it
was too far away when the accident occurred for them to see anything but
a little black dot on the water. They became, however, very anxious
about him as the hours went by and he did not come back. Tom was
especially uneasy, and blamed himself for permitting Harry to go alone.
He thought of making another raft and going in search of Harry; but
there were no more strings with which to fasten logs together, and he
did not quite like to tear up his clothes and use them for that purpose.
He did, however, resolve that, if Harry did not come in sight within
another hour, he would take a small log, and, putting it under his arms,
try to swim to the mainland and borrow a boat, if one could be found, in
which to search for his comrade. He was spared this hazardous
experiment; for toward the end of the afternoon Harry and the
_Whitewing_ came in sight, and were welcomed with a tremendous cheer.

Tom took the boat and went for provisions, and when he returned the
_Whitewing_ was not only dragged on shore, but fastened to two different
trees with two distinct ropes. The boys were determined that she should
not escape again; and when Joe proposed that somebody should sit up with
her all night, so that she could not cut the ropes and run away, Tom
seriously considered the proposal. The next day a snug little dock was
built, in which she seemed quite contented, and from which she could not
escape without climbing over a stone breakwater--a feat of which there
was no reason to believe that she was capable.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

THE TALL CLOCK.

BY MARY DENSEL.

One night our six tow-headed urchins were sitting round the table
chattering like so many magpies. The tall clock in the corner insisted
on talking too.

"Tick-tock--tick-tock.
'Tis eight--o'clock;
Come, boys--cease noise,
Quick tread--to bed;
'Tis eight--o'clock.
Tick-tock--tick-tock."

That is what it said.

Then it rang out eight clear strokes, and the jolly red moon, which for
two weeks had been slowly rising in the space above the clock's face to
show how the month was passing by, and which was now full and round,
like the real moon out-of-doors--this jolly red clock-moon seemed to
wink waggishly at the children.

"Hurry! scurry! Here it is eight o'clock, going on nine--next comes
ten--eleven--twelve. Half the night gone, and you not in bed yet."

How its eyes twinkled! It nearly burst its fat cheeks laughing at its
own joke.

Out th