pleasures as she desired. She had her books and her garden, she had congenial work, which was not so much work, as the spontaneous language of her being, and every day her hand grew more skilful in expressing the conceptions of the spirit that guided it. And though she lived a life as retired as a nun's, she did not forget the lesson she had learned that dark November day, six years ago, when she knelt at the window and listened to the hymn of St. Bernard, as the funeral train passed by. She had made her own burden light by striving to lessen the burdens that others had to bear. Many a homeless victim of want, many a wretched hope-abandoned outcast found the way to that quiet dwelling, and none ever came there without receiving help and comfort. Sometimes Claire would drive up in a handsome carriage, and looking as gay, as sweet, as beautiful, as ever, get out and trip into the grey old house, her rich bright dress, her golden hair, and lovely looks making "a sunshine in the shady place." She would give Marguerite and Monica a hasty kiss each, repeat for the thousandth time her entreaties that they would leave that gloomy old house, and come and live with her; and then, half laughing, half angry with Marguerite for refusing her con sent, and wondering again and again how she could bear to live such a dull and lonely life, she would kiss her once more, say a few loving words, trip back to her carriage, and drive away, like a beautiful princess in a fairy tale, escaping from some grim enchanted dwelling. Marguerite, though she loved her as fondly as ever, never went to visit Claire. She lived in an atmosphere of artificial glitter and excitement, of show and seeming, in which Marguerite could not have existed for a day. But if she had been in want, or in sorrow, she would have found Marguerite's love as faithful and as tender as in the days when she had knelt by her bedside and sung her to sleep, with all a mother's fondness stirring her girlish heart. Maurice, Marguerite never saw, and when Claire talked of him as the most fashionable artist of his day, the courted companion of men and women of rank, the idol of drawingrooms, she felt it hard to believe that this could be that Maurice who had sat beside her in the dear old garden, planning a life rich with all the divinest possibilities of man, while she listened with undoubting faith, and believed that to share that life, and follow where he led, would be the noblest destiny earth could give to woman. (To be continued.) Where Falsehood shows its venomed sting, Thou, worthy of thy sacred trust. Nature's designed interpreter, Her great High Priest, her Prince of Love, Whose hymnings, Hope-inspired, stir The pride of earth, the heavens above. A high, a holy mission thine; Be brave, and battle for the right; Mount up, as one whose flight divine, Like morning's, makes the darkness bright. Thine is the heart that grows not old, The sweet eternal youth reigns there, Mild as the Zephyr, and as bold As thunder when it shakes the air. Teacher of Beauty, Goodness, Joy, Calm joy, and mirth that stirs the brain; In manhood great, in soul the boy Thine is the mission, too, to preach The law of Kindness far and wide, The hate of hatred, and to teach Forgiveness, blest and glorified. Exponent of the higher laws, On thy firm rock of safety stand, And leave the human rooks and daws To rear their temples on the sand. Man of the restless brain and heart, From all the pomp that passes by; Unfathomed by the common herd; Dead living, living most when dead, Whole nations pondering o'er thy word. THE HE growing interest, which is at present | Royal London in 1849, there were 17 manifested in Yachting in all civilized Yacht Clubs established in various parts countries, will warrant an appeal to Cana- of the United Kingdom-ten of which dians on behalf of a great national amuse- were English, four Irish, two Scotch and ment-one which has no equal in the popu- one Welsh. During the years 1848-9 a lar enthusiasm which it creates, the health- great deal of enterprise was shown in invigorating exercise which it furnishes, and the construction of a large number of firstthe noble sport to which it gives birth. class yachts, which were unsurpassed for completeness of outfit and perfection of workmanship. Up to this time Yacht Clubs were confined to the United Kingdom, but the success of yachtsmen in the Old World stimulated kindred spirits in the New to give their attention to a now national amusement, and in June, 1848, the "New York Yacht Club" was organized. Little was known in England about American yachting beyond the The history of Yachting yet remains to be written —and, as a consequence, one is compelled partially to grope in the dark in the search for early and reliable data concerning the origin and subsequent development of Yachting and Yacht Clubs. The Royal Cork Yacht Club, founded in 1720, heads the list of regularly organized Yacht Clubs ; and from that date to the founding of the performances of the New York pilot boats, which had long been famous for their speed and sea-going qualities. Previous to the year 1851, judging from the records of that date, English yacht-builders and yachtsmen were firm in the belief that they possessed the fleetest yachts and the best skilled sailors in the world. Repeated triumphs evidently confirmed their right to be thus considered, and to furnish grounds for the unqualified statement made in the "Yacht List" for 1851, that "yacht-building was an art in which England was unrivalled, and that she was distinguished pre-eminently and alone for the perfection of science in handling them." These were strong words, and yet they doubtless conveyed the honest judgment, not only of the writer, but of foreign yachtsmen generally. The success. of yachting in the United Kingdom led to the building of a yacht in the United States, to test the powers of the long conceded English champions. It was decided to construct a yacht, cross the ocean with her, and challenge a trial of speed in a contest open to all nations. The originality of the proposal was only equalled by the originality of the model and general outfit of the yacht, which was at once built. In view of the fact that skilful yacht-builders in England, for nearly half a century, had been constantly striving to produce fast yachts, and with abundant experience to guide them, the successful defeat of their favourite system surely marks an important era in the history of Yachting. "No Englishman," says a writer in Times in 1851, "ever dreamed that any nation could produce a yacht with the least pretentions to match the efforts of White, Camper, Ratsey and other eminent builders." The English system of yacht building was that of deep draught, narrow breadth of beam, straight water lines forward, and with the greatest breadth of beam abreast the foremast. The weakness of this old system was demonstrated to the entire satisfaction of the most obstinate and incredulous, by the splendid victory of the America in 1857, in the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta for the Queen's Cup. To George Steers, of New York, belongs the the credit of inventing-for invention it really was—a new system of yacht-modelling. He zealously contended that breadth of beam furnished the best buoyancy, and that hollow water lines forward, with the greatest breadth of beam abaft the mainmast, should supersede the old system. Steers believed that sails could force a yacht over the water more easily and swiftly than through it-and so his system was distinguished by great breadth of beam and comparatively light draught. The theory advocated by this great yachtsman at first found little favour among American yachtsmen, and so he built the America to prove that his views were correct. The performances of this yacht were so satisfactory that Commodore Stevens, of the New York Yacht Club, took her to England, and at once issued a challenge to all foreign yachts to sail a race for "$10,000, a cup or a piece of plate." The presence of this American yacht in English waters created a degree of enthusiasm before unparallelled. The "cheek" of her builders and backers, in boldly throwing down the gauntlet to all comers, was a subject of general comment— and of many a jest and sneer as well. But despite funny criticisms and the great number of foreign yachts against which she would have to contend, the America's challenge was made in good faith, and sustained by yachtsmen who were seriously in earnest. The Annual Regatta, at Cowes, came off shortly after the arrival of the America ; but the latter yacht was ruled out for valid reasons, and for some days it was feared that no test race would be made. The appearance of the "Yankee Craft" was somehow not altogether pleasing, and while English yachtsmen were confident they could beat her, they still showed a remarkable reluctance about making the attempt. However, after the first flurry of excitement had sub sided, a race round the Isle of Wight was arranged, for a cup presented by Her Majesty to come off on the 22nd of August. This event opened up a new era in yachting, for it may justly be claimed that the result of this contest lent a lustre to, and gained a prominence for, yachting before unequalled. The year 1851 is celebrated in sporting annals for the first International Regatta-and for the largest number of starters ever known for the Derby. The 22nd of August dawned with a clear sky and favouring breeze. Thousands of spectators lined the shore, watching with enthusiastic interest the preparations for the "start." Abreast of Cowes the sight presented was one of surpassing beauty. More than a hundred yachts were in sight, sailing "off and on," their white canvass looking like huge wings sweeping over the surface of the sea-restless and yet graceful-their owners apparently anxious for the race to commence. Fifteen yachts started the finest and fleetest in the United Kingdomamong which were the Volante, Constance, Alarm, Beatrice and Gipsy Queen. The America was the last to get under way, but she gradually gained upon her antagonists, and was the first to pass the winning buoy -beating the fleet nearly eight miles. On her return there were innumerable yachts off Cowes, and on every side was heard the hail, "Is the America first ?"-The answer, "Yes." "What's second ?"-The reply, "Nothing." The Queen was an interested spectator during the race, and after it was ended she went on board of the America, and expressed herself delighted with the appearance of the yacht. The English yachtsmen gracefully acknowledged their defeat, and gave their fortunate rivals a grand banquet in honour of the victory. Mr. R. Stephenson, a leading English yachtsman, was not fully satisfied with the test of the 22nd of August and therefore backed his iron yacht Titania, of 100 tons, to sail against the America for £100. The contest came off on the 28th, when the Titania was as signally defeated as the rest. The America beat her opponent 52 minutes out of six hours and a half leaving her eight miles astern. tory settled the question of the superiority of the America over all foreign yachts, and she returned to the United States, taking with her the coveted Queen's Cup. She made a record there which will stand as a monument to the genius of her builder as long as yachts are built to plough the ocean's bosom. It is both instructive and amusing to read the criticisms on this first International Re. gatta in the current news of that day. The easy victory of the America utterly bewildered foreign yachtsmen. Their boasted prestige, as victorious yacht-builders and yachtowners, had been lost in the first great contest, and the best and poorest of excuses were equally unsatisfactory. A few beaten rivals consoled themselves with the sneering remark that the America was only a "racing machine!" But this excuse found little sanction among the best of England's yachtsmen. Capt. Watson, of the Royal Navy, in the Times, thus commented on this class of criticisms:-"A writer in your journal lately wished to make it appear that such a vessel as the America, a mere racing craft,' must be useless for all practical purposes; and he, facetiously, remarks that you might as well compare a Derby three-year-old to a comfortable hackney as the America to an English yacht. But, Sir, we must allow that a little 'breeding' is no bad thing—either in a pack-horse or a weight-carrying hunter. So, also, may our clumsy hulls be modified by modern ingenuity and improvements, when our shipowners and ship-builders become less prone to adhere to their old forms and fashions." The facts are, however, that this victory of the America completely changed the system of yacht-modelling; and although the change grew by slow degrees, yet it was nevertheless true that the greatest breadth of beam was gradually extended aft, until it very nearl |