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And once at last it is our lot,

Our muse, to view the deadly spot— The wind and raging sea combine,

While kindred hearts around entwine. Three sailors to the top do cling, And cry for aid to Heaven’s King;

In vain they cry—their doom is sealed, Down the dark depths the first is reeled; Three raging seas then roar to shore, Another sinks to rise no more. “Brother, dear brother, are thou gone? This fearful night am I left alone?

Thou bearest our good father's name. Art thou gone to share his fame?

In Heaven, brother, you him will meet, And there I hope you both to greet." Again he cries for mercy, Heaven,

Am I the only one left of seven?

And still the storm doth rage around, And seas leap to shore with fearful bound. He lifts his tearful eyes once more, And looks with anguish to the shore. The driving storm doth mournful wail; Though clinging hard, his strength doth fail; And sweeping o’er him a mighty wave, Dooms him also to a watery grave. Horrors around him vaguely crowd, Blacker far than the thunder cloud; Then looking back, far, far behind,

In despair he thinks of friends so kind; “I leave a dear and dutiful wife.

FAST AND PRESENT OF

The pride and pleasure of my life,

With several dear ones, treasures to have, Heaven pity them! Heaven save!

What would I not give to be there

Even to share the most frugal fare!

But alas! kind friends, it could not be.

I was doomed to sink beneath the sea." So torn from his hold with a mighty sweep He makes his descent in the mighty deep ’Midst whirling noise and awful gloom, Which seem to suggest the crack of doom. Rivalling some great celestial sound,

The loud and awful thunders roll, Waking inspiring echoes round,—

Muslc grand to the well-tuned soul.

Then towering high, in grandeur steep. The raging storm in might arose,

Leaving behind on the midnight deep,

A painful picture of sailor’s woes;

And leaping onward, the gale doth rage, Gaining in fury at every stage.

And who shall stay this awful sweep

Of the mighty wind and the mighty deep? Almighty force! Grandly sublime! Matchless view on the face of time! ’Gainst such a power who can contend?

ln obedience must human effort bend; And rising high on the loftier way, Submit with awe to th’ imperial sway. And bending low, with reverent sigh

We commend these souls to the One on High!

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BY 8. N. ROBERTSON.

In an attempt to outline the historical de- velopment of the School System of Prince Edward Island, we must keep in mind the fact that educational work is largely a mat- ter for the individual and for the family, and that only when it has attained some pro- portions does it catch the imagination of the people, and make them see that what is good for the individual, or for the single family, what makes them more intelligent. more capable, more eflicient, and more self- respecting, is good for the people of a whole district, for the whole province. Only when the people have had time to ap- preciate the advantages that education brings to the individual and to society, and to recognize that these services

can be much more economically as well as more generally administered by the state, only then does the state relieve the family or the little community of the burden, and the public school takes the place of the home or the private or the charity school.

Early educational work in Prince Edward Island was naturally therefore a matter of private effort, and we have a long and varied list of teachers, who conducted schools in Charlottetown and in the country districts, in some cases as a means of liveli- hood, in others from motives of public benevolence, who were satisfied in either case to do what work they could in return for the amounts promised by the parents in cash. or in kind. This was before the time