ite a hero. It is a good thing ever to have something or some one above us, at whom we can gaze, and after whom we can strive. It should be our aim through life t

to imitate and love, when the greatest hero

ischief for the fun of the thing, but was far too noble-spirited to do a mean or cowardly action, and would scorn to take an unjust and bullying advantage over a boy who was weaker or younger than himself. Some boys think they are exhibiting a manliness of character if they tease and torment those who are unable to protect themselv

for that matter, anything that was his, and he in his turn was welcome to anything I possessed. If he saw a big boy bullying me, he wasted no words in useless remonstrances, but instead, off with his jacket and fought him at once. You must not think him a quarrelsome boy, who always wanted to be fighting; nothing of the sort, but he cherished a firm conviction-and I don't think he was far wrong-that big, hulking bullies deserved no better treatment than that contained in good, hard

ng teeth in his arm, and almost bit it through. Our mother was in a terrible way, and wanted to have the dog killed, but nobody knew whose it was, or where it had gone. The doctor burned the wound; and although he turned pale, our Ned did not cry out, but stood it, as the doctor admiringly said, 'like a hero.' When it was bandaged up he put on his jacket, saying, 'Well, that's over.' Mother did not appear to think so; she looked troub

lied our Ned, 'so long as it keeps me

ne of divine right. 'Depend upon it, Archie,' he would say, 'a boy who would strike a girl is a mean-spirited puppy, and a man who would strike a woman is a cowardly cur, and one deserves drowning, and the other hanging! Why, I read that even dogs respect the sex, and no respectable dog would so far forge

brother, she ran to him for protection, while her tormentor scuttled away equally fast in an opposite direction, his ears tingling in anticipation of the coming correction. Was a larger and older girl threatened by some ill-natured brother, or brother's chum, she felt herself safe if our Ned

e flushed up as he saw the man's action, and clenching his hands, he was rushing forward, when I caught him by the jacket, imploring him to stay. He flashed a look, half indignant, half surprised, back at me, exclaiming, 'What, Archie?' and was off. The stick h

amazement, while the stick which had been in the act of descending remained suspended in the air. The man, how

or I'll be the death of you,' said the

not to strike the woman,'

nfuriated fellow; 'wh

then, for you

where he fell all in a heap, after which the fellow walked off in the direction of the town we had just left. I hastened to my brother, and seeing

lf he had done battle, bending over him. 'He's not dead; untie his neckerchief, and give him some air; he's only

k homeward; he was a little shaky on the legs, and was co

kick his shins; it was all grip and tumble. I think he must have hit me on the head, it feels rather so

heart throb with pride, and a look of pleasure kindled in our

g inland, the sight of Old Father Ocean, in calm or in storm, was like the face of a dear old friend which we hail with delight. We usually contrived to make the best of our six weeks' stay, and would crowd as muc

and with the exception of his old housekeeper-whom we boys half worried to death-and his female servants, he saw no 'women folk,' all the year round, but our mother. He was one of the right sort, alw

ith all the fishermen, and speedily became acquainted with the inside of each cottage, and the respective qualities of each boat, as we were with the

t, and down on the beach long before any of our uncle's domestics were astir, and as soon as the boatmen appeared with whom we were goin

arts, wrinkled our brows, or made our spirits look sadly from out our eyes; no, everything was bright, and tipped with the golden light of the morning of life

though the earth were thirsty, and was opening its mouth for water. But for a visit to the sea coast the weather could not have been more suitable, at least so Ned and I thought. We had but a week longer to stay, when, one evening, the weather gave unmistakable signs of a change. 'There will be a storm to-night,' said the fishermen, as they hauled their boats up high and d

fearful roaring of the sea, which gathered itself up in mighty waves and dashed against the tall cliffs as if with the intention of washing the whole earth away, added t

or we noticed a cluster of men making frantic gestures, and pointing eagerly seaward. Following with our eyes the direction their hands indicated, we were startled by seeing a large vessel driving rapidly on shore. She was in evident and imminent peril, the wind had torn what canvass she carried into ribbons, while the crew appeared to have lost all control over her movements, the vessel not a

divided among themselves, some being for, and some against making the attempt; and words ran high, while gun after gun came booming across the water, each sounding nearer than its predecessor. At length one old boatman shouted: 'It shall never be said I stood by and saw my fellow-creatures drown before my eyes without making an effort to save the

but I doubt whether he heard my voice, so fearfully loud roared both wind and sea. Just at that moment my uncle came up and inquired for Ned. I could make no a

houted my uncle, franticall

say?' screamed a

, I shall never forget that face. Years and years have gone by since then, but that white face, so full of horror, haunts me still. We tried to get her to go back home, but we m

those on board, and another showed that some were being transported from the vessel into the boat; then the rope was seen to be cast off and the men commenced rowing back to shore. Would they ever reach it in safety? How long the time appe

e from death. How eagerly we bent over each, as they were brought to shore, to see if our Ned was the fortunate one, and how heavy grew our hearts as each inspection proved fruitless. Seven had been thus rescued from a watery grave-a woman among the number-ere our Ned was brought to shore, and then the sea had beaten the brave life out of him, and it was only the senseless body we received, while in his arms, and held

ently round, with their caps in their hand, and their weather-beaten features working convulsively, while the clergyman read the burial service. The little child was l

r Ned's death gave her: she drooped and drooped, unt

hich he said were suggested by poor Ned's death. They were not of much account, but I

nds are i

ves are wh

in falls

me goes c

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onward

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rage a

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ythin

ip creaks

s and

oaths, and sa

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her d

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lossy

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d to th

sightl

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up at

he proverb; and the old heathens used to say that those who died young the gods love