and now came forth, to put a period to it. With some difficulty he disengaged Arthur from his antagonist, and led him, still panting and quivering in every limb, to his own desk in the corner of the schoolroom, whence he did not reappear until prayer-time that evening.

Now, mind, I am not going to defend this kind of thing in schools. I have elsewhere spoken of the evils of bullying-that is, of the hardship and suffering inflicted by bigger boys on their juniors. The kind of petty badgering falling short of this, but still tending to render their schoolfellows very unhappy, is, in my judgment, almost as grave a mischief. I know that it is urged by many that it is often a cure, and sometimes the only real cure, for affectation, and sulkiness, and morbid sensitiveness, and many other boyish faults. But, as was remarked in the other instance, though it may be sometimes a good thing for those who undergo it, it is always a bad thing for those who inflict it. To get into the way of looking out for the weak point of people's characters, in order to amuse ourselves with them, is about as mischievous an occupation as man or boy can find for himself. Many a one has failed in life who would otherwise have been signally successful but for having acquired the habit in his school-days; and, what is worse, many a noble Christian character has been fatally stunted in its growth by reason of it.

Frank Trevor had interposed to protect Arthur against his small persecutors, as he had of late done once or twice before in the instance of other boys. He had resolved to keep in mind the recollection of the conversations which Mr. Winter had had with him, and the determination which he had formed in consequence of them. But he had already found out that he had undertaken no easy office; and Mr. Winter had given him some wise advice about it. "I don't want you to lecture the boys about bullying, Frank," he had said. "That isn't your business, and probably you would not do it with much effect, if you were to try it. But you may prevent a great deal by a little judicious management. A word here and there, spoken good-naturedly, will generally stop anything of the sort; and if anything more serious is attempted, say quietly you won't allow it to be done. If the boys know that you mean what you say, that will be in general quite enough." Trevor pondered over this advice after the other boys had gone up to bed that evening. Here was just such a case as Mr. Winter would like him to take up, but it was one in which he felt particularly reluctant to meddle. Arthur Johnstone was a most unpromising subject to befriend. He would scarcely ever make any answer to questions put to him, even when there was no incivility in the asking. He fought shy of all the boys alike, whether they were in the habit of worrying him

:

or not, and if any one pressed himself upon him, he ran the chance of getting it sharpish over the shins; for the boy kicked like a Cornishman, on the slightest provocation. This was not encouraging in itself, but there was another reason which rendered Trevor still more unwilling to interfere this was, that he felt it would bring him into collision, not only with Joyce, who was for ever worrying Arthur, but probably with Dalison also. For the former he had no liking, certainly, though they were old acquaintances, and were thrown much together. With Dalison, however, he was very intimate. Many small ties such as have already been specified kept them together, and boys are always reluctant to break these. He felt strongly inclined to throw Arthur overboard as he reflected thus, but could not make up his mind to his own satisfaction. At length he remembered that it was getting too late for him to remain in the schoolroom, or he would not be in bed by the required time. Hastily determining, therefore, to be guided by circumstances as regarded his future dealings with little Johnstone, he went upstairs to bed.

(To be continued.)

"Look here upon this picture and on this,

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers."--Shakespeare.

HOW TO MAKE A WORKING MODEL OF A

STEAM-ENGINE.

BY TEMPLE THOROLD.

CREAT BRITAIN deprived of the steam-engine would no longer be great she would be small-so small that it would scarcely be worth while giving her a place on the map, much less attempting to trade with her; in fact, without the assistance of Science and her hand-maid Steam, our dear little island would have nothing to exchange with her neighbours, and must hide her diminished head in obscurity, unless some other country, France or Russia, for instance, thought it worth while to turn. poor foggy England to account-perhaps as a place of banishment for prisoners or rebellious subjects.

Providence, however, ordained otherwise, and we can never be sufficiently thankful that England, of all other countries, was reserved as the birthplace of the glorious invention which has endowed us with the power of giants, enabling us not only to explore the bowels of the earth in search of hidden treasures, but also giving us such extraordinary facilities for turning our spoils to profitable account, that all civilized nations of the world flock to learn of us.

This is only one advantage we have derived; and, if it were not for another equally great and attending benefit, our labours would advance our interests but little. Directly we had achieved anything that excited the cupidity of our neighbours over the water, they would have left no means untried to possess themselves of the fruit of our toil. Fortunately for us, we soon discovered that "Giant Steam" was a capital mariner, doing his work in a way that at once eclipsed sail and oar, thus enabling us to guard our own, and keep covetous acquaintances at a respectful distance.

It cannot be denied that other nations have made wonderful progress in the construction of steam-engines, both for land and marine purposes; nevertheless, we have hitherto maintained a position of acknowledged superiority, and still take the lead in all that relates to steam machinery.

The steam-engine is now quite a familiar object, and no intelligent person who is anxious to understand the principles of its construction and operation need long remain in ignorance. We see the ponderous locomotive rushing impetuously along the slender rail, drawing in its rear vehicles containing hundreds of tons of merchandize; or passengers eager to reach some scene of business or pleasure, and to whom the speed of forty miles an hour seems a moderate pace, though some have been heard more than once to speak in glowing terms of the good old coaching days, when the "Wonder' used to race the Rising Sun,' doing at least fourteen miles an hour."

If any new scheme be promulgated which is to achieve some extraordinary and unheard-of result, the inventor is instantly denounced as a maniac, and his discovery derided as the wild imaginings of a disordered brain; but let him establish his claim, and show that his invention is practically successful, and those, who but now were bitterly opposed, will instantly change their tactics, and think they cannot say enough in praise of the new invention, from which they hope to reap a plentiful harvest.

This was the case with the locomotive; and, if George Stephenson had not been a man of surprising determination and perseverance, it is not at all improbable that we should even now travel no faster than our ancestors did. At first, the "Iron Horse" was regarded with much jealousy, and of course the stage-coach proprietors did their utmost to frighten the public, by relating shocking accounts of the terrible accidents daily happening to trains. These tales were soon discovered to be mere fabrications, and people who had sufficient courage to try the new mode of travelling, testified so heartily to its safety and convenience, that the old stagers had to "shut up shop" for want of customers.

This is, perhaps, the most notable instance of blind opposition, and subsequent conviction of utility, to be found in the history of the steamengine.

Without further prelude, we will at once consider what the steamengine is. In principle the steam-engine is very simple, and in some of its functions bears a striking resemblance to living animals. It breathes, eats, and drinks, and, if not carefully tended, falls sick, and cannot work.

It is almost needless to say that steam is the breath of life to a steam-engine. In many of its properties, this vapour much resembles common air, being invisible while maintained at a temperature of 212° and upwards; it is also highly elastic, on which latter property mainly depends its utility.

The "food" or fuel is expended in converting the water or "drink”