an evening when the wind is howling outside and whirling
snow against the window panes in sudden furies. This
is the kind of evening when one's bright sitting room
seems most homelike. The fire burns with a bright glow
and around this the family sits in a large semicircle
all within range of a large hanging lamp. The father
sits in his comfortable armchair with his feet resting on
a brightly colored hassock, cheerfully enjoying his pipe
and reading a Boston paper. The mother on the other
side sits telling a story to her youngest child and at the
same time mending with deft fingers a pair of stockings.
Two of the elder sons are enjoying a game of cards with
two old friends whom they have invited in to spend the
evening. Around the fireplace corn is popping and chest-
nuts and apples are roasting. These are watched by a
bright eyed girl who seems to enjoy the care of getting
them done to perfection. On a stool before the desk
sits the studious member of the family, softly singing to
herself while preparing her lesson for the morrow. Out-
side, the wind howling dismally rattles the blinds and
blows sudden gusts of snow in spiteful fury against the
window panes; but wrapped in the cheerful glow of the
hearth the family sit forgetful of the tempest raging
outside and laughing gleefully at the roar of the north
wind in the chimney.

A Typical
Winter
Day

2.

A NEW ENGLAND WINTER.

A New England Winter! What charms lie in those three words. Picture to yourself a gray day. The blue sky is thickly screened by dull, heavy clouds. The sun, so bright in the morning, has "sunk from sight before it set". The air grows chillier, and soon the snow-flakes begin to fall from the leaden sky. Faster and faster, they come, until the air seems swarming with them, and still they continue to fall silently to the ground. Night advances and the wind howls dismally through the branches of the trees. Inside, the firelight flickers from

Typical
Outdoor
Pleasures

Typical
Indoor
Pleasures

the fireplace, and sheds a ruddy glow all about the room. Outside, the sleet blows against the window pane, and the wind rattles the sashes as though determined to enter. As the snow drifts by the window, it takes the forms of "sheeted spectres of the night". When the next morning comes, what a transformation! As you carefully open the door, you receive a shower of wind-driven This does not daunt you, and you wrap up warmly and venture forth into the wonderland of white, the scene of a New England snowstorm.

snow.

With the first cold weather the sports begin. We do not wait for the snow. As soon as the chilly nights freeze the ice to a safe depth, skating begins. Then, what fun it is to start out, on a clear December day, skates in hand. The ice is thronged with merry skaters, and their gay laughter is heard, before they are seen. The eyes are sparkling, and the frost tinges the cheeks with pink. At last the snow comes, however, and skating is spoiled at least for a few days. Nevertheless, a new sport appears upon the field, namely, coasting. Every boy and girl near and far owns a sled. Youngsters bob out unexpectedly, around corners, from yards, and every other place, running and shouting like "mad Greenlanders". Double runners whiz by, loaded with merry children. Gongs ring and warn people out of danger's way. All is color and animation. The icy ruts sparkle, and their cold brilliance dazzles the eye. And then what delight it is to go, on a clear moonlight night, snowshoeing. The crust crunches beneath your feet. The moonbeams play along the cold, brilliant snow. The pines form dark mysterious silhouettes against the starlit sky. These are but few of the healthful outdoor sports of a New England winter.

The wind howls around the house, the sleet drives against the window pane in showers, and the snow lies deep and cold outside. Ah! what a typical day for indoor pleasure. You find an interesting book, and with a ruddy-faced apple, bury yourself in the sofa pillows, lost

Typical
Indoor
Pleasures

to all the world. You live in a sphere of your own, very different from that which you have left. What a glorious time you have in the realm of that book. You assume the role of one of the characters, the heroine, perhaps, and follow her through her different emotions. At last, however, you tire of reading, your eyes need rest, and you wonder what next you can do. Your gaze wanders around the room, and rests with appreciation on the blazing warmth of the fire. What will match it? A box of marshmallows, lying on the table; the very thing! You get a fork and toast them and eat them as fast as they toast. They do not satisfy you and a trip to the pantry is the next thing. You return, laden with corn, the popper, salt, and a dish. What fun it is to watch those little kernels bounce into tiny fairies, all in white. Oh! how good the corn tastes, salted just to suit. It appeases your appetite, and you forget that you were restless. In a short while, though, popping corn becomes monotonous. You have eaten too much, your face burns from the heat, and you are rather drowsy. You fall to thinking, and your thoughts carry you far away. The noise of the sleet driving against the window softens to the gentle lapping of waves on a sandy beach, and finally you drift off in a tiny boat, across untroubled waters to the land of Dreams.

V. MYTHS WRITTEN BY PUPILS.

1.

MAGNIPUER'S SIN.

Many, many thousand years ago the people, who were then giants, had never known how to smoke. But once there happened to be a boy who was very much larger than his fellow playmates, whose name was Magnipuer. This boy was a venturesome sort of a fellow, and was always looking for some new amusement.

One day when walking through the woods, he stopped and made a fire of some dry leaves. As he saw the smoke in wreaths float

silently through the tree tops, he wondered how it would be to blow smoke out of his mouth. He got a sheet of paper and wrapped some leaves up in it. Then getting some fire, he set fire to his torch. He drew in, then blew out, and great clouds of smoke rolled upwards toward the sky. He kept on repeating these strange actions. Cloud after cloud rolled upward towards the sky. The thing he was smoking burned away towards his fingers; he threw it away and made another one. He made one after another until he had used up all the leaves he could find. When he got tired of this he went home. Soon a great cry was heard throughout the land. Huge clouds had massed together and covered the sky. Now there was a space, then more clouds would sail by, some black and some white. This was an awful happening because at times the clouds would cover the sky and the sun, and it would be very dark. When Magnipuer got home his father asked him what he had been doing. When he told his father, he was very angry and caused an earthquake, but they could do nothing.

All these years the clouds have sailed around, and around the world. On summer days when you see the white clouds, or on stormy days when the black clouds cover the sky, then you can think of Magnipuer's sin.

2.

THE RAINBOW.

Years and years ago there lived a very bright little maiden, and because she was so bright and pretty, she was called Sunshine. She had golden hair and blue eyes that seemed to reflect some of the sky in bright weather. Sunshine did not know what pouting meant, but looked on the bright side of all things. Her dress was always of the brightest colors, and she generally wore a wreath of gaycolored flowers on her hair.

Often on rainy afternoons she would amuse the children with her lively and quaint ideas, and aged people brightened at the sight of her. Somehow she always seemed brightest and gayest on a rainy afternoon, but perhaps it was only a contrast to the outside world.

One afternoon she was out in the fields picking flowers, when, like a flash, she was taken up to Heaven by the East Wind, and on

rainy afternoons when the sun comes out, you may often see part of her bright gown in the sky, in the shape of an arch. And children even now look up at the sky, at the end of a shower, to see this bright Rainbow, and if you were ever so fortunate as to find the end of the Rainbow, you would find her beautiful golden hair.

3.

THE LILY AND THE ROSE.

In the beautiful garden of the heavens where the flowers go when they leave the earth, dwelt a lily and a rose. Only the word beautiful can describe them, for they excelled all the flowers of their acquaintance in beauty. The two flowers, sad to say, were great enemies. The lily's beautiful head, like carved marble, was a great contrast to the blushing rose. They dwelt in their cozy homes not far from each other. Both had many lovers and for this the two flowers were jealous of each other. They had paid each other many insults and often they sat thinking of some way which would cause the downfall of their rival.

One day they were both invited to a great wedding feast. Many gods and goddesses were among the guests, but the lily and the rose were by far the most beautiful. The lily walked with great dignity and grace, followed by her numerous lovers. The rose blushed, giggled, and flirted with her admirers, causing many to laugh at her jokes. Suddenly there was a silence and all eyes were turned to the door. Stately, graceful and beautiful came Juno, attended by various gods. The lily and the rose put on a brave front. Great was their wrath and each sneered. One of the attendants reported this to Juno, and they were brought before her. Both were near the verge of tears.

"The idea!" exclaimed Juno. She was terribly angry on account of their beauty. Turning to the lily she said, "On earth and in heaven your head shall always droop with sorrow". To the rose she said, "Though you shall still retain your beauty, your stems shall be covered with thorns and your leaves shall shrink". Thus does this story show us that beauty though pleasing, is often fatal.