equal rights and privileges with the members of the "Boys' Brigade.” Small maidens who wish to join this merry little band can now send in their names, and having been elected at one of the meetings, will receive the pretty lily-badge which they are to wear on the shoulder. At the great meeting the other day the Rev. Chaplain spoke beautifully to the children, and told them many interesting stories. There was a great crowd of little rosy faces round him, and all listened with eager attention to his words.

Yesterday, a good number of knights met in spite of the wet weather, and over fourteen pounds were placed in the treasurer's hands. Some very interesting letters were read from knights in the country and abroad. We find that a truly ardent spirit is firing the hearts of the Brigade. No Red-Cross Knight, or Irish Knight at Fontenoy, ever fought better than many of these brave boys are fighting with the world for their suffering fellow-children. We cannot help wishing again our oft-repeated wish, that the dear zealous brigadiers who are far away could visit us sometimes and see the effect of their work.

I must tell you that we got a delightful surprise the other day when a wonderful box arrived from London, full of exquisitely dressed dolls, and a quantity of doll's clothing most prettily made. Many of you know and enjoy the children's magazine called Little Folks. Our box was sent to us by the Editor of Little Folks, and the dolls had been dressed by industrious little girls who are fond of reading his magazine. Prizes were given to these clever little girls, and a share of their work

was sent to us.

THE WALKING TREES.

A STORY FOR CHILDREN.

BY ROSA MULHOLLAND,

AUTHOR OF "HESTER'S HISTORY,” “THE LITTLE FLOWER SEEKERS," &c.

PART III.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADVENTURES OF THE RAIN-CHILDREN.

"You chap with the snow-storm," said Leo, "do you speak first, and tell us what you did with it? I must say you are a very small fellow to carry about a snow-storm in your pocket.".

"When I passed down through the lake," said the rain-child, “I came out at the bottom of the clouds that hang above your earth. Then I floated about a long time, and hovered away over the world, growing larger as I went along, and spreading myself out into great trails of mist. At last I came and paused above a beautiful mountainous country called Switzerland-have you ever heard of it?"

"I should think so," said Leo. My mamma and papa were there lately, and have just come home."

"Well, I came and took up my station behind a mountain peak, just over a pretty little village which lay at its foot. I waited there a long time, curled round a high crag and basking in the sunshine, and I gazed down into the village and soon came to know every creature that lived in it, and all their occupations and affairs. I knew all the village children particularly well, and there were two nice little things who played about together, and I took a great fancy to them, and used to watch them at all their games. They were not dark, heavy lumps of children, like us up here, but had nice rosy cheeks, like yours, and bright eyes and soft skins. Their mother and father lived in a pretty little house a short way above the village, and the children were fond of roaming up the mountains as far as their little wandering feet would carry them. Their father was a chamois hunter, and they loved to climb the crags to meet him on his way home.

"One day I thought I had hung about the mountain peaks long. enough, and that it was high time to see about business; so I began to puff and blow, and spread myself out till I darkened the sun and covered the whole of the blue sky with threatening clouds. Then I let loose the snow-storm over the world, and it fell, and fell, till the houses in the village were nearly covered up, and the mountains were awfully sheeted in white. On the first evening of the fall I looked down and laughed to see the children all flying home, shouting and shrieking with glee —"

"Such fun!" cried Leo.

"Don't I wish I had been there!"

"Yes, it was great fun for awhile," continued the rain-child; "but very soon everybody was safely shut up indoors, and then I gave way

to my most fantastic gambols, "and danced and whirled and spun round the world."

"I know the way," said Leo, "I have seen you at it many a time; though I didn't know it was you, you know!"

"I kept on like that," said the rain-child, "till the mountains completely lost their senses, and the earth fell into a swoon. Then I held my breath a little, and peered down through the hurly-burly; and what do you think I saw then ?"

"I don't know," said Leo, eagerly.

"Ah," said the rain-child, "there I saw my two little favourite children from the village, wandering along in the wilderness of snow, very far from home, staggering and falling, and struggling upon their feet again, and clinging together and crying and moaning. They had come out to meet their father, as usual, and lost their way in the snow. Nobody was near them, and they were almost worn out with cold and fatigue and terror."

"Oh, dear," said Leo, "this is dreadful! I hope they didn't die. If you killed them, I can never speak to you again."

"You needn't talk like that," said the rain-child. "I was quite as sorry about it as you can be, but I don't know what you could do yourself, if you had a snow-storm to work with."

"That is true," said Leo; "but do go on.'

"I was in such a state of distress," said the rain-child, "that I howled and shrieked frantically all round the mountains, but that did no good at all."

"No," said Leo.

"At last the poor little things fell down and dropped asleep." "That was good," said Leo.

"No, indeed, it was the worst thing could happen. They were sure to sleep themselves to death. I tore myself to pieces a thousand times in my despair over them; till at last, oh! what joy I felt when I heard the dear, friendly bark of a dog, and saw one coming scouring along, snuffing and puffing with his warm breath streaming on the air, and a lantern round his neck. He soon found the children, and began licking them all over, and barking to waken them; and quickly following him came their father, the chamois-hunter, and some of his friends. They carried my little darlings home, and put them in bed, and they were soon as well as if nothing had happened. The storm went on, of course-I couldn't stop it; but I can tell you I shrieked and laughed my delight round the mountains for three whole days. without stopping after that."

"I am so glad the children were saved," said Leo. "But what did the people think of your laughing ?"

"Oh, they didn't know the difference," said the rain-child. "They only said: 'What a savage snow-storm!" "

"And are you sure the children are quite well now ?” asked Leo. "The last thing I did before I left the country," said the rainchild, "was to look down at the dear little pair at their play. I should never have been happy again if I had taken the beautiful rosy colour out of their lips for ever, and the sparkle out of their eyes.”

"You're not a bad fellow, I see," said Leo, "though at first I was afraid you were. But I hope you didn't frighten the poor little things again by looking down at them."

"No, I was wrapped up in a lovely white cloud then," said the rain-child, "as soft and bright as could be. Nobody could be afraid of me then. But now my brothers must tell you their stories.'

"Mine is a terrible story," said the second rain-child, "and I would rather not say much about it. I brought a torrent with me, you know, and I can tell you it did not scruple to do damage. We swept away a whole village in one night-men, women, and children, houses, trees, cattle, everything was destroyed by the morning's dawn."

Leo shrank away and covered his face with his hands.

"You cruel creature!" he said, "how could you do such a dreadful thing ?"

"You needn't blame me," said the second rain-child, "I only perform my appointed work. I should have been very glad, indeed, if anything could have saved the people. I'm not at all proud of what I have done, and shall be glad if my next brother has got something more pleasant to tell."

"I haven't much to say, good or bad," said the third rain-child. "I nipped the fruit-blossoms with the frost, as I said I should, and I pinched people's noses shockingly; but I also sweetened the air for spring, and made beautiful pictures for the children on their window-panes."

"I'd like to hear what these three others have been doing," said Leo. "They seemed to have better hearts than yours when you were all setting out."

"Hearts have nothing to do with it," said the fourth rain-child. "Our hearts are all good enough, but we must do our duty. Your mother's heart is very good, although sometimes she must punish you. I, for one, am right glad when I get a happy task to do, and so also, I am sure, are my brothers."

"Tell me what you have been about," said Leo.

"I wrapped myself up in a delicate cloud," said the fourth rainchild, "and floated away, away over the burning desert. I knew well that I should have a chance of doing good before long. As I lay across the heavens, gazing down upon the scorched sands, I suddenly saw the figure of a lonely traveller, making his way painfully along the terrible plains. His brow was blistered, his tongue swollen and parched in his mouth; his poor heart throbbed wildly with the fever that burned in his veins. After watching him a long time I saw that he grew dizzy and faint, and he flung himself at last from his horse, and fell with a groan to the ground.

"I looked and saw the cause of his new anguish: he had reached the oasis where once had welled a spring. The waters were dried, and had vanished away. Thinking of his loving little children at home he laid himself down and expected to die.

Have mercy, O God!' he cried, and send me a drop of water. But if not, Thy will be done!'

"Now I knew my time had arrived, and I sent forth the delicious

rain gliding through the fevered air like God's own benediction from heaven. The spring was replenished, and the waters welled to the traveller's lips. Falling on his knees, he drank and prayed; and my gentle rain went with him all the remainder of his journey, and brought him in safety to his children and his home."

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Beautiful!" cried Leo, "I am so glad you went down from here to show me what you could do."

A city was on fire, and I put out the flames," said the fifth rainchild. "There was terrible confusion and dismay, but nobody was lost. That is the most important bit of work I have had on my hands since I left home."

"And I have been busy the entire time watering flowers, dropping dews on young growing seeds, and doing many little useful offices all round the world," said the sixth rain-child. "By a great mistake, I very nearly spoiled a fine harvest; but fortunately I was able to pull up in time, so that no great damage has been done."

"That is pleasant," said Leo. "I really am very glad to know you all, and to hear so much about everything you do. I am sure now there are many other things you could tell me about."

"Plenty," said the rain-children. "How would you like to be introduced to the great King Storm ?"

"I should like it immensely," said Leo, with sparkling eyes.

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"But you will have to travel a good way higher over the hills of mist," said the children. However, if you are not afraid, we can pull you through somehow, seeing that there are six of us to help you.'

"I am not at all afraid," said Leo, eagerly; and they all began to

move.

CHAPTER IX.

AT HOME WITH KING STORM.

AWAY went Leo and the rain-children over the mist hills and down into a dim, grey valley, where nothing was seen but long shadows, and paths of pale light streaming across the wilderness.

"What strange place is this ?" asked Leo, shivering.

"This is the Calm that comes before the Storm," said the rainchildren.

"I don't like it at all," said Leo. "It is a dreadful place. rather we could get to the Storm at once."

I'd

The rain-children answered by a shower of laughter. "Perhaps you may not like him so well when you come near him," they said.

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"Why?" asked Leo. "Is his Majesty so very awful?"

Rather," said one of the rain-children; "especially in some of his moods. If you happen to meet him with a hurricane on his shoulder, I advise you to look out for squalls!"