tried for the abduction of Jack and Katty. As the old Frenchman was clearly only a passenger, he was put on board the lugger we had previously boarded. I was glad that he escaped, on account of his kindness to sweet Katty and Jack, though I suspect that he was an absconding debtor. I should think, however, that his creditors might as well have tried to skin a flint as him. We carried the lugger in off the coastguard station, where more hands were put on board. Before noon we had placed sweet Katty in Aunt Deb's loving arms, not much the worse for her excursion.

Jack went to sea, and Katty's cabinet was adorned with numberless articles strange and beautiful from all parts of the world. Jack, of course, wherever he could get a run on shore, had to come and inspect them. By many a gallant deed he won his commander's commission, and then Katty became his fond, devoted wife.

In that old churchyard high above the German Ocean are three small monuments placed by some loving friends of those who lie beneath. To no one more truly can the epitaph be applied than that which is cut on each tomb-that of the brother, of the sister, and of the faithful African-Hic jacet in pace.

HARRY UPTON'S "LARK."

BY ANNE BOWMAN.

WHO

CHAPTER I.

HARRY AND DICK SET OUT ON A LARK.

THO would ever have thought that Harry Upton and Dick Meadows could have been such staunch friends? They were not in the least alike, except that they were nearly the same age, and were both honest fellows.

Harry was a smart, well-dressed, well-mannered boy, just fourteen when our story begins; Dick was six months older, very much taller and stouter, rather awkward and bashful, and provincial in dialect. Harry's father was the Squire of the parish,-a dashing, extravagant man of fashion, much addicted to gambling, and always unsuccessful. Dick's father was a farmer,-a thrifty man, but sordid, stern, and harsh, and a notorious money-hoarder.

The boys were both only children, both motherless, and until they were twelve years old had been schoolfellows under Mr. Birch, the village schoolmaster, who, though pedantic, had some knowledge and skill in teaching. Harry and Dick were his best scholars: they were classed together, and their attainments were pretty nearly equal,-Dick's perseverance toiling after Harry's quicker apprehension until they generally came in together; but in the playground, where they were constant companions, Dick's powerful arm saved his less robust friend from many a licking.

Mr. Upton was utterly careless about the progress or the conduct of his son. When he was down at the Manor, which was seldom, he saw the boy once a day, usually at the hour after dinner, and in the presence of company made him drink wine, and if he was in good humour gave him a shilling or two. But the life of Mr. Upton was chiefly spent in town society, or at races. The old groom taught the boy to ride well; the gamekeeper taught him to shoot; for every other acquisition he was indebted to Mr. Birch, except that he shared in the instruction given to the schoolboys once a week by the Rector, to whose house he was forbidden to go after Mr. Upton had quarrelled with him on parish

matters.

When the boys had reached their twelfth year, to their great sorrow they were separated. It happened one day that Mr. Upton was out shooting with one of his sporting friends, Mr. Chetham, and they met with Harry in the midst of his shabby, rustic schoolfellows, engaged in the useful occupation of gathering in potatoes for Mr. Birch, who had given the boys a special holiday for the purpose. Harry's personal appearance was not improved by his labour; and when he came up to speak to Mr. Chetham, whom he knew, that gentleman said,—

"What are you about, Upton? Send off this lad without delay to a first-rate school, or you will have him turn out an irreclaimable clodhopper."

Somewhat ashamed of his neglect, Mr. Upton immediately ordered his son to be fitted out, and despatched him to Elm-hill school, celebrated for its aristocratic class of pupils, giving directions that he should remain there until the raw material should be modelled into the gentleman of the day.

Dick was removed from the school at the same time, and compelled by his hard father to labour on the farm like a servant, never having the opportunity to look into a book except by stealth.

During the next two years the boys rarely met; but it was always with mutual gladness. Harry had certainly imbibed some of the prejudices of rank and station; but his heart was too good to despise his old friend. It was at the Midsummer vacation, at the end of these two years, that one of these meetings took place, and Harry said to his friend,

“You little know, Dick, how much I've had to put up with from some of our fellows. Last month, papa wrote to me to say I must draw in, for he had been cleaned out at the Derby, and hadn't a sovereign to spare. So I couldn't fork out my subscription to the cricket club, and I told them how it was. When, would you believe it, the cads taunted and chaffed me to that length that I had to thrash two of them, and to be licked three times by three hulking snobs, just for speaking out my mind about them! You're awfully sat upon, Dick, if you're not flush of money. I'd rather not go back to Elm-hill, if the governor doesn't come down handsomely."

Dick was unable to sympathize with the affliction of his friend, for he had never himself possessed more than an occasional shilling, the gift of some benevolent friend; but he strongly advised Harry to return to school, for there could be no doubt the squire would give him the money he needed.

But "the governor" did not come down handsomely; and at the end