THE TIDE COMING IN.
Julia and Rose were on a visit to their uncle, who lived near the seaside. They came from Ohio, and did not know about the ebb and flow of the tide of the ocean. They ran down on the sandy beach, and seated themselves on a rock.
Their cousin Rodney was not far off, engaged in fishing for perch. All at once there was a loud cry from Julia, the elder of the two sisters. The water had crept up all round the rock on which they sat, thus forming an island of it; and they did not know what to make of it.
"The water has changed its place," shouted Rose.
Rodney was alarmed, and began to blame himself for neglecting, in his eagerness to catch a few fish, the little girls under his charge.
He took off his shoes and stockings, rolled up his pantaloons, and ran into the water over the sandy bottom to the rock. Taking Rose in his arms, he told Julia to follow.
"But I shall wet my nice boots," said Julia.
"Then, wait on the rock," said Rodney, "while I carry Rose, and set her down on dry land. I will then come for you, and carry you pickback to the shore."
"No, Cousin Rodney," said Julia: "I think I will not ride pickback. I should be too heavy a load. I must not mind wetting my boots and stockings."
"Then, place your hand on my shoulder, and come along," said Rodney. "The tide is gaming on us very fast."
"I don't know what you mean by the tide," said Julia.
"Why, cousin," said Rodney, "you must know that the tides are the rise and fall of the waters of the ocean. It will be high tide an hour from now; then the water will cover all these rocks you see around us. After that, the water will sink and go back till we can see the rocks again, and walk a long way on the sand; then it will be low tide. But we must not stay here talking: the water will soon be too deep for us."
So Rodney took Rose in his arms, and Julia placed her left hand on his right shoulder; and in this way they went through the water to the dry part of the beach.
"We must look out for this sly tide the next time," said little Rose as she ran to tell papa of their adventure.
Uncle Charles.
SUNRISE. Come and see the sunrise, Children, come and see; Wake from slumber early, Wake, and come with me. Where the high rock towers, We will take our stand, And behold the sunshine Kindling all the land. You shall hear the birdies Sing their morning lay; You shall feel the freshness Of the new-born day; You shall see the flowers Opening to the beams, Flooding all the tree-tops, Flashing on the streams. Emily Carter. |