"Merchant, chief," so counted Kate;
Was a swarthy savage to be her mate?
But, no!-three buttons on either pocket,
And still another beneath her locket—

Four on one sleeve, and two on the other;
She's to marry a doctor, as did her mother.

"Oh, dear," sighed Kate; "but" (turning toward Bess) "That's better than wedding a thief, I guess!"

But sorrowful Bess was nowhere seen;

Kate looked at Isabelle. What could it mean? "She was vexed," said Belle, " at the way it came out, And she's in the house, crying~I haven't a doubt."

Then, hearing a step, they turned their eyes,
And there stood Bessie, to their surprise,
In her Sunday gown, of pale sky-blue,
With its buttons of silver, bright and new!

"I couldn't marry a thief," said Bess,
"And so I went in to change my dress;
Just wait a minute,-I'm almost through,-
I'm to marry a rich man, as well as you!"

"Dear me," cried Belle, in sudden grief,

By my new dress I should marry a thief!
There's a dozen buttons,-I know that well;
Oh! how are we ever going to tell?"

"It's all a humbug!" said Kate, at last,
Her faith in the magic vanishing fast;
"I tell you, a charm can never come true
That depends on an extra button or two!"

EMMA C. Down.

HOW GIRLS STUDY.

DID you ever see two girls get together to study of

an evening? I have, and it generally goes like

this: "In 1673 Marquette discovered the Mississippi. In 1673 Marquette dis- What did you say, Ide? You had ever so much rather see the hair coiled than braided?— Yes, so had I. It's so much, more stylish, and then it looks classical, too; but how do you like-Oh! dear, I can never learn this lesson !

"In 1863 Lafayette discovered the Wisconsin. In 1863 Layfayette discovered the-well! what's the matter with me, any how! In 1673 Marquette discovered the Mississippi. I don't care if he did. I suppose the Mississippi would have gotten along just as well if Mar quette had never looked at it. Now, see here, Ide, is there anything about my looks that would give you to understand that I know when Columbus founded Jamestown, and how George Washington won the battle of Shiloh? Of course there isn't. History's a horrid study anyhow. No use neither. Now, French is much nicer. I can introduce French phrases very often, and one must know I have studied the language. What is the lesson for to-morrow? Oh, yes; conjugation of parler. Let's see; how does it commence? Je parle, tu parle il, par-il pa—il—well, il then!

"Conjugations don't amount to anything. I know some phrases that are appropriate here and there, and in almost every locality; and how's anybody going to know but what I have the conjugations all by heart?

"Have I got my geometry? No, I'm just going to study it. Thirty-ninth, is it not?

"Let the triangle A B C, triangle A B-say, Ide, have you read about the Jersey Lily and Freddie? I chink it is too utterly utter.

"Oh! theorem.

On

"Let the triangie A B C be right-angled at B. he side B C, erect, erect the square A, I. On the side -did I tell you Sister Carracciola gave me a new piece to-day, a sonata? It is really intense. The tones fairly stir my soul. I am never going to take anything but sonatas after this. I got another new piece, too. Its name is Etudes. Isn't it funny? I asked Tom this noon what it means, and he says it is Greek for nothing. It is quite apropos, for there is really nothing in it-the same thing over and over.

Where was I? Oh! yes; side A C the square A E. Draw the line come on, let's go at our astronomy. It's on, Are the planets inhabited? Now, Ide, I think they are, and I have thought about it a great deal. I hanged my hair last night. I wanted a Langtry bang just too bad for any use, but pa raved, and I had to give in. Yes, I think they are inhabited. I should like to visit some of them, but you would not catch me living in Venus. Eight seasons! Just think how often we would have to have new outfits to keep up with the styles.

"What! you are not going? I am so sorry, but I suppose you are tired. I am. It always makes me most sick to study a whole evening like this. I think sister ought to give us a picture."

And they go to school next morning and tell the other girls how awfully hard they have studied.

BELLE MCDONALD.

THE

THE BELL OF ZANORA.

HE ruddy sun was setting behind the Murchian hills,
The fields were warmed to splendor and golden
flowed the rills.

Across the little valley where lay the Spanish town
The dying sun's last blessing, a glory, floated down.
Amid the fields the peasants led in the grazing kine,
And faintly came a tinkling as trudged the peaceful

line.

Upon the height the convent, a ruin old and gray,
Towered upward, and its shadow across the valley lay.
Before that ancient ruin, prone on the scented grass,
A boy of fifteen summers watched day's bright glory
pass:

The lad was there on duty and oft about him scanned.
Zanora feared the coming of robber Gomez's band;
Of Gomez, fierce and heartless, the terror of the vale,
Whose name made women shudder and bravest men grow
pale.

Unto the town a rumor that Gomez fierce would come And sack the peaceful hamlet made stoutest hearts all dumb.

The peasants cleaned their firelocks, the women watched and prayed,

That the band of robber Gomez upon its path be stayed. Yet time wore on, and scathless still stood the little town, But from its ancient convent a watcher still looked down. For clear from 'neath its portals each roadway might be scanned,

And there from morn till night they watched for Go mez's band.

The old bell of the convent within its tower still hung,

It's rope with dangling curves seemed waiting to be

rung,

For if a sight of Gomez came to the watcher there,

He straight would let the old bell with warning fill the air,

Unto the town a signal to rally fast and stand,

And, ready for the onslaught, beat back the robber band.

This day was Rōōe watcher until the sun hung low, And then, with watching wearied, he lay and gazed

below.

He watched the smoke that floated above his mother's

cot.

To him the grazing cattle seemed each a moving dot. Faint from the bustling village came murmurs low and

deep;

The bells far off did tinkle;-the lad lay fast asleep. Asleep he lay, but not for long-he woke; a grimy

hand

Pressed his mouth! His wrists were bound! Around him Gomez's band!

They dragged him to the convent; cried Gomez, "Rope this fool!"

Then 'neath the rope they placed him, kneeling upon a

stool.

Around his neck, so slender, the snaky bell-rope's

fold

They fastened. Then cried Gomez, "That bell won't soon be tolled!

Come on, lads, there's work below; this fool ain't to be

hung,

By the saints! yet hang he will before that bell is

rung!"