[Illustration: THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER VOL. XX.—NO. 1012.] MAY 20, 1899. [PRICE ONE PENNY.] THE SEA AND THE ROCKS. BY WILLIAM LUFF. [Illustration: THE OTHER SHORE.] _All rights reserved._] I watched the waves as they kissed the rocks, And linked their hands behind them, As if to draw to the deep blue sea, Where no searching eye could find them. But rocks were firm, and the waves though strong Were foiled in their kind endeavour; Then what they could not change they bathed, And rising higher ever, They came and came, till they covered o’er The black old rocks of that stubborn shore. They were there the same as of old, I knew, But hidden now with a robe of blue. We all find rocks on the shores of life, Dark rocks and stubborn often. We pray, but never a rock will move— Hard rocks that no sea will soften; But lo, the ocean of love and grace Is linking its arms behind them; The waters rise in their vast embrace, Till troubles—we cannot find them. I know they are there as they were before; But we see them not, they are covered o’er. And all that rises before our view, Is God’s deep ocean of boundless blue. SHEILA. A STORY FOR GIRLS. BY EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN, Author of “Greyfriars,” “Half-a-dozen Sisters,” etc. CHAPTER VII. IN RIVER STREET. “Well, Oscar, I’ve just this one bit of advice to give you,” said North, as the pair walked homewards from the works. “Don’t you be too easy-going.” “Am I too easy-going?” asked Oscar with a smile. “How?” “Well, I think you are a bit. It’s easier to see that sort of thing than to define it. You don’t stick sufficiently tight to your own work. No, no, don’t think I mean you idle; you don’t, but you’ll do the other fellows’ work for them when they are larking, and let them take a turn at yours when you want to be off to the electrical works. The office was always a bit too free and easy, and we wanted to stiffen it up by putting you in. But if anything it’s got worse.” Oscar laughed a little. North’s friendly manner relieved him of the fear that he had given dissatisfaction with his own share in what was required of him. He had been really doing his best, and had learned a great deal during the past months. “It seems friendlier, somehow,” he said. “They are all nice fellows, and we work amicably together. I didn’t know it mattered sharing the work. They seemed used to it.” “It doesn’t matter in moderation,” answered North. “We’re not fussy, my father and I. But don’t be too easy-going, Oscar. As you are one of the family, they will look up to you, and take their cue from you more or less. Business is business all the world over, and you’d do well to keep that fact sternly in mind.”