these carts went back and forth, with their loads, two or three times during the night. They were so afraid of making a noise that the men bound wisps of straw around the wheels. They threw straw, too, over the ground, so that not a sound of the carts could be heard. They were so quick and silent about their work that the British never dreamed of what was going on.

General Howe was the officer who had charge of the army in Boston. He went out to look about him, soon after he arose, on the morning of the fifteenth of March. Was that a fort on the hill, there, across the water? He could hardly believe his eyes. He might have said, "Why, this is like the work of Aladdin with his wonderful lamp." But, instead, he said, " I know not what I shall do. The rebels have done more in one night than my whole army could have done in a month."

There, on Dorchester Heights, was a long line of forts. He was quite sure they were not there when he went to bed the night before. Where in the world could men have been found to build them so quietly and mysteriously?

He called his officers about him, and talked it over. "We must destroy those works on the Heights immediately," they said. "We cannot stay

any longer in Boston unless we do." General Howe said there was only one thing to do: They must drive the Americans away from their forts.

Accordingly, he gave orders that certain boats should be made ready to take the soldiers across the water, to the foot of the hill on which the forts stood.

At last, all was ready, and they started off; but, before they had gone far, a great storm burst upon them. The vessels were blown about like toy boats. None of them could reach the land, although the sailors did their best to guide them there. Back, then, they went to Boston, which, at last, they reached in safety.

The storm did not hurt the Americans at all. They spent the time while it lasted in making their forts stronger.

All General Howe's plans had failed. What could he do now? Those great guns from the Heights might open upon them at any time. Their

shots would surely sink the British ships. The soldiers would then have no way of leaving Boston.

At last, General Howe sent a message to Washington, saying that he and his soldiers would leave Boston, if Washington would promise not to fire upon them. Washington promised this, only too glad to have the soldiers leave. How glad he was to see them hurrying off to their vessels!

Soon the sails were spread, and seven thousand soldiers sailed away. Not a single red-coat was left in Boston ! More than a thousand Tories went with them. It was on the seventeenth of March, seventeen hundred and seventy-six, when the British soldiers, and their Tory friends, sailed out of the harbor. This will always be a famous day in our country's history.

Congress, afterwards, had a beautiful medal made, which was given to Washington as a mark of honor. It was, also, to show the gratitude of the entire American people, who knew that it was through his wise plans that the British had been driven from Boston.

-Mrs. S. Dawes (Adapted).

It was the time when lilies blow,
And clouds are highest up in air,
Lord Ronald brought a lily-white doe
To give his cousin, Lady Clare.

I trow they did not part in scorn;
Lovers long betrothed were they;
They two will wed the morrow morn;
God's blessing on the day!

"He does not love me for my birth,

Nor for my lands so broad and fair; He loves me for my own true worth, And that is well," said Lady Clare.

In there came old Alice the nurse,

Said, “Who was this that went from thee?" "It was my cousin," said Lady Clare, To-morrow he weds with me."

"O God be thanked!" said Alice the nurse, 'That all comes round so just and fair; Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands,

"Are ye out of your mind, my nurse,

my nurse?”

Said Lady Clare, “that ye speak so wild?" "As God's above," said Alice the nurse,

"I speak the truth: you are my child.