Blanche, the elder girl, would give her sister and myself lessons in elocution; and I should like to say a word to teachers and children on the enormous utility of _committing something to memory_--whether poems, songs, or passages from historical or classical works.

It is, of course, very unlikely that any one who reads these lines will be cast away as we were, but still one never knows what the future has in store; and I have known pioneers and prospectors who have ventured into the remoter wilds, and emerged therefrom years after, to give striking testimony as to the usefulness of being able to sing or recite in a loud voice.
Sometimes we would have an improvised concert, each of us singing whatever best suited the voice; or we would all join together in a rollicking glee.

One day, I remember, I started off with-- "A notre heureux sejour," but almost immediately I realised how ridiculously inappropriate the words were.

Still, I struggled on through the first verse, but to my amazement, before I could start the second, the girls joined in with "God Save the Queen," which has exactly the same air.

The incident is one that should appeal to all British people, including even her Most Gracious Majesty herself.