their Countess is not of noble birth, and wish me to choose another wife."

All this was untrue; every one in the land loved and honored Griselda for her gentle manner and kind deeds.

"Now, Griselda," continued the Earl, "my new wife is already on her way to the castle, and I wish you to give up your place to her. Are you ready to obey me?”

66

Yes, my lord, I am," replied Griselda. "From the first I have felt myself unworthy to be your wife. I thank you for the honor you have done me all these years, and today I will return to my father's cottage." "Not so fast," said the Earl. "My new wife is very young; she will have to be taught many things before she can understand her duties as mistress of this castle. I shall want you to stay here and show the Countess all that she wishes to know. Are you willing to serve where you have so long been mistress?"

"I am ready to do your will," said Griselda, "and I pray that God will give your new wife much happiness. If I might say one thing, it would be to ask

L

you to deal gently with her. She may find it hard to be as patient as I have tried to be.'

"Is she

"I have

The day came for the arrival of the new Countess. Griselda had worked hard, and all was ready to welcome the young wife. There were crowds to greet her as she passed beneath the gateway, with a noblelooking boy riding by her side. not beautiful?" said the Earl. never seen so fair a bride," answered Griselda, "and I trust that God will bless you both to the end of your lives." "It is enough, Griselda mine," said the I have greatly tried your goodHow steadfast you have been! How bravely you have kept your word during these long years of trial! You are my own dear wife, and no one else shall ever take your place."

Earl.

ness.

Griselda trembled as she looked from her husband to the beautiful maiden standing near. "I do not understand," she cried. "Tell me who this noble young lady is, and why you have brought her to the castle!"

"She is your own daughter," replied the Earl, with a smile, "and the boy who has come with her is your son."

When Griselda heard this, she would have fallen, if her husband had not supported her. Then, weeping for joy, she held out her arms and embraced the children whom she had thought to be dead, kissing them many times and looking lovingly at their fair young faces. Then the Earl and Countess entered the castle with their son and daughter, and sorrow never again came to Patient Griselda.

Selected.

THE AMBULANCE CALL OF THE SEA

THERE was a heavy fog that night, and the great steamship Republic was blowing its vast horn. Boom! boom! went the sound of the warning note into the thick cloud. Suddenly, out of the dense mist, loomed the sharp prow of the Florida; there was a fierce collision; in pushed the smaller boat through the stout side of the greater, crushing the walls of staterooms and letting the flood of water into the

engine room itself. Then the attacking boat backed out, and in an instant was lost to sight and sound in the black night. In poured the water, all the lights on the ship went out, and there were the five hundred passengers in the terror of the dark.

They kept their senses. They knew that a panic would only bring calamity upon them, which by order and courage might yet be avoided. The captain was in secure command, the

obedient to orders.

crew were

What could be done in such dire distress was done. Then there remained only the tremendous difficulty of patience, the hard task of waiting in the face of constantly increasing peril. The passengers made the best of it. They talked quietly, and tried to laugh. One lady combed her hair, remarking that if she must die, she would at least look as presentable as she could.

Meanwhile, up aloft in the wireless telegraph office, a young operator named Jack Binns was calling for assistance. C. Q. D.! C. Q. D.! went his signal out into

space. It is the ambulance call of the sea. It means that there is great distress, and summons all who hear it to the rescue. It has the right of way over all other messages. "C. Q. D.!" said Binns. "The Steamship Republic has been rammed in latitude 40.57, longitude 70, twenty-six miles south of Nantucket.' It came to wireless offices on shore, and they repeated it in all directions. It came to wireless offices on ships, and from north and east a dozen craft began to feel their way through the fog and the night to the place where the Republic lay wounded. At last the Baltic came in sight.

Then without noise, or haste, or any disorder, the people were transferred from one ship to the other. They were lowered down the steep side into the tossing sea, and rowed across the high waves, and pulled up the steep side of the rescuer. Nobody pushed his neighbor aside to be the first to get into a place of safety. Thus through twelve anxious hours the work went on. They were all saved. The captain and the mate stood on the