Jim followed him out on to the stairs. Look here,' said Bill, I've got some friends going to have supper with me, and I'd like to take you too, as you were done out of that lottery ticket.'

9. 'Thank you, Bill,' said Jim, 'I should like to come very much, but have you got leave out this evening?'

10. 'Bless you, my lad, I don't ask leave, I take it. Master is gone out, and missus never wants anything after dinner, and she had better not tonight, for she wouldn't get it if she did;' and Bill laid his finger knowingly along his nose. But come on, and don't stay dawdling.'

II. 'I must just tell mother,' said Jim, turning towards the door.

12. 'Nonsense!' said Bill, seizing him by the arm. Jim did not half like it, but had not courage to resist, so down the two boys went together into the street, where they were met by two olderlooking boys, whom Bill introduced to Jim as Dick Tyler and Jack Green. Then the whole party proceeded together towards a neighbouring public house, where Bill offered to treat them to beer.

13. Jim had never yet set his foot inside a public house, and when they had reached the door he refused to enter, Great was the ridi

cule of his companions. 'Poor little good,' said Bill with a sneer; he learns his ABC so well, he does, and he once earned a shilling in his life, he did.'

14. Jim flushed as he replied, 'I shall earn a great deal more than that after next week.'

15. 'How's that?' asked Bill. Then Jim related with some pride his going to Mr. Woolland's.

16. The lads seemed rather struck with this, but Dick Tyler said 'he hoped Jim would invite them to supper next week and let them see how his hard work agreed with him.'

17. 'Yes,' added Bill, and treat us to salt herrings and cold water.'

18. Jim looked confused, but said nothing.

19. Again they urged Jim to come in and have a glass of beer; and, added Bill, 'we'll have a game at dice.'

20. 'No,' said Jim, stoutly, 'dicing is worse than a lottery, and if I didn't do one, I won't do the other.'

21. Bill was very angry, and would have quarrelled, but his two companions said, 'Nonsense, Bill, if the fellow's such a fool let him go, can't you? we'll play without him.'

22. When Jim reached home, there was Minnie looking better and prettier than she had done for

months, and his mother was looking so happy as she busied herself preparing supper; and she said to Jim as he entered, 'Oh, my boy, if only father could have lived to see this day.' Jim grew thoughtful, and could not eat much supper. He was glad when he could at last escape his mother's questionings, and lay his head on his pillow. He thanked God in his simple prayer that he had not been tempted to enter a public house, to drink and play dice; and he soon fell into a sound sleep.

23. The next day he went to school for the last time, and then he had to go and get himself fitted with new boots and new clothes to make himself respectable for Mr. Woolland's situation. When he returned home, he heard a great noise on the stairs, a police constable leading away Bill Evans, and his mother crying bitterly.

24. Jim soon learned that Bill had lost every penny he possessed playing dice the evening before at the public house to which they had gone, and more than that, had run into debt to his two companions, who had then threatened to tell Mr. Pringles unless he found means to pay them in twenty-four hours. And the wretched boy, not knowing how to escape from his difficulties,

had attempted to pick the pocket of an old lady as she stood looking into a shop-window; he had, however, been seen and chased, and finally caught just as he got home. Jim went slowly upstairs,

revolving in his mind the proverb, 'that ill-gotten gains never prosper.'

25. My readers may like to know that, early in June, Jim and Minnie, and Mrs. Brown, were very busy packing up and settling into nice little quiet

lodgings at Margate. But what the delights of the sands, and the waves, and the shrimps, and, more than all, that never-to-be-forgotten day when they went out in a boat and caught whiting;' what all those delights were, I have not room here to describe, so I can only hope all who read these pages may one day be able to enjoy them

THE flowers were dreaming all fast asleep,
For the warm brown earth is a pleasant bed,
When suddenly breaking their slumber deep,
They heard a patter just over head
Like the tramp of a million fairy feet,

Or tapping fingers that beat, and beat.

'Who knocks so loudly?' the wild rose said;

The pansy opened her purple eyes

And stared through the darkness in mute surprise;

Fair timid lily, with saint-like grace,

Just roused herself and began to pray;

Whiting, fish of that name,