Slowly the balloon seemed to climb that sheer, chalky precipice, frightening the sleepy sea-gulls from their nests, but never grazing against the wall, as it seemed as if it inevitably must. Slowly it reached the summit, paused a moment poised over the edge, then swept landward a little way, when the guide-rope (which had been dragging in the water) caught on the rocks, and it stopped. The professor opened the escape-valve, and they alighted from the car, and then walked to the brink of the abyss and, silently and solemnly, looked down. This was the last of aerial navigation that any of the party ever indulged in. The professor packed up his balloon and went to the United States to exhibit it. Puck Parker left one of his "P.P.C." cards in the car of the balloon, and his parents were glad enough to get to a land where they did not forever hear the "Boom-er-oom, a boom-er-oom, a boom, boom, boom," and the "Zim-er-oom, a zim-er-oom; a zim, zim, zim." [Illustration] EASTER EGGS. BY CLARA W. RAYMOND. Dear Grandpa Lee, with little Grace, Followed the path-way to the mill; Bright daisies starred the shady lane, And now and then a bird would trill. Once, when a birdling spread its wings, She said, "All things are fair and gay,-- The sky so blue where birdie sings!" Said grandpa, "This is Easter Day." Thus happily they onward went, Till Grace cried, "There is little Kate, And Frank and Nellie, too--and oh! Nell's swinging on the garden gate!" As Grace and grandpa came in sight, The little ones to meet them sped,-- Their eager, prattling lips apart, Eyes flashing bright and cheeks rose-red. "Oh, grandpa! in the hedge we've found Four Easter eggs, all colored blue; They're in the sweetest little nest; We want to show our prize to you!" Said grandpa, "Touch them not, my dears; Those eggs God dyed with colors rare; The mother-bird will soon come back, And guard her nest with loving care. "These Easter eggs, in leaf-hid nests, Imprison countless song-birds bright, That soon will break the tinted shell And rise and sing in joyous flight." [Illustration] A VISIT TO A LONDON DOG-SHOW. BY LAURA SKEEL POMEROY. Some years ago I went to see a great dog-show at the Alexandra Palace, in the north of London. My friend Charley, a bright boy who knows the way all over this part of the city, was my escort. We concluded to go to the show by the underground railroad, and at half-past one o'clock we were at the station called South Kensington. We bought our tickets there, and passed through gateways where men in uniform examined our tickets, allowing but one person to pass at a time, then descended two long flights of stone steps, and went down, down, into the subterranean station. [Illustration: A BLACK AND WHITE SETTER.]