the island, the harbour of which is sometimes crowded with yachts. It is a pretty sight to see these beautiful vessels, their white sails flashing in the sunshine.

5. Near East Cowes, the Queen has her favourite marine residence, called Osborne House. It is a lovely place, and the grounds comprise almost every variety of scenery-woodland, meadow, valley, glen, and broad, rich pastures.

6. Newport, the capital, is the "heart and centre of the island." It is built on a gentle slope rising from the west bank of the Medina, which is navigable for vessels of considerable size up to the town.

7. Near the town of Newport are the ruins of Carisbrooke Castle, for twelve months the prison of the unfortunate Charles the First. After he had been beaten in a war with the Parliament, he took refuge in this castle, but was kept as a prisoner. He was at last taken to London, and there tried, condemned to death, and executed, in 1649.

8. On the king's death, two of his children were brought to Carisbrooke. A few weeks after their arrival, one of them, the Princess Elizabeth, died. She was found dead in her room, her fair cheek resting on a Bible-the last gift of her father, on the morning of his execution.

9. Our own beloved Queen has erected a monument to her memory in the church at Newport, where the princess was buried. It shows the princess lying at full length on her side, her cheek resting on a Bible, open at the text, Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

SUMMARY.-The Isle of Wight, in the English Channel, lies off the coast of Hampshire. It is called the Garden of England. The Queen has a residence on the island, called Osborne House. Newport is the capital. Charles the First was a prisoner in Carisbrooke Castle.

EXERCISE.-Draw a Map of the Isle of Wight on as large a scale as

you can.

25. THE SCILLY ISLES.

1. Out in the Atlantic, thirty miles south-west of Land's End, in Cornwall, there lies a group of small islands known as the Scilly Isles. They number about one hundred and forty, but most of them are barren rocks. Only six are inhabited.

2. The climate of these islands is very mild. Plants that in England have to be grown in glass houses here flourish in the open air.

On one of the islands there is a long avenue of palm trees. It is a sight seen nowhere else in the British Isles.

3. The Scilly Isles have been the scene of many terrible shipwrecks. One of the most destructive took place in 1707. A fleet of English men-of-war was caught in a gale off these islands. In a few minutes five of them had struck on the terrible rocks, and the lives of two thousand brave English seamen were lost. It was one of the most fearful disasters that ever befell our Navy.

4. Since then a light-house has been built on the rock farthest out at sea, and it sends its light across the waters. But when fogs arise, as they often do around the Scilly Isles, the light cannot be seen. Then is the time of danger.

5. In the month of May, 1873, a steamer called the Schiller crossed the Atlantic, but when she arrived off our shores the land was hidden by a dense fog.

6. The captain knew that he was near a perilous coast. He ordered the engines to be put at halfspeed, and tried to find his way into the English Channel; but his efforts were in vain. Half an hour after the engines had been slowed the steamer drove on the rocks.

7. Rockets were fired and guns discharged to tell those on shore that help was needed. Life-boats from St. Mary's, the largest of the Scilly Isles, took off forty-one persons; and then the ship broke up, and more than three hundred men, women, and children found a watery grave.

SUMMARY.-The Scilly Isles lie off the south-west coast of Cornwall. Only six of the one hundred and forty which form the group are inhabited. They have been the scene of many destructive shipwrecks. In 1707 five men-of-war were wrecked here, and two thousand lives lost. The Schiller was wrecked here in 1873.

EXERCISE.-Draw a Map of the South-West Coast of England, and how the position of the Scilly Isles.

26. THE FLAG OF THE FREE.

1. 'Tis the streamer of England-it floats o'er the brave—
"Tis the fairest unfurled o'er the land or the wave;
But though brightest in story and matchless in fight,
'Tis the herald of Mercy as well as of Might.

In the cause of the wronged may it ever be first,
When tyrants are humbled and fetters are burst ;
Be "Justice" the war-shout, and dastard is he
Who would scruple to die 'neath the Flag of the Free!

2. It may trail o'er the halyards, a bullet-torn rag,
Or flutter in shreds from the battlement-crag;
Let the shot whistle through it as fast as it may,
Till it sweep the last glorious tatter away.

What matter! we'd hoist the blue jacket on high,
Or the soldier's red sash from the spear-head should fly;
Though it were but a ribbon, the foeman should see
The proud signal, and own it-the Flag of the Free!

3. Have we ever looked out from a far foreign shore,
To mark the gay pennon each passing ship bore,
And watched every speck that arose on the foam,
In hope of glad tidings from country and home ?—
Has our straining eye caught the loved colours at last,
And seen the dear bark bounding on to us fast?
Then, then have our hearts learnt how precious can be
The fair streamer of England, the Flag of the Free!
ELIZA COOK.

Bat-tle-ment, castle wall.
Das-tard, coward.

Fet-ters, chains.

Halyards, ropes to hoist a sail.
Hurled, thrown.

Match-less, having no equal.

Pen-non, small flag.

Precious, dear; of great value.

Scru-ple, be unwilling.
Stream-er, small flag

Ty-rants, cruel rulers.

Un-furled', let fly in the breeze.