their song and began to grind out an army to destroy the greedy king. The leader of this army took the magic millstones and the slaves on his ship. But he was as selfish as the king. He bade them grind salt for him. It was worth much in those days.

Cruel as the king, he kept them working all the time. Round and round went the millstones, and the salt came pouring out. At last there was so much salt on board that the ship sank.

Do you know what became of the salt? There was so much of it that ever since all the waters of the sea have been salt. Where the ship went down it left a great deep hole. The waters rushed in to fill it up, and this made a whirlpool that is called the Mæl

strom.

preach'er lärk stumbled cheeks wilt'ed chōked sprin'kle pōrch

XXXIV.-LITTLE CHRISTEL.

One day at church little Christel heard the preacher say, "Even the youngest child may

help. Never a day should pass

kindness done."

without some

On the way home she thought, "How can I, so little and so poor, do anything for any

one ?"

Just then a lark sprang up from the grass near by. Little Christel sent a wish to the sky that she might be shown what to do.

Soon she came to a little child crying by his door. In his hand was a paper wind-mill. It would not move. He blew and blew until, his little cheeks were quite red. The baby's breath could not stir the sails.

Little Christel bent over the child and set the sails going. As the child laughed, Christel said, "Happy wind-mill, that has but to turn to please some one!"

Near by grew a rose bush. It hung its head, faint with thirst. Christel hurried to the brook, made a nice, round cup of her hands, and carried water to the dry roots, until the plant lifted up its wilted flowers. Then, thought Christel, "Happy brook, you have done some good to-day."

As she ran by the side of the brook she saw

its course.

that some great, rough stones were stopping The water seemed choked as if it said, "How I wish these stones were gone." The little girl took off her shoes and moved one stone and then another, and when she took away the third the brook sang as if it

would say, "Thank you."

Just then, looking up to hear the lark, she stumbled and fell.

The little brook flowed on as before.

The little lark sang sweetly.

The little baby played at the cot

tage door. But

why did not little Christel

rise?

When she fell she struck her head on one of

the stones and could not rise.

The stream crept close to where she lay and said, "You helped me and I will help you. will sprinkle your face and bathe your eyes until you open them."

Then the rose bush leaned over and said, "You helped me and I will help you." It tapped and tapped her wet cheek until at last she did open her eyes. Then a bright, small child crept to her side and whispered, "You helped me and I will help you." The little one put his arms around Christel's neck and raised her head. Christel sat up and smiled and looked around.

Then how she laughed! She had been asleep all the time in the church porch, and all this was a dream.

al'der

col'um bīne

pow'der y

willow ripple scärlět

XXXV.-SPRING.

The alder by the river

Shakes out her powdery curls;

The willow buds in silver

For little boys and girls.

The little birds fly over,

And oh, how sweet they sing!

To tell the happy children
That once again 'tis spring.

The

gay green grass comes creeping So soft beneath their feet;

The frogs begin to ripple

A music clear and sweet.

And butterflies are coming,
And scarlet columbine,
And in the sunny meadows
The dandelions shine.

And just as many daisies

As their soft hands can hold,
The little ones may gather,
All fair in white and gold.

Here blooms the warm red clover, the violet blue;

There peeps