"Yes, all of it as clear as day."

"Why, that is by magic, isn't it?"

"Oh, no, no, child, they have ways to make it up, but on the whole I've seen real things a good deal more wonderful than all their shows, and there wasn't any make-believe about them."

A few moments more and all discussion was lost in preparation for the supper. Each one, being supplied with a large shell for soup plate and a little cockleshell for spoon, was given a generous portion of the fragrant stew; then with some slices of bread and butter the evening meal passed off merrily.

The sun was sloping toward the ocean, and the wide blue floor was bedropped here and there with rosy shadows of sailing clouds. Suddenly the captain sprang up, exclaiming :

"Sure as I'm alive, there they are!" "Who?" asked the children, eagerly.

"Why, Captain Pennel and Moses; don't you see?" And in fact on the outer circle of the horizon came drifting a line of small white-breasted vessels, looking like so many doves.

"There they surely are!" cried the captain; while little Mara danced for joy.

"How soon will they be here?"

"Before long," answered the captain; "so, Mara, I

you'll want to be getting home."

guess

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE

THE TEMPEST

HERE was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young that she had no memory of

seeing any human face but her father's.

They lived in a cave, or cell, made out of a rock. It was divided into several apartments, one of which Prospero called his study. There he kept his books, which chiefly treated of magic, a study at that time much affected by all learned men.

The knowledge of this art he found very useful to him. For, being thrown by a strange chance upon this island, which had been enchanted by a witch called Sycorax, he was able to release many good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the bodies of large trees because they had refused to execute her wicked demands. These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of Prospero.

Of these,

The lively little sprite, Ariel, had nothing mischievous in his nature, except that he took rather too much pleasure in tormenting an ugly monster called Caliban, the son of his old enemy, Sycorax. This Caliban, Prospero found in the woods, a strange misshapen thing. He took him home to his cell, taught him to speak, and would have been very kind to him, but Caliban's bad nature would not let him

learn anything good or useful. Therefore he was employed like a slave, to fetch wood and to perform the most laborious offices; and Ariel had the charge of compelling him to do these services.

When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel would come slyly and pinch him. Sometimes he would tumble him down in the mire and then in the likeness of an ape would make faces at him. Then, swiftly changing his shape to the likeness of a hedgehog, the sly spirit would lie tumbling in Caliban's way, who feared the hedgehog's sharp quills would prick his bare feet.

Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will, Prospero could by their means command the winds and the waves of the sea. By his orders they raised a violent storm, in the midst of which, struggling with the wild sea waves that every moment threatened to swallow it up, he showed his daughter a fine large ship, which he told her was full of human beings like themselves.

"O my dear father," said she, "if by your art you have raised this dreadful storm, have pity on their sad distress! See! the vessel will be dashed to pieces. Poor souls! they will perish. If I had power, I would sink the sea beneath the earth rather than the good ship should be destroyed with all the precious souls on board.”

"Be not frightened, Miranda," said Prospero, "there is no harm done. I have so ordered it that no person in the ship shall receive any hurt. What I have done has been in care of thee, my dear child. You are ignorant who you

are, or where you came from; and you know no more of me but that I am your father and live in this poor cave.

you remember a time before you came to this cell?"

66

'Certainly I can, sir," replied Miranda.

Can

"By what?" asked Prospero; "by any other house or person? Tell me what you can remember, my child."

Miranda said, "It seems to me like the recollection of a dream. But had I not once four or five women who attended upon me?"

Prospero answered, "You had, and more. How is it that this still lives in your mind? Do you remember how you came here?"

"No, sir," said Miranda, "I remember nothing more." "Twelve years ago, Miranda," continued Prospero, “I was a duke of Milan. You were a princess and my only heir. I had a younger brother, whose name was Antonio, to whom I trusted everything. And as I was fond of retirement and deep study, I commonly left the management of my state affairs to your uncle, my false brother, for so indeed he proved.

"I, neglecting all worldly things, buried among my books, devoted my whole time to the improvement of my mind. My brother Antonio, being thus in possession of my power, began to think himself the duke indeed. The opportunity I gave him of making himself popular among my subjects awakened in his bad nature a proud ambition to deprive me of my dukedom. This he soon effected by the aid of the king of Naples, a powerful prince who was my enemy."

"Why," asked Miranda, "did they not that hour destroy us?"

"My child," answered her father, "they dared not, so great was the love my people bore me. Antonio carried us on board a ship, and when we were some leagues out at sea, he forced us into a small boat, without tackle, sail or mast. There he left us, as he thought, to perish. But a kind lord of my court, one Gonzalo, who loved me, had privately placed in the boat, water, provisions, apparel and some books which I prize above my dukedom."

"O my father," said Miranda, "what a trouble I must have been to you then!"

"No, my love," said Prospero, "you were a little cherub that did preserve me. Your innocent smiles made me bear up against my misfortunes. Our food lasted until we landed on this island, since which time my chief delight has been in teaching you, Miranda; and well have you profited by my instructions.”

"Heaven reward you, my dear father," said Miranda. "Now pray tell me, sir, your reason for raising this sea storm.

"Know then," said her father, "that by means of this storm, my enemies, the king of Naples and my cruel brother, are cast ashore upon this island."

Having thus spoken, Prospero gently touched his daughter with his magic wand, and she fell fast asleep. For the spirit Ariel just then presented himself before his master, to give an account of the tempest, and how he had disposed of the ship's company.