mind in which we feel with God at one,
In His pure wisdom looking down on all
That clothes and beautifies this earthly ball,
As with its triple motion it doth run,
Its face upturning ever to the sun,
In hues almost as lovely if less bright

Than their enkindling parent, heaven-born light,
It seems that all it beareth fair and good
Is easier read and better understood
When, by the Holy One inspired, we look
Beyond the literal meaning of her book-
That then a deeper meaning far we scan,
As God with truth illuminateth man,
Until, reversed, the soul no longer dim-
'Tis Nature that through man looks up to HIM!

The Children's Hour.

A GIRL'S FRIENDSHIP.

BY MARIANNE FARNINGHAM.

CHAPTER III.-HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THE first quarter at school almost always seems a very long one, and the first holidays are looked forward to most eagerly, and greatly enjoyed when they come.

Ruth Cameron had not been unhappy at school, for her time had

been thoroughly occupied by her lessons; and persons who have plenty to do, and do it well, are never quite miserable. Still, there had been many times during the quarter when she had felt sad and lonely, and as if she wanted her mother badly; so that as the holidays drew near, and the days might be counted, Ruth was brighter than she had been all the time before. But the close of the school quarter was the happiest time of all, for then it was that she first said, "I have a friend." She could not even wait until she reached home before she told her mother about it.

"What you said when I came, dear mamma, has come true. Here, at school, God has given me a friend. Her name is Mabel Hollys. I wish you could see her, she is so fair and pretty, and so dear. All the girls like her, but I love her, because she has asked me to be her friend, and I have promised.”

Ruth wrote these words on the very first morning after Mabel had been persuaded to return Miss Graysland's locket, and it shows how she felt about the compact into which the two girls had entered. When she went downstairs in the morning, and mingled with her school-fellows, more than one noticed what a different look there her expressive face.

was upon

"Ruth Cameron must be very glad the holidays have come. See how happy she looks," said one.

But Ruth was waiting until Mabel appeared. The usual greetings, noisy, if affectionate, were spoken on Mabel's entrance. She replied to them merrily, as she always did, but her eyes glanced around the room until she saw Ruth. She had not forgotten Ruth's promise, and it made her happy. She had a feeling that Ruth would be a tender and faithful friend to her. She went to Ruth's side, and met the questioning gaze fixed upon her.

All the day was happier to both of the girls. Mabel was really thankful to have been prevented from doing as she had been tempted, and she told her friend so.

"I could not have forgiven myself if I had made Miss Graysland unhappy all through the holidays. I am so glad you spoke to me, Ruth."

“And I am so glad you are not angry with me, dear. I feared it would take some time for you to pardon me."

"I am not sorry it happened, for if it had not, I should not have known you so well. And now we shall not see each other again for six weeks."

"Never mind, Mabel, it will be just the same when we come back again."

Will you write to me, Ruth?"

"Yes, I should like to."

"And I shall not so much mind coming back after the holidays."

"Neither shall I. It will be better than when I came before." The good-byes were soon spoken after that, and all the girls who had lived for some time under the same roof were scattered about in their separate homes.

It was a glad home-coming for Ruth. She so longed to see her mother that if she could have made the train go a little faster she would have done so. But the journey was soon over, and when Ruth was at home everything was so natural and she felt so happy that it seemed as if she could not have been away so long.

"You have grown taller, Ruth, and how well you look," said Mrs. Cameron, when she had been at home a short time.

"Oh, yes, mamma, I am quite well and strong."

"And you have been happy at school?"

Ruth was a truthful girl. She never said anything that she did not really feel, and so she could not say that she had been quite happy all the time.

"I have sometimes been rather dull, mamma, but I have more often been happy."

"And how have you succeeded in your lessons?"

"I have gained one of the prizes, mamma, and Miss Sharlton thinks that next quarter I may perhaps do better still."

"You have been diligent, Ruth, I am sure.

You know that the
Many girls seem

very reason for your going to school is to learn. to forget that, and imagine that they may pass their time as they please, and evade their tasks whenever it is possible. You know better than that. It is really dishonest when children remain at school year after year and do not try to improve."

"I have tried to be diligent, mamma. I enjoy the lessons very much. The teachers make them quite plain and easy to us."

"Then there is, of course, no possible excuse for indolence. And now tell me about your friend. How long have you been intimate with her?"

"She was the first of all the girls who spoke to me on the evening when I arrived at school, mamma. She was very kind and pleasant to me then, but I did not think she could be my friend because she had so many friends already. Everybody likes her; there is no girl in the school so popular as Mabel Hollys."

Mrs. Cameron thought that the most popular persons are not always the truest friends, but she did not say so to Ruth. It is so good and pleasant for girls to be trustful that she would not put a doubt into her daughter's mind.

"But why are you Mabel's especial friend if so many others like her?"

"That almost surprises me, mamma, but I will try to be a better friend to her than any one else."

"You must not expect too much from her, Ruth. It is better to give than to receive,' and it is never well to exact too much from our friends. If Mabel is popular she will not be able to be as much with you as if she were a less attractive girl."

"I know she will not, mamma, and I shall not expect it; I do not wish it either, for Mabel can make so many people happy. But she will always be kind to me, I know, for she is good and kind to everybody. She speaks so pleasantly, and smiles so sweetly, and is always so eager to help or oblige others, and is so cheerful and amiable besides, that I am sure if you knew her you would like her."

"Well, my child, I hope your friendship will be lasting, and make you both happy. I shall know her some time, perhaps. I trust you will be able to help each other often, and that you will always think as well of each other as you do now. Do you remember these two proverbs, Ruth: 'Faults are thick where love is thin;' and 'Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins.' During the time that you have plenty of love for each other, there is no doubt that you will be happy enough."

It was pleasant to be at school, Ruth thought; but it was far more delightful to be at home. What happy talks they had, Ruth and her mother together. It was so beautiful to sit out in the garden, or under the trees in the meadows in the morning, or to walk along the lanes in the cool of the day. Ruth enjoyed it, and thought there was no one like her mother. She was so wise, and yet she was so tender and kind, that she seemed to know exactly how girls felt. They had not one walk without talking about Mabel; and perhaps they were the happiest days of all when Ruth received a letter from her friend. Once every week the postman brought one, and Ruth eagerly opened and read it; and once every week she wrote back again to Mabel. Her brothers laughed at her because she took great pains over these letters, and wrote them most carefully. Frank, who was only allowed to see the outsides of the envelopes, called them "literary productions."

The best part of the holidays were spent away by the sea-side. Ruth and her brothers had very many times together, but she often found herself wishing that among all the faces there one might belong to Mabel Hollys.

The holidays, although they were six weeks, seemed to pass by very quickly. The last week came before Ruth was ready. She did not like the thought of leaving her mother much better than at first. School was rather a dreary word after home. But she had the thought of her friend to comfort her.

"I shall see Mabel soon," she thought. "School will be much brighter this quarter than it was last. Mabel will be glad to see me, I know, and I shall be so glad to see her again. We will have

such happy times together, and it will not be very long before the holidays are here again."

The parting with her mother was very sad, though.

"Dear, dear mamma, I shall be glad when the school-days are over, and I may come home to live with you always," she said.

Her mother was sorry to part with her child, too. She would rather have kept her if it might have been so. But mothers cannot always do as they like, any more than their children can; and Ruth's mother had to let her go.

Mabel was back to school before Ruth arrived. During the journey Ruth had pleased herself by thinking how gladly and eagerly Mabel would welcome her return. But when she entered the room, although Mabel saw her, she did not move from her seat. The fact was, that for the last week or two Mabel had had so many friends about her, and had been so engaged with them, that she had not thought so much of Ruth as Ruth had of her. She spoke with so little warmth that if Ruth had been at all jealous and exacting she would have been vexed and miserable about it. But she did not expect that Mabel would ever be the same. She knew that she must be patient and satisfied and always pleasant herself. And so there was no coldness in her greeting and no frown upon her face as she sat beside her friend.

"I am so glad to see you again, Mabel."
"Are you, Ruth?
"Very, thank you.
Yes, only they are so short.
back to school."

Have you had happy holidays?"
Have you enjoyed them too?"

I was not nearly ready to come

"Were you not? You will not mind now you are back. I hope you will have a happy and successful quarter."

In her heart Ruth resolved that she would do all she could to make it so. Her forbearance was soon rewarded. In a few days Mabel was so kind and affectionate toward her, and so evidently loved and trusted her, that Ruth felt very happy.

CHAPTER IV.-A SECRET.

Most girls are fond of what they call "telling secrets." Very little girls especially are fond of it. They esteem it an honour to receive the confidences of other little girls, and when they feel par ticularly friendly they scarcely know a better way of showing it than by "telling secrets" to their friends. Now, it should be understood that real secrets are much better not told at all; they ought to be kept quite private. But many girls have matters which they would not like to be publicly known, but which they especially enjoy talking about to their companions. Mabel Hollys