e on a level, up an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad
falls quite demoralise a man, and make him more than ever distrustful of
his eyesight."

* * * * *

There is not much to be done in the garden this month, but bulbs may
still be put in, though the flowers will not be so good as those planted
earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips planted now ought to flower in
April.

If the weather is mild, the grass should be rolled occasionally; early
peas and beans may be planted in a dry place, and a little radish seed
sown in a warm corner, but they must be carefully covered if a sharp
frost comes.

Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs needing it pruned. Now that
the leaves are off, the fruit trees may be more easily examined, and
dead branches, or those that rub against one another, removed.

If the weather is very cold, take care of delicate plants by spreading
cocoa-nut fibre or light manure over the beds, or by covering the plants
with matting.

CHILD ISLAND.

FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS.

[Illustration]

A long time ago--so long that it was ages before my grandfather was a
little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl--there
was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which were
so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and
gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful
white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold
fishes swam in its clear waters.

On one part of the lake the most lovely water-lilies opened up their
white flowers, looking, as some people said, like tiny boats; but one of
the little girls I am going to tell you about thought they looked like a
set of green saucers and white cups, and used to call them the swans'
best tea-things. Now, in the midst of this Silver Lake stood the
beautiful island called Child's Island. Such a lovely little island as
it was had never been seen before, and I verily believe has never been
seen since.

Black clouds never came near it, for there the sky was blue and
cloudless always, and I am told that at night more stars might be seen
from that pretty isle than from any other part of the world; but whether
that is true or not I cannot tell. But I do know that its shores sloped
green down to the water's edge, that the brightest and sweetest flowers
bordered every pathway, that the roses were without thorns, and there