as one of the singers in the choir of a church
at Paris, and her voice had been much admired; but she had never sung
before as she sang now. Her voice was sustained instead of drowned by the
roar of the sea, and was re-echoed back from the rocky cliff marvelously
clear and pure, as she sang "Save me, O God, from waves that roll."

Slowly the balloon seemed to climb that sheer, chalky precipice,
frightening the sleepy sea-gulls from their nests, but never grazing
against the wall, as it seemed as if it inevitably must. Slowly it reached
the summit, paused a moment poised over the edge, then swept landward a
little way, when the guide-rope (which had been dragging in the water)
caught on the rocks, and it stopped. The professor opened the
escape-valve, and they alighted from the car, and then walked to the brink
of the abyss and, silently and solemnly, looked down.

This was the last of aerial navigation that any of the party ever indulged
in. The professor packed up his balloon and went to the United States to
exhibit it. Puck Parker left one of his "P.P.C." cards in the car of the
balloon, and his parents were glad enough to get to a land where they did
not forever hear the "Boom-er-oom, a boom-er-oom, a boom, boom, boom," and
the "Zim-er-oom, a zim-er-oom; a zim, zim, zim."

[Illustration]

EASTER EGGS.

BY CLARA W. RAYMOND.

Dear Grandpa Lee, with little Grace,
Followed the path-way to the mill;
Bright daisies starred the shady lane,
And now and then a bird would trill.

Once, when a birdling spread its wings,
She said, "All things are fair and gay,--
The sky so blue where birdie sings!"
Said grandpa, "This is Easter Day."

Thus happily they onward went,
Till Grace cried, "There is little Kate,
And Frank and Nellie, too--and oh!
Nell's swinging on the garden gate!"

As Grace and grandpa came in sight,
The little ones to meet them sped,--
Their eager, prattling lips apart,
Eyes flashing bright and cheeks rose-red.

"Oh, grandpa! in the hedge we've found
Four Easter eggs, all colored blue;
They're in the sweetest little nest;
We want to show our prize to you!"

Said grandpa, "Touch them not, my dears;
Those eggs God dyed with colors rare;
The mother-bird will soon come back,
And guard her nest with loving care.

"These Easter eggs, in leaf-hid nests,
Imprison count