"At any rate I'll never go there again!" said Alice as she picked her way through the wood.

"It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in all my life!"

Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door leading right into it. "That's very curious!" she thought. "But everything's curious to-day. I think I may as well go in at once." And in she went.

Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the little glass table. "Now, I'll manage better this time," she said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and unlocking the door that led into the garden. Then she set to work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her pocket) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down the little passage: and then she found herself at last in the beautiful garden, among the bright flower beds and the cool fountains.

From "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

Trea'cle (trê'k'l), molasses; cau'tiously (kô'shus li), guardedly, carefully; tri um'phant ly (tri um'fant li), joyfully because of an advantage gained.

STUDY HELPS

Why was the Dormouse awakened?

What difficult questions did he have to answer in his story?

Do you find that Alice is all the time trying to make sense out of what is said?

What rude remark did the Hatter make to Alice? Do you think this remark had any sense in it?

How did Alice's leaving affect the party?

What did Alice say about the party? Can you tell why it seemed so stupid to her?

THE SAILOR'S CONSOLATION

CHARLES DIBDIN

One night came on a hurricane,
The sea was mountains rolling,

When Barney Buntline turned his quid,
And said to Billy Bowling:

"A strong nor-wester 's blowing, Bill; Hark! don't ye hear it roar now?

Lord help 'em, how I pities all
Unhappy folks on shore now!

"Foolhardy chaps who live in town,
What danger they are all in,
And now are quaking in their beds,
For fear the roof should fall in:
Poor creatures, how they envies us,
And wishes, I've a notion,

For our good luck, in such a storm,
To be upon the ocean.

"But as for them who're out all day,
On business from their houses,
And late at night are coming home,
To cheer the babes and spouses;
While you and I, Bill, on the deck,
Are comfortably lying,

My eyes! what tiles and chimney pots
About their heads are flying!

"And very often have we heard
How men are killed and undone,
By overturns of carriages,

By thieves and fires in London.
We know what risks all landsmen run,
From noblemen to tailors;

Then, Bill, let us thank Providence.

That you and I are sailors!"

Hur'ri cane (hur'ĭ kān), a violent wind storm; quid (kwid), a "chew," as of tobacco; fool' här'dy, foolishly reckless; spous'es, wives; chim'ney pols, earthenware or metal pipes added to the tops of chimneys to increase the draft.

STUDY HELPS

On what kind of night did Barney make this speech?

Study these expressions: (1) "sea was mountains rolling"; (2) "strong nor-wester "; (3) "hear it roar now."

What folks does he pity?

What kind of "chaps" does he think live in town?

Why are they quaking?

What dangers does he think threaten the people who work out doors all day?

What risk, in his opinion, do all landsmen run?
Where does he think is the safe place to be?
Do you agree with him?

Why has he forgotten the dangers of the sea?

THE LESSON OF THE WATER MILL

SARAH DOUDNEY

Listen to the water mill

Through the livelong day,
How the clicking of the wheel
Wears the hours away!
Languidly the autumn wind
Stirs the forest leaves;
From the field the reapers sing,
Binding up their sheaves.
And a proverb haunts my mind
As a spell is cast-
"The mill cannot grind

With the water that is past.".

Autumn winds revive no more
Leaves that once are shed,
And the sickle cannot reap
Corn once gathered.
Flows the ruffled streamlet on,
Tranquil, deep, and still,
Never gliding back again,
To the water mill;

Truly speaks that proverb old,
With a meaning vast-

"The mill cannot grind

With the water that is past."

Take the lesson to thyself,

True and loving heart;