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suit into a little satcnel, and set it by his father's valise in the hall, ready for the cabman when he should call in the morning.

Now, as Mischief is the offspring of Idleness, it was no wonder that Jack, for want of something better to do, should fall into some of his old tricks, and prove very annoying to all upon whom he chose to bestow his company. First, he disturbed his mamma, who was writing a letter, by creaking the door backwards and forwards, just sufficiently to irritate her nerves; and when that was forbidden, he began to teaze his sister May, and pull her about more boisterously than the gentle little girl liked. Jack's mamma had to speak to him very decidedly before he could be persuaded to let the child alone. But it was not long before a string was slyly fastened to the large doll, which May was making believe to be taking a ride in her little waggon, and pretty Flora was rudely thrown on her face, thereby considerably injuring her waxen nose.

This was too bad; aud master Jack was summarily expelled from the room, with a request that he should not return until he could behave with more propriety. But, being by this time in a high state of excitement, he only shifted the scene of his operations from the parlour to the kitchen, where he soon raised such a disturbance that mamma was obliged to "take him in hand," as cook expressed it-a punishment which consisted in making Jack sit still for a whole hour on a little footstool at his mamma's feet, without occupation of any kind.

Jack thought this was very hard; but, looking into his mamma's face, he saw she was resolute, and submitted with as good a grace as he possibly could.

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"Not while I am writing," said his mamma. "And I believe talking is not the bargain at all. But if you keep quiet until I have finished my letter, you may tell me what you have been thinking about in the meantime."

Jack waited until he saw the closely-written sheet placed in its neat envelope, and directed in his mamma's clear, firm handwriting, and then he burst out with, "I was wishing all the time I was like Jack, the Giant-Killer."

Cunning Jack! He expected to hear his mamma laugh at his droll speech, as she had been used to do when he said anything remarkably funny, and then he thought his peace would be made, and his offences forgotten. Bnt, instead of this, his mamma did not smile at all; and she said very gravely, "I wish you were, Jack; and, indeed, I think you can be.'

"Why, mamma," cried Jack, astonished, "how can I be? And, besides, where are the giants? There are none about here that I know of; and I mightn't meet with any if I travelled a thousand miles, even."

"You have no need to travel far to find them. They are here with you all the time, my little Jack."

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very wide, and looking about the room a little frightened; "why, mamma, what do you mean ?"

When you are

"Just what I say, my son. mischievous, and obstinate, and self-indulgent, as you have been to-day, then I think what bad, wicked giants have got hold of my little Jack. And I am afraid these naughty monsters will conquer him entirely some time, if he does not fight them back again, and get the victory. There's Giant Sloth, who keeps you in bed in the morning, and will not let you jump out, though I call ever so loudly. He lurks in the pages of your story-books, and he is very fond of the cushions of the great arm-chair. Sometimes it takes a big pull to get you out of the net he has woven around you."

"Ob, mamma," said Jack, laughing, "does he have a net around me? I never felt it."

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That is because it is so soft and yielding, that few suspect they are in its meshes until he fastens his web securely about them, like a spider does to a silly fly. And this is what makes Giant Sloth so powerful, because he lulls instead of showing open fight."

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Well, he shan't conquer me, I'm determined," said Jack, resolutely. "I'll soon bring you his head, mamma."

"We shall see,” said his mamma, quietly. "Time enough to boast when the battle is won." "But are these all my giants, mamma ?" asked Jack, who was greatly amused; and, being a bright boy, readily understood his mamma's meaning.

"By no means," said his mamma. "There is Giant Ill-Temper, who makes you so cross to little May sometimes, and only the other day helped to push her down, when you came home in a bad humour because you were kept in at school. The poor child cried herself to sleep, after I had bathed the great black bruise on ber arm."

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Well, mamma, but I was sorry as soon as I had pushed her. And then she needn't have come running to meet me when she might have known I would be in a bad humour. It's hard enough for a fellow to be punished and lose his dinner, without being plagued as soon as he comes in."

"She had been watching for you a whole hour at the window, to ask if she might play with your box of soldiers. And, before I could stop her, she had slipped down the stairs, and was away to the hall-door to meet you, as soon as she caught a glimpse of you running up the steps. She little expected to find you in such a savage mood."

"Dear little May!" said Jack, in a penitent tone; "she is such a sweet-tempered little thing, mamma. She put up her pretty mouth to kiss me when she saw I was sorry about her poor little arm, and said, 'Don't cry, brother Jack, you didn't do it on purpose, I know.' I don't believe Giant Ill-temper ever disturbs her a bit. And as soon as she got over her nap, I gave her my box of soldiers io keep for her own. Wasn't that fighting Giant Ill-Temper, mamma ?"

"Why, no, I think not, Jack. He was off by that time, and you were worsted in the fight. He is very apt to leave Sorrow and Remorse behind him. Had you controlled your inclination to be ill-humoured at the moment you felt him coming, and made a strong effort to be gentle and loving, instead of violent and rude, then I would say you had gained a victory. And as to your giving little May the box of soldiers, I have heard you say over and over again that you were quite tired of them, and did not care who had them."

Then there is Giant Selfishness," she continued. "Who was it the other day, when I gave him two apples, one large and the other small, to divide with his little sister, bestowed the less beautiful fruit on May, and greedily devoured the whole of the fiue one himself ?"

"Oh, now mamma, you are too bad, as you said I was a while ago. I am sure, May is so little, the small apple was quite enough for her, and the large one suited me best. Besides, she was duite pleased with the one I gave her."

"So Giant Selfishness told you; and this ugly habit will make you in time greedy, and sensual, and self-indulgent. Fight the giants while you are young, Jack, or they will so get the mastery of you that when you grow up you will find yorself bound as with fetters of iron; and will have to be their slave as long as you live."

"I won't be their slave, I'm determined; so there, now," cried Jack, hotly. "And you'll see, mamma, if I don't conquer them every one. I intend to begin this very day, and knock them down as fast as they come on.'

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Poor Jack! he was full of boasting, as many a one is who has not "proved his armour.' That same evening he had a strong tussle with Giants Ill-Temper and Disobedience, and, as usual, they caine off conquerors.

His mind was so full of his expected journey, and the sights he should probably see on the way, that he gave no heed to his mamma's gentle admonition that he had better retire sooner than usual, so as to be prepared for an early start in the morning. Indeed, when bed-time came, he was absorbed in his favourite book, "The Hundred Wonders of the World," and had become so excited over a description of Niagara Falls, that he behaved in a very ugly and disrepectful manner to his mamma, and was in consequence not only severely reprimanded by his papa, but ordered at once to put away the temping volume, and go to his room and to bed.

bing his eyes, "I wish you wouldn't bother me, Susan. I know it's too early. Why, it's quite dark yet, ain't it?"

"No," said Susan; "your window shutters are closed, and the blinds down. Jump up and open the window, and then you will see the bright daylight coming in. And mind, the train starts at six, and you have only an hour to dress and eat your breakfast."

"Only an hour!" repeated Jack, turning over on his pillow, as Susan's footsteps were heard descending the stairs; "as if it would take me more than ten minutes to dress! And I know that tiresome Susan has awakened me ever so much too soon. She thinks to pay me back for some of my tricks yesterday, as she said she would. No, indeed, I shan't get up to please you, Miss Susan !"

Foolish Jack! One quarter of an hour, and then another, passed away, his fitful slumbers only broken by Susan's occasional "rat-ta-tat' at the door. To all of which Jack mentally answered "I know it is not late, and papa will not go without me."

At last, "ring-ting-aling" went the breakfast bell; and then, indeed, Jack was in a hurry. He leaped out of bed at one jump, breaking through the meshes of Giant Sloth's net, and turned a full jet of cold water on to his face, and hands, and head. This was a powerful awakener, and, had it been resorted to before, poor Jack might have been spared much discomfort and

sorrow.

But as it was everything went wrong, and each article of his wardrobe seemed to be out of place and out of sorts, just because he was so impatient. He pulled off his buttons, broke his shoe-ties, and finally got angry, and threw his clothes into various parts of the roon. Then he had to scramble and gather them up again; but just as he had succeeded in getting "all right," he heard the sound of wheels, and, running to the window, had the disappointment of seeing the cab drive rapidly away from the door, his father having waited for him until the last possible moment.

It was frightful to see the fit of passion into which Jack was thrown by this blighting of all his hopes. He raised the window and screamed, then stamped, and beat the door with his fists until he was quite exhausted, and had to sit down on the floor to take breath. It was a sorrowful sight, too, for his mamma to find her little son vanquished by the dreadful giants, and, as it Jack obeyed this command but partially. He were, lying bleeding at her feet, when she came left the apartment, indeed, but contrived to carry up to console him for his disappointment. But, his book with him; and remained so long read-seeing him yet obstinate and naughty, she was ing it by his bed-room burner, that it was no wonder Giant Sloth found him an easy prey to bis blandishments the next morning.

He was only just falling asleep, as he thought, although he had really been many hours in bed, when Susan's tap was heard at the door.

"Please to get up, Master Jack. Your mamma says you will have plenty of time to dress, if you start up at once."

"Oh," said Jack, in a sleepy voice, and rub

obliged to punish him still further by keeping him in his room until he should become penitent and gentle.

It was late in the afternoon before the conflict was over, and the "good feel" came again. Jack felt subdued and humble enough, as he sat down at his mamma's feet and confessed his shortcomings.

"I shall never kill the giants, mamma-I may as well give it up."

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"Oh, no, Jack; for then you must be their slave for life. But see here my son, you have not on the right armour."

"I don't know what you mean, mamma.”

"Why, you have been trying entirely in your own strength. But you must apply to the Great Captain to help you in this warfare. If you ask Him, he will give you the shield of Faith, gauntlet your hand with Good Resolutions, and gird you with the sword of Perseverance. Then there is an oil called All-Prayer, which will keep your armour always bright and burnished. But you must ask for all these things before you can receive them."

"Oh, now I know, mamma," cried Jack, with a sober face. "I must pray to God to help me

conquer my evil passions and inclinations; and
then I must resolve and persevere until I do it."
"That is it, dear Jack. It is just as your little
hymn-book says:

"O, watch, and fight, and pray,
The battle ne'er give o'er;
Renew it boldly evey day,

And help divine implore."

Now if my young readers think this story is too much about "the giants conquering Jack," let them resolve as he did, to apply for help in the right quarter, and watch as well as pray; and then they will know exactly how Jack conquered the giants, and gained the title of GIANT KILLER.

DOUBLE LOVE; OR, THE TWIN SISTERS.
BY WILMOT BUXTON.

"Utrum horum mavis accipe."-Latin Grammar.

Scarce a fortnight has past since I was saying good-bye, and taking a last shake of the hand from my old friend Percy Dalton, and his pretty young wife, as they stood on the deck of the vessel which was to bear them and their fortune (no inconsiderable one) to India. Dalton has always been my greatest friend, and had proved a delightful companion on all occasions, from his exuberant spirits, and well-stored repository of tale and anecdote; but none of his stories approach in excellence one which he told me shortly before his departure for India, and which same story was nothing more than the true narrative of his fortunate wooing and wedding.

I had accompanied Dalton to the former home of his wife, at Twickenham, and in the evening we were strolling in the garden together, when my friend said suddenly, "I have had something to tell you for some time, old fellow, and had determined to write you an account of it from India, but, as the sight of your wondering face will be half the fun of the whole matter, I will tell you my story now, if you like; it is not very long, and has the advantage of being true."

"An advantage which all your stories do not possess, certainly," replied I, laughing, "but let us hear it by all means, and here is the very erbour designed for such a moving narrative of real life as yours will doubtless prove."

"You may laugh," said my friend, as he

lighted a cigar, "but, for all that, my story" is true, and is the history of my adventures in wooing Kate morrison, now Mrs. Percy Dalton."

My friend then plunged into his narrative, which, though animated and vivid in its style, was somewhat broken by laughter and exclama tions chiefly proceeding from his auditor; I shall therefore tell Dalton's story in my own way:

Šome months before this period, my friend, while staying on a visit to some relations in Kent, had been introduced to Major Charles Morrison, who, with one of his nieces, was passing the autumn at Daleford House, a fine old country mansion belonging to the Major.

Dalton learnt in the neighbourhood that Major Morrison was a man of considerable wealth, and lived with two nieces, Kate and Mary, who were twins, both heiresses, and daughters of the Major's brother, who had died in India, leaving a large fortune to these his only children.

Percy Dalton soon became a constant visitor at Daleford House, and, being an agreeable, gentlemanly fellow, good-looking, and well connected, he found himself advancing in the good graces of his new friends. The Major, though somewhat punctilious on matters of etiquette, and rather fond of being thought Sir Oracle in questions of dispute, was, on the whole, frank and generous, thoroughly hospitable, and soon

grew delighted with Percy, whom he charac- | of. Once more alone with the charming being terized as 66 a young man of sound good sense, who had turned quiet, sensible Percy Dalton inSir, no nonsense about him, thoroughly to a dreamer and wholesale waster of time, my straightforward, and knows what he's about. friend felt all his love rushing up in an unThis was very high praise from Major Morrison, governable stream; but, as often happens unwho often remarked that "one half of the world der similar circumstances, his flow of words was didn't seem to know what they were about!" by no means abundant: in fact, Percy stammered, hesitated, and talked common-places to such a degree, that the fair Kate began to be quite vexed with her lover's stupidity, and rose to summon her sister; but the fates bad determined other things for Percy Dalton than to be introduced on that occasion to Mary Morrison; she bad gone out for a short stroll, the servant said, and Percy, after summoning up all his courage to make a tender speech at parting and, having failed miserably, took his leave, very little satisfied with his visit, and more in love than ever.

The great attraction in the eyes of Percy Dalton, however, was not the conversation or the good chess-playing of the Major, or the elaborate dinners or liberal entertainments at Daleford house; a greater inducement than all this to renew his visits dwelt in the bright eyes and smiling face of Katie Morrison, for whom Percy Dalton cared a great deal more at this time than he wished his friends to believe; more even than he believed himself.

It is possible, that, had both the sisters been at Daleford house, Percy might have escaped his destiny for a time; but Mary was absent, with a distant relation, and would not rejoin her sister and uncle, until after their return to town.

Frequent and oft-repeated visits to Daleford House, archery meetings, and pic-nics, in sight of golden corn-fields of our fairest county, long evenings spent over the piano and harp, all these combinations of pleasant circumstances quickly brought Percy Dalton to that state of mind when people begin to look long at the moon on retiring to bed at night, to write bad verses, wherein the facile rhymes "trees and breeze," "silver light and silent night," are made to do duty in every other line. Alas! for human expectations! Just when Dalton was in ecstasies of delight at his good fortune, and thought, "good easy man," that his fortunes "were a ripening," in very truth-Puff! a word of the Major's blows away his rose-tinted chateau en Espagne, and he has said "goodbye," in an ordinary tone of voice, and seen them to the railway carriage before he can collect his senses and feel the full extent of his bereavement. However, the Major has said, "Remember, Mr. Dalton, we shall always be glad to see you at Twickenham ;" and with this invitation to comfort him, Percy was obliged to remain, kept much against his inclination by matters of business, and as men usually do under such circumstances, took every opportunity of making himself supremely miserable, and began to think that calling Kent "the garden of England" was a piece of utter absurdity.

At length, however the wished-for time of departure arrived, and my friend returned to London, and thence proceeded as soon as possible to Twickenham. He found that the Major resided in a pretty villa, whose well-kept garden sloped down to the bright waters of the Thames, looking as unlike as possible to the black, grimy river which rolls under London Bridge. Major Morrison received Percy very warmly, but was soon obliged to take his departure to town, leaving Kate to entertain her visitor, an arrangement which the said visitor highly approved

Percy, except one, when he saw, as he believed, Some days passed, which were dies non to Kate Morrison riding in the park, attended lady, and could not be but surprised by her only by a servant. He was very near to the flushed crimson, and nearly losing the reins in manner of returning his bow. She started, her agitation, her horse swerved violently, and then set off at a sharp canter, which the rider had some difficulty in checking.

have been startled at my sudden appearance, or "Very odd this," thought Percy; "she must else she can't be accustomed to meet friends when riding. However, it's a favourable symptom, I trust !"

Meanwhile the lady pursued her ride, and on reaching home the groom remarked:

"I think you must have dropped your reins, Miss Mary, in the park; I never saw the mare start off like that before!"

"Yes, it was my fault, Thomas," answered the young lady, in some confusion; poor Bessie is not to blame."

room, and the young lady's agitation was now Mary Morrison retired at once to her own very evident; her cheek was pale, and her hand a letter which had been put privately into her trembled as she drew a letter from her pocket, hand that morning, and the contents of which

were these:

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"I cannot forbear writing to you, even at the risk of your displeasure, and the still greater risk of detection; my one and only excuse is that I am once more in England, once more in the same land with her for whom I live! I shall try to see you, dearest, the day after you will receive this letter. If the business of my employers can be tranacted in one day, as I doubt not it will be, I shall once more have the inexpressible delight of gazing on the face which has been my only vision of happiness during my stay in India. Try, dearest Mary, to arrange a meeting towards five o'clock in the

afternoon, near the old hawthorn walk in the garden.

'Ever, my dearest Mary, your most devoted,

"EDWARD OAKLEY."

"So soon-so unexpectedly!" murmured Mary, half aloud, as she read this letter for the twentieth time at least; but my eyes must have deceived me to-day; it is impossible; my brain must he turned by this sudden news.'

It was with feverish anxiety that Mary Morrison awaited the following day: all the morning she was busy in contriving plans to remove the worthy Major from the scene of action; with her sister she had a half confidence, but had never fully disclosed her secret, the only one which was preserved between the sisters.

Major Morrison innocently frustrated several wily stratagems of his niece, who had suggested that he looked poorly, and ought to ride out towards Hampton Court for an airing: No, the Major said he had never felt better in his life, and didn't care to ride while the close weather lasted. Mary was in despair, when at last a visitor arrived to lunch, who insisted upon taking the whole party back in his carriage to inaugurate the game of croquet, which his daughters had just become acqnainied with. Mary with difficulty excused berself on the plea of a headache, and had the satisfaction of seeing the Major and Kate depart in the chariot of the parental fosterer of croquet.

Towards the appointed tims Mary entered the garden, and, with hasty steps and flushed cheek, paced up and down the hawthorn walk, which was screened from the house by a thick hedge. Nearly two years had passed since Edward Oakley had sailed for India. He had, before that time, been a frequent visitor at the Morrison's house, but, althongh the Major had treated him with politeness and attention, he by no means approved of the marked attention which Oakley bestowed upon his niece Mary, and the young man's departure for India to atbusiness connected with his father's large and flourishing firm, was looked on by Major Morrison as a very excellent measure, calculated to save a great deal of trouble and annoyance to himself and every one else.

tend to some

to her side, and clasped her hand with all the ardour of a lover.

"I trust," he said, after a few moments of very expressive silence, "I trust that you were not ill yesterday; I fear I startled your horse!"

"No, not ill-only surprised, a little agitated at your sudden apparition!" replied Mary. "But come," she added, seeing that her lover that has passed since our last meeting!" was silent; "you must have so much to tell me

It was but a week, thought Percy, but answered

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My life is not an eventful one, and apart from you it is a blank."

After taking a few more turns in the path, during which Mary had made up her mind that India had considerably altered her lover, both in manner and appearance; poor Percy, who had been screwing uphiscourage to the sticking point, at length said, rather abruptly— long enough for you to have seen that my feelings towards you are not those of a mere friend -one who comes and goes, sees you, and perhaps never thinks of you until the next meeting; during the time I have known you you have taken a fixed place in the heart of one, who although all unworthy of you, cannot exist longer in suspense. Tell me my fate now; if you delay, you are but being cruel to be kind!”

"Miss Morrison, we have known each other

After making this speech, which was not so bad considering Percy's previous remarks, he managed to elicit a very favourable response from the young lady, who however dwelt strongly on her Uncle's consent being necessary, and not very easy to obtain.

Never fear, dearest;" exclaimed the now enthusiastic Percy; "he has never shown himself other than friendly towards me, and tomorrow if you will let me, I will come and put the case before him in such a light, that I think I shall take his defences by a coup de main?"

So it was arranged, and Percy departed in a state of delightful insanity which led him to perpetrate unheard-of absurdities, among which was the presentation of half a sovereign to the railway porter, full in sront of the company's regulations to the contrary. On the following day Percy Dalton presented himself at the house which had become his magnet of attraction, and Meanwhile Percy Dalton had felt, or pre- inquired for the Major and the young ladies. He tended that he felt so uneasy at Miss Morrison's was told that the Major was out, but was alarm on the previous day, that nothing short expected home shortly; that Miss Mary was of a visit to Twickenham could calm the state of engaged with a visitor, but that Miss Kate anxiety under which he laboured. He accor- would receive him. On entering the drawingdingly started by an afternoon train from Lon-room which was divided from a front room by don, and, as if some mischievous Puck had so arranged it, he approached the dwelling of the Morrisons a few minutes before five o'clock.

On arriving at the garden gate he at once beheld a lady, whom he recognized as the fair equestrian of the previous day. On perceiving Dalton, she uttered a half-surprised cry, blushed crimson, and hastened towards him. Such an open demonstration was not to be mistaken. Dalton flung open the gate, darted

closed folding doors, Percy was received by Kate, thohigh by no means so enthusiastically as he expected; in fact, the memory of the previous day seemed to have quite evaporated.

"We have not seen you for some time, Mr. Dalton; we thought you were going to desert us," were the first words which greeted the astonished Percy.

"Miss Morrison, Katie, may I not call you so! Can you have forgotten our conversation of

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