all worked with a will, they only proceeded at the rate of a mile a day. The men now suffered the greatest hardships, and had to sleep in tents which were pitched on the ice. At last sickness broke out, and the interpreter Petersen was so badly frost-bitten, that he died. Seeing the impossibility of getting to the Pole by this

route, Captain Markham determined to return, and after incredible difficulties succeeded in getting back to the ship.

13. It now being evident that further progress to the north was absolutely impossible, Captain Nares decided to return home. The ice, however, remained firm until the 20th of July, when it began to show signs of breaking up. The ice around the ship was now blown up with gunpowder, and on the 31st of July, when a strong south-west wind set in, the Alert left her winter quarters.

On the 11th of August she fell in with the Discovery, and both ships made the best of their way southwards.

14. After many more dangers were passed the ships reached the Danish colonies of Greenland, and put on shore the dogs and the surviving interpreter. The coast of Iceland was reached on the 27th of August, 1876, and on the 2d of November the ships re-entered Portsmouth harbour.

15. Although the expedition was not able to approach within 600 miles of the North Pole, yet many scientific discoveries were made, and the question was settled of the impracticability of reaching to the Pole by the route that had been chosen.

succession, one following an

other.

gales, storms of wind. interpreters, translators of a spoken language.

characteristics, special features. boulders, large roundish stones. drifted, floated.

imminent, threatening. commodious, roomy.

floes, large masses of floating ice.

trended, inclined.
undulating, swelling.
amputated, cut off.

zero, the point marked with 0,
above and below which tem-
perature is measured on a ther-
mometer.
observatories, places from which
the heavenly bodies are ob-
served.

routine, ordinary duties.

Where did the ships meet after their separation by the storm? What settlement did they soon afterwards reach, and what was taken on board? Name the most northerly settlement in the world. What interfered with the progress of the ships in Smith's Sound? Describe the appearance of the ice there. Where did the Discovery winter? Describe the appearance of the land after passing Robeson Channel. What prevented their progress? Where did the Alert anchor? In what latitude? What plants were found growing even here? By what means was the region around the ship explored? What was the temperature? How long was the sun absent? What was the ordinary routine of the men each day? How were the evenings spent? Describe the attempt made to reach the North Pole in the following spring. Why was it abandoned? How was the Alert freed from the ice? On what date did she rejoin the Discovery? When did the ships reach home? What were the results of the expedition?

THE RETROSPECT.

1. Whilst lettered travellers delight to roam
The time-worn temple and the polished dome;
Stray with the Arab o'er the wreck of time,
Where erst Palmyra's towers arose sublime;
Or mark the lazy Turk's lethargic pride,
And Grecian slavery on Ilyssus' side;
Oh! be it mine to flee from empire's strife,
And mark the changes of domestic life;
See the fallen scenes where once I bore my part,
Where every change of fortune strikes the heart.

2. Oft have my footsteps roamed the sacred spot,
Where heroes, kings, and minstrels, sleep forgot;
Oft traced the mouldering castle's ivied wall,
Or ruined convent, tottering to its fall;
Whilst sad reflection loved the solemn gloom,
Paus'd o'er the pile, and pondered on the tomb;
Yet never has my bosom felt such pain,
As when I saw my native spot again!
For every long-lost pleasure rushed to view;
For every long-past sorrow rose anew:
Where whilome all were friends, I stood alone,
Unknowing all I saw, of all I saw unknown!

3. Village, no pilgrim ever crept around
With more emotion Sion's sacred ground,
Than filled my heart, as slow I sauntered o'er
Those fields my infant steps had trod of yore;
Where I had loitered out the summer hour,
Chased the gay butterfly, and culled the flower;
Sought the swift arrow's erring course to trace,
Or with my equals vied amid the chase.

4. Cold was the morn, and bleak the wintry blast Howled o'er the meadow, when I viewed thee last; My bosom bounded, as I wandered round

Each well-known field, each long-remembered ground.
And as I passed along the well-trod way,
Where whilome, two by two, we walked to play,
I saw the garden ground as usual railed—
A fence, to fetch my ball, I oft had scaled-
Oh! it recalled a thousand scenes to view,
A thousand joys, to which I long had bid adieu.
5. Silent and sad the scene! I heard no more
Mirth's honest cry, and childhood's cheerful roar;
No longer echoed round the shout of glee;

It seemed as though the world were changed, like mc.
There, where my little hands were wont to rear,
With pride, the earliest salad of the year;

Where never idle weed to grow was seen;
There the rank nettle reared its head obscene.
I too have felt the hand of fate severe-
In those calm days I never knew to fear;
No future views alarmed my gloomy breast,
No anxious pangs my sickening soul possest!
No grief consumed me, for I did not know
Increase of reason was increase of woe.

6. Silent and sad awhile I paused, to gaze
On the fallen dwelling of my earlier days.
Long dwelt the eye on each remembered spot,
Each long-left scene-long left, but not forgot!
Past is the day of glory! past the day,

When here the man of learning held his sway;
No more, when howl the wintry storms around,
Within thy hall is heard the mirthful sound;
No more disport around the infant crew,

And high in health the mimic game pursue;
No more to strike the well-aimed ball delight,
Or rear aloft with joy the buoyant kite.

7. Seat of my earlier, happier days, farewell!
Thy memory still within this breast shall dwell;
Still as I journey life's rough road along,
Or sojourn sad the college gloom among,
Will fond remembrance paint those early days,
When all I wished was speedy holidays!

Palmyra, a celebrated city of
ancient Syria.

Ilyssus, a river running near
Athens in Greece.
minstrels, wandering musicians.
convent, a house in which per-
sons live who have retired from
the world.

-Southey.

whilome, long ago.

pilgrim, a traveller to places of
religious celebrity.
Sion, a hill in Jerusalem.
scaled, climbed.
adieu, farewell.
disport, play.

sojourn, reside for a short time.

MOZART.

1. Many of the greatest musicians have been very celebrated in their childhood for their musical talents, but none of them have excelled Johann Wolfgang Mozart. He was born in Salzburg, in January, 1756. When only three years old he listened intently to the lessons which his father, Leopold Mozart, was giving to his sister, Maria Anna, aged seven years. Mozart could then play thirds and other intervals on the harpsichord, and would smile at the beautiful sounds he produced. When he was a year older, he was taught some minuets and airs, which he learned with so much facility, that half an hour was sufficient for a minuet, and an hour for other pieces.