Year: 1872

named. We have never such gales
on that rs sweep the Atlantic, but
only TIE gentlest westerly breezes"
The New Zealander shivered as he
spoke, and drew his wrap closer over
his knees. "We have the most
charming climate in New Zealand"
he went on; eve are never too hot,
and never too cold. In fact, we
never think of the weather. And
the soil is the most fertile in the
world"


"Pity it is such an out-of-the-way
part of the earth that nobody can
live there" said Miss Armour.


"Beg your pardon, miss; there
are several English towns of thirty
thousand inhabitants each; and we
never think of ourselves as being
out-of-the-way, but rather feel sorry
for those who live so far Oft, re-
turned the other, bending his tall
figure earnestly forward.


Rosa leaned her pretty head to-
ward him in a confding attitude Of
interest, and laughed: "Oh, so you
are the people, and wisdom is going
to die with you" said she. "But
what do you do out there in the heart
of the universe ?"


eve dig gold for one thing, and
raise sheep for another-millions
of them; from thirty to forty yes
sells are constantly plying to England
with the tallow and pressed wool.


"What do you do with all that
mutton ?" asked Rosa, looking idly
at the light in her ring, and then as
idly at the light in the speakers
eyes.


"We use what we can" was the
reply; "and som etimes, [ am sorry
to say, we bury the hesh-not usual
ly; but sometimes an order will come
to one farmer for a thousand sheep,
if you please; and all he can do is to
clip off the wool, get out the fat, and
| DuTy Jl6 CulCuSSCs'


What pity the meat can't be
sent to the hungry poor at home !!
Why don't somebody condense it as
they do the beef in Texas" l said,
in my practical way.


"In good time / dare say some
body will; but we can't do everything
at once" replied the New Zealander,
looking with sudden interest at the
game of shui1lebeard being placed be-
side us.


Just then along came the ships
surgeon, n blonde youth in uniform,
with his hair parted in the middle.


"Miss Armour" said he, the
gun is to be fred at the bow; will
you come and see it done"


Miss Armour started up at once,
turning the same half conhding
glance and ready smile upon him
she had been giving us.


Il am agoing to leave my rug with
you: | shall come back, said she,
beaming over her shoulder upon me,
as she took the surgeons arm and
went away.


The New Zealander looked after
her, tried to console himself by
drawing his wrap i'll another fold
across his knees, did not succeed,
and finally got up and went away
OF course 1t was not worth while to
make himself agreeable to a middle
aged woman in hood and water
proof. SO, / sat, and looked at the
likeness OF a lake among the sunset
clounds, and tried to decide whether
| had better take oatmeal cruel or
biscuit tea for my supper; wonder
ing the while, half unconsciOusly.
about the old chord in memory that
was always being struck by certain
musical ring in the New Healandor's
voice.


After an hour or so the gun was
fired; and presently Miss Armour
came back, with the disorder of the
strong sea-wind in her hair, and its
freshness in her pretty pink cheeks.
i've come us | said" she mur-
INJURED, dropping at my feet again,
and smiling up, as though she had
got where she best loved to be-iust
such q Smile as she would have given
to the stokers down in the engine
room, or to the ships cat But it
was lovely to look upon while it last,
ed; and we middle-aged people have
learned to warm ourselves in any
chance ray of sunlight, without stop
ping to consider whether it is likely
to be perpetual.


This time the bit of sunshine did
: not stay long, for there came an ar
= st with his sketch book; and when
Miss Armour had sufficiently admir-.
: ed his graphic peocillings OF the cap
tain, and the quartermaster, and the
, sea-sick occupant OF an upper birth
it was time to throw the log; ano
| so he bore her off, to find out by hei
5 own eyes whether we were actually
! going at the rate of thirteen knots


or only twelve and half.
: That was how the days went. Th'
i passengers read and paced the deck


played games and guessed riddles
e and were always hungry; the pilo
t stood steadily and firm at the wheel
r the sailors ran up aud down abou
V the rigging like over grown spiders
Il aud were forever securing and scrub


bing, tying and UNITING, drawing "
r and letting down. Thus at last w
had come safely almost to our desir
al bavan With foir calling we wer