Country girls have an opportunity during the early darkness of winter afternoons of appreciating one of the dangers which beset arctic explorers during the long twilight which takes the place of day during the winter months in those northern climes. In towns, the well-lighted and well-paved streets make walking in the dusk as easy as in the day; but girls, whose walks lead through fields and rough country lanes, know how many trips and stumbles are caused by the uncertain light before darkness sets in. Greely, in his terribly sad history of the sufferings of his men during their arctic expedition, tells us how much their difficulties were increased by this dimness of the light. It was necessary that they should go long journeys on foot, each man carrying a heavy load of provisions and other stores; and he adds: "The absence of sufficient light to cast a shadow has had very unfortunate results, as several of the men have been badly bruised and sprained. When no shadow is formed, and the light is feeble and blurred, there is the same uncertainty about one's walk as if the deepest darkness prevailed. The most careful observation fails to advise you as to whether the next step is to lie on a level, up an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad falls quite demoralise a man, and make him more than ever distrustful of his eyesight." * * * * * There is not much to be done in the garden this month, but bulbs may still be put in, though the flowers will not be so good as those planted earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips planted now ought to flower in April. If the weather is mild, the grass should be rolled occasionally; early peas and beans may be planted in a dry place, and a little radish seed sown in a warm corner, but they must be carefully covered if a sharp frost comes. Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs needing it pruned. Now that the leaves are off, the fruit trees may be more easily examined, and dead branches, or those that rub against one another, removed. If the weather is very cold, take care of delicate plants by spreading cocoa-nut fibre or light manure over the beds, or by covering the plants with matting. CHILD ISLAND. FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS. [Illustration] A long time ago--so long that it was ages before my grandfather was a little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl--there was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which were so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold fishes swam in its clear waters.