and she burst into tears. "I knew," said the Queen, "that you could not pass this boundary. Envy has been in your heart, and you have not driven it away. Your sister has been ill and in your heart you wished that she might die, or rise from the bed of sickness deprived of her beauty. Be not discouraged; you have been several years indulging wrong feelings; and you must not wonder that it takes many months to drive them away."

Marion was very sad as she wended her way homeward. When Rose asked her what was the matter she told her that she wanted to be very good, but she could not. "When I want to be good, I read my Bible and pray," saia Rose, "and I find God helps me to be good." Then Marion prayed that God would help her to be pure in thought; and when wicked feelings rose in her heart, she read her Bible, and they went away.

When she again visited the Palace of Beauty, the Queen smiled, and touched her playfully with her wand, then led the way to the Immortal Fountain. The silver specks on the wings of the Rainbow Fairies shone bright, as she approached them, and they lowered their wands and sung as they flew away

Mortal, pass on

Till the goal is won-
For such I ween

Is the will of our Queen.

Pass on! pass on

And now every footstep was on flowers, that yielded beneath their feet as if their pathway had been upon a cloud. The delicious fragrance could almost be felt, yet it did not oppress the senses with its heaviness: and loud, clear, and liquid, came the sound of the waters as they fell in music. And now the cascade is seen leaping and sparkling over chrystal rocks-a rainbow arch rests above it, like a perpetual halo; the spray falls in pearls, and forms a fantastic foliage about the margin of the fountain. It has touched the webs woven among the grass, and they have become pearlembroidered clocks for the Fairy Queen. Deep and silent, below the foam, is the Immortal Fountain! Its amber-coloured waves flow over a golden bed; and as the fairies bathe in it, the diamonds in their hair glance like sunbeams on the waters.

"Oh! let me bathe in the fountain!" cried Marion, clasping her hands in delight. "Not yet," said the Queen. "Behold the Purple Fairies with golden wands that guard its brink!" Marion looked, and saw beings far lovelier than any her eye had ever rested on. "You cannot pass them yet," said the Queen. "Go home-for one year drive away all evil feelings, not for the sake of bathing in this fountain, but because the goodness is lovely and desirable for its own sake. Purify the inward motive, and your work is done."

This was the hardest task of all. For she

had been willing to be good, not because it was right to be good, but because she wished to be beautiful. Three times she sought the grotto, and three times she left it in tears; for the golden specks grew dim at her approach, and the golden wands were still crossed, to shut her from the Immortal Fountain. The fourth time she prevailed. The Purple Fairies lowered their wands, singing,

Thou hast scaled the mountain,

Go, bathe in the fountain!

Rise fair to the sight

As an angel of light

Go, bathe in the fountain!

Marion was about to plunge in; but the Queen touched her, saying, "Look in the mirror of the waters. Art thou not already as beautiful as heart can wish?"

Marion looked at herself, and she saw that her eye sparkled with new lustre, that a bright colour shone through her cheeks, and dimples "I have not played sweetly about her mouth.

touched the Immortal Fountain," said she, turning in surprise to the Queen. "True," replied the Queen; "but its waters have been within soul. Know that a pure heart and clean your conscience are the only Immortal Fountain of Beauty."

n

When Marion returned, Rose clasped her to her bosom, and kissed her fervently. "I know all," said she, "though I have not asked you a

question. I have been in fairy land, disguised as a bird, and I watched all your steps. When you first went to the grotto, I begged the Queen to grant your wish.”

Ever after that, the sisters lived lovingly together. It was the remark of every one, "How handsome Marion has grown. The ugly scowl has departed from her face; and the light of her eye is so mild and pleasant, and her mouth looks so smiling and good-natured that, to my taste, I declare she is as handsome as Rose."

THE REFORMING LITTLE GIRL.

WELL, now I'll sit down, and work very fast,
And try if I can't be a good girl at last :
'Tis better than living so sulky and haughty;
I'm really quite tired of being so naughty.

For, as mamma says, when my bus'ness is done,
There's plenty of time left to play and to run:
But when 'tis my work-time, I ought to sit still;
I know that I ought, and I certainly will.

But lest, after all, I should get at my play,.
I'll put my wax-doll in the closet away;
I'll not look to see what the kitten is doing,
Nor yet think of any thing now but my sewing.

I'm sorry I've idled so often before,

But I hope I shall never do so any more;

Mamma will be pleas'd when she sees how I mend,
And have done this long seam from beginning to end.

MAXIMS FOR HEALTH AND GRACEFULNESS.

EARLY rising, and the habit of washing fre quently in pure cold water, are fine things for the health and the complexion.

WALKING and other out-of-door exercises cannot be too much recommended to young people. Even skating, driving hoop, and other boyish sports, may be practised to great advantage by little girls, provided they can be pursued within the inclosure of a garden, or court; in the street, they would of course be highly improper. It is true, such games are rather violent, and sometimes noisy; but they tend to form a vigorous constitution; and girls who are habitually lady-like, will never allow themselves to be rude and vulgar, even m piay.