re he comes!" cried John and Jenny.

The boy came in, in truth, all out of breath.

"I have just succeeded," said he, "in making up the dozen." As he
said this, he put upon the table a dozen of wild eggs. "The last
came near costing me very dear," said he; "it was laid half way down
to the Black Man's; you know, William, the great rock which looks
like a giant sitting down; I had climbed, on my knees, and I had
only one more step to take, when a great big wave--a coward!--behind
struck me, and would have carried me away if I had not clung with
all my might to the great Black Man."

"Foolish child," said the mother, "could you not foresee the return
of the tide?"

"Not at all, not at all. It came before the hour. There are enormous
waves in the channel, and the sea growls as when it is going to be
angry."

"That will not prevent us from passing a merry evening," replied
William; "come, let us go quickly to work."

He hastened to set the table, and assist his sister in putting on
the plates, while his mother broke the eggs, beat up the omelet, and
drew out the cake from the oven.

All was ready, and William rang the bell to call the father and
Grace to supper, who usually remained in the upper part of the tower
of the lighthouse.

Grace loved to contemplate the indented coast of Northumberland, and
to see with her naked eyes, of a clear day, the little hamlet where
she was born; it was not that she regretted the fertile soil, the
verdure, the wood she had seen when she was little. No! the Isle of
Longstone, did it not contain in its rocky bosom what was dearest to
Grace? Her sympathy extended, however, far beyond. She trembled with
joy when she distinguished on board of a passing vessel boys and
girls, young people and women. She waved her handkerchief to them,
sent to them affectionate words which the wind blew away, but which
eased her full heart. She had another more intimate tie to her
fellow-beings, and to her native land, and this was the reading some
good books, that inexhaustible source of elevated thought and
profitable example.

When she at last appeared in the low hall where they waited for her,
there was a general hurrah; the question was, who should first get
his arms round her neck, who should embrace her, and who should
congratulate her on her birthday. She showed herself as much
surprised, as much delighted, as the young providers of the festival
could desire. She praised the beauty of the lob