somewhere about the house. But Taddy, when accused, declared his innocence in the strongest terms; and the house was searched in vain.

38. Should they advertise for the lost bonds? "But that will bring it all out that we had them," said Mr. Ducklow. "And that you lost them by being so foolish as to leave them at the Bank," said Mrs. Ducklow.

They spent the evening in mutual complaints and faultfinding; and a night of troubled rest followed.

PART IV.-Happy Ending of the Story.

1. Before resorting to public measures for the recovery of the stolen property, the Ducklows thought it would be best to inform their friends of their loss, in a private way. So, early the next morning, they drove over to Reuben's.

2. The returned soldier had gained in health, but not in spirits. The flush of hope and happiness at finding himself at home once more with his loved ones had passed away. He had had time to reflect; and every moment reminded him how soon his cherished home was to be taken from him. He looked at his wife and children, and strove hard to stifle the emotions that arose at the thought of their future.

3. The sweet serenity of manner, together with the faith, and patience, and cheerfulness, with which Matilda moved about the house, pursuing her daily tasks, and tenderly waiting upon him, deepened at once his love and his anxiety. He was watching her thus when the Ducklows entered, with countenances mournful as the grave.

4. Matilda, turning to her husband, and, laying her soothing hands upon his hot forehead, told him he must cheer up. "Do try to have more faith," she said. "We shall be taken care of, I'm sure."

The Ducklows could not be ignorant of what Reuben and Matilda had been talking. "Reuben," said Mrs. Duck

low, "we should have helped you, and did take steps toward it-"

5. "In fact," interrupted Mr. Ducklow, "you've met with a great misfortune, Reuben. Unknown to yourself you've met with a great misfortune! Your Ma Ducklow knows-"

Yes, Reuben, the very day you came home, your Pa Ducklow made an investment for your benefit. I didn't mention it-”

"Because," said Ducklow, as she faltered, "we wanted to surprise you; we were keeping it a secret till the right time; then we were going to make it a pleasant surprise to you."

6. "What in the name of common sense are you talking about?" cried Reuben.

"Coupon bonds!" groaned Ducklow. "Three thousand dollars in coupon bonds! The money had been lent, but I wanted to make a good investment for you-”

"But the bonds!" eagerly demanded Reuben, with trembling hopes, just as Miss Beswick, with her shawl over her head, entered the room.

7. "We were talking about our loss-Reuben's loss," said Mrs. Ducklow, in a manner that showed her anxiety to be on good terms with that terrible woman.

"Very well! don't let me interrupt." And Miss Beswick, slipping the shawl from her head, sat down.

Then Mr. Ducklow went on, and, aided by an occasional remark from Mrs. Ducklow, succeeded in telling a sufficiently plausible and straightforward story.

8. "Hem!" coughed Miss Beswick, stretching up her long neck, and clearing her throat. "So those bonds which you had bought for Reuben were in the house the very night I called!"

66

Yes, Miss Beswick," replied Mrs. Ducklow; "and that's what made us feel so uncomfortable to hear you talk the way you did."

9. "Hem!" again. "'Twas too bad! You ought to have . told me. You actually bought the bonds,-bought them for Reuben, did you?"

"Certainly certainly," said Ducklow.

"To be sure we did," said Mrs. Ducklow.

"We designed them for his benefit,-a surprise, when the right time should come," said both together.

10. "Hem! well!" said Miss Beswick. those boys, Matilda."

"Hem! Let in

Matilda opened the door, and in walked Master Dick Beswick, (nephew of Miss Beswick,) followed by Master Taddy. "Thaddeus! what are you here for?" demanded the adopted parents.

11. "Because I said so," remarked Miss Beswick. "Step along, boys. Hold up your head, Taddy; you're not going to be hurt. Mr. Ducklow, that boy knows something about Reuben's coupon bonds."

"Thaddeus!" exclaimed both at once, "did you touch those coupon bonds?"

"Didn't know what they were," whimpered Taddy. "Did you take them?"-and Mrs. Ducklow grasped his shoulder.

12. "Hands off, if you please," said Miss Beswick, with rather marked courtesy.

"Where are they now? Where are they?" cried Ducklow.

"Don't know," said Taddy.

"What did you do with them? What did you want of them?" gasped Mrs. Ducklow.

"Wanted them to cover my kite," confessed the trembling Taddy.

"Cover your kite! your kite!" shrieked the Ducklows. "Didn't you know any better?"

13. "Didn't think you'd care," said Taddy, "so I took them, and put some newspapers in their place." "Did you cover the kite with them?"

"No; I was scared when you made such a fuss about them, and I sold them to Dick."

"Yes," spoke up Dick, stoutly,-"for six marbles,-and one was a bull's-eye, and one agate, and two alleys."

"And the bonds!" cried Ducklow :-" did you destroy them ?"

14. "Likely I'd destroy them, after I'd paid six marbles for them!" said Dick. "I wanted them to cover my kite with. But Aunt Beswick caught me at it, and made me tell where I got them; and then she made Taddy and me come right over here."

Again, in an agony of impatience, Mr. Ducklow demanded to know where the bonds were at that moment. "If Taddy'll give me back the marbles—” Dick began.

15. "That'll do," said Miss Beswick. "Reuben will give you twenty marbles; for I believe you said they were Reuben's bonds, Mr. Ducklow ?"

"Yes, that is—" stammered the adopted father. "Eventually," struck in the adopted mother.

16. "Now look here! Are they Reuben's bonds, or are they not?" And there was that in Miss Beswick's look that said, "If they are not Reuben's, then your eyes shall never behold them again."

“Here,

"Of course they're Reuben's!"-" We intended it all the while."-"His benefit," chorused Pa and Ma Ducklow. "Well, now it's understood," said Miss Beswick. Reuben, are your coupon bonds." And, drawing them from her bosom, with formal politeness she placed the precious documents in the glad soldier's agitated hands.

17. "Glory" cried Reuben, assuring himself that they were genuine. Matilda, we've a home now! Miss Beswick, you angel from the skies, order a bushel and a half of marbles for Dick, and have the bill sent to me! Oh! Pa Ducklow! you never did a nobler or more generous thing in all your life." And the soldier, overcome by his feelings, sank back into the arms of his wife.

"We always told you we would do well by you, you remember?" said Mr. Ducklow, triumphantly,—himself fairly overcome with emotion, as he saw the joy of the happy Reuben and Matilda.

18. The news went abroad, and everybody rejoiced—the Ducklows with the rest; for selfishness with them, as it is with many, was rather a thing of habit, than a fault of the heart.

"Won't you do well by me some time, too?" teased little Taddy. "I don't care for coupon bonds, but I do want a new drum."

19. "Yes, yes, my son!" said Ducklow, patting the boy's shoulder. And the drum was bought.

Taddy was delighted. But he did not know what made the Ducklows so much happier, so much more gentle and kind, than formerly. Do you?

CHAPTER XXIX.-AROUND THE WORLD.—No. 15.

FROM GIBRALTAR TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

I.-Madeira and the Canaries.

1. We left Gibraltar on the 25th of May, and, after a pleasant voyage of eight hundred miles, stopped at Funchal," the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira. This rocky, mountainous island is a great resort for invalids from the countries of Southern Europe. We learn that the air is fresh and salubrious, and that there is remarkable equability of climate throughout the year.

2. We found, as Dr. Edson had told us, that the island is but little more than a mass of rock, yet that every spot

a Pronounced Foon-shäl'.