"Of iron and copper and silver, and many other things we can find on earth; but the sun is so hot that they are melted together into a mass like glue. This is the center of the sun. Outside is a shell of bright clouds, from which rosy flames leap to a height of thousands of miles above the surface of the sun. All around the edge of the sun, and reaching millions of miles beyond it, is the pearly light of the corona like a crown of glory. The pearly corona fades away into a soft beam of light." "How beautiful the sun must be!" said Harry, as he listened attentively to his sister. "But is it all alone in the sky, and does it not have any little stars to play with?" "It is not at all lonely," said Mary, laughing at the idea of the stars as playthings for Giant Sun, "and is kept quite busy looking after its large family of planets. I will tell you about them to-morrow, or nurse will scold me for tiring you. And now, good-by, my dear. Don't forget all I have told you about Giant Sun." "Forget! how could I, sister? It is better than any fairy tale I have ever heard. Giant Sun! Why you have told me enough to keep me thinking all day and all night. Here comes Nellie. Hello! Nellie, come here and let me tell you all about GIANT SUN, and how he melted your dollie for you the other day." "Melted my dollie!" said a pretty little golden-haired girl, as she tripped like a little fairy up the garden-path. "So he melted my dollie, did he? I should like to see him do it again!" Tears came into her eyes at the thought of her sad experience. Since then, however, a china head had replaced the melted wax, and Nellie's fickle little heart had been comforted. So the tears soon vanished in a smile as she showed her new treasure to Harry. ON THE SETTING SUN. Those evening clouds, that setting ray, And beauteous tint, serve to display Their great Creator's praise; Then let the short-lived thing called man, Whose life's comprised within a span, To Him his homage raise. We often praise the evening clouds, And tints so gay and bold, But seldom think upon our God, Who tinged these clouds with gold. --Sir Walter Scott. [Illustration: GIANT SUN AND LITTLE EARTH.] THE FOUR SUNBEAMS. BY M. K. B. Four little sunbeams came earthward one day, Shining and dancing along on their way, Resolved that their course should be blest. "Let us try," they all whispered, "some kindness to do, Not seek our own pleasuring all the day through, Then meet in the eve at the west." One sunbeam ran in at a low cottage door, And played "hide-and-seek" with a child on the floor, Till baby laughed loud in his glee, And chased with delight his strange playmate so bright, The little hands grasping in vain for the light That ever before them would flee.