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out; I remember it was a dark-green chaise, with red wheels; and I remember I read the innkeeper's name upon the chaise, 'John Nelson,' (I am much obliged to you for teaching1 me to read, grandmother.) You told me yesterday, grandmother, that the names written upon chaises are the names of the innkeepers to whom they belong. I read the name of the innkeeper upon that chaise; it was John Nelson. So Anne and I will go to both the inns in Dunstable, and try to find out this chaise-John Nelson's. Come, Anne, let us set out before it gets quite dark."2

Anne and her brother passed with great courage the tempting stall, that was covered with3 gingerbread and ripe plums, and pursued their way steadily through the streets of Dunstable; but Paul, when he came to the shop where he had seen the blankets, stopped for a moment, and said, "It is a great pity Anne, that the guinea is not ours; however, we are doing what is honest, and that is a comfort." 4

MARIA EDGEWORTH. 1770-1849.

A TURKISH TALE.

WE are told that the Sultan Mahmoud, by his perpetual wars abroad 5 and his tyranny at home,6 had filled his dominions with? ruin and desolation, and half unpeopled the Persian empire. The vizier to this great sultan pretended to have learnt of a certain dervise to understand the language of birds, so that there was not a bird that could open his mouth but the vizier knew what it was he said. As he was one evening with the emperor, on 10 their return from hunting, they saw a couple of owls upon a tree that grew near an old wall out of a heap of rubbish. "I would fain know," says the sultan, "what 12 those two owls are saying to one another; listen to their discourse, and give me an account of

"11

1 For teaching me, De m'avoir enseigné à.-2 Before it gets quite dark, Avant qu'il fasse tout à fait nuit.-3 See § 29, 2.—4 And that is a comfort, Et cela fait du bien.-5 Abroad, Au dehors.-6 At home, Au dedans.-7 See § 29, 5.-8 See § 32, 10.-9 But the vizier knew, Sans que le vizir sût.-10 See § 34, 6.-11 I would fain know, Je voudrais bien savoir.-12 See § 22.

it."1

The vizier approached the tree, pretending3 to be very attentive to the two owls. Upon his return to the sultan : "Sire," says he, "I have heard part of their conversation, but dare not tell you what it is." The sultan would not be satisfied with 4 such an answer, but forced him to repeat, word for word, everything the owls had said. "You must know then," said the vizier, "that one of these owls has a son, and the other a daughter, between whom they are now upon a treaty of marriage.5 The father of the son said to the father of the daughter, 'Brother, I consent to this marriage, provided you will settle upon your daughter fifty ruined villages for her portion." To which the father of the daughter replied, ‘Instead of fifty, I will give her five hundred,8 if you please. God grant a long life to Sultan Mahmoud; whilst he reigns over us, we shall never want ruined villages.'"

The story says,10 the sultan was so touched with the fable, that he rebuilt the towns and villages which had been destroyed, and from that time forward consulted the good of his people.

ADDISON. 1672-1719.

THE YOUNG PHILOSOPHER.

Mr Lovell and the Boy.

MR L. was one morning riding by himself,11 when, dismounting 12 to gather a plant in the hedge, his horse got loose,13 and galloped away before him. He followed, calling the horse by name, but it was in vain. At length a little boy in a neighbouring meadow, seeing the affair,14 ran across 15 where the road made a turn,16 and

1 And give me an account of it, Et viens m'en rendre compte.-2 See § 37, 2 3 Pretending, Faisant semblant.-4 The sultan would not be satisfied with, Le sultan ne voulut pas se contenter de.-5 Between whom they are now upon a treaty of marriage, Dont ils font en ce moment le contrat de mariage.-6 Provided you will settle upon your daughter, Pourvu que vous assuriez à votre fille.-7 Portion, Dot.-8 See § 20.-9 See § 40.-10 The story says, On dit que. See § 55, 1. 12 Dismounting, Mettant pied à terre.-13 Got loose, S'échappa.-14 Seeing the affair, Voyant ce qui se passait.-15 Ran across, Courut à travers champs. 16 Made a turn, Faisait un coude.

getting before the horse, took him by the bridle, and held him till his owner came up. Mr L. looked at the boy, and admired his ruddy, cheerful countenance.1

2

"Thank you, my good lad," said he, "you have caught my horse very cleverly. What shall I give you for your trouble?"3 putting his hand into his pocket.

"I want nothing, sir," said the boy.

6

Mr L. Don't you? so much the better for you. Few men can say as much. But, pray, what were you doing in the field? B. I was tending the sheep.

Mr L. And do you like this employment?

B. Yes, very well this fine weather.7

Mr L. But had you not rather play ?8

B. This is not hard work; it is almost as good as play.

Mr L. Who set you to work?

B. My daddy, sir.

Mr L. Where does he live? 10

B. Just by, among the trees there.

Mr L. What is his name?

B. Thomas Hurdle.

Mr L. And what is yours?

B. Peter, sir.

Mr L. How old are you?

B. I shall be eight 11 at Michaelmas.

Mr L. How long have you been out 12 in this field?

B. Ever since six in the morning.13

Mr L. And are you not hungry? 14

B. Yes;15 I shall go to my dinner soon.

Mr L. If you had sixpence now, what would you do with it? B. I don't know. I never had so much in my life.

Mr L. Have you no playthings?

1 His ruddy, cheerful countenance, Ses belles couleurs et son air enjoué.-2 You have caught, Tu as rattrapé.-3 See § 3, 20.--4 Don't you? Vraiment ?-5 See § 20.-6 Pray, Dis-moi.-7 Yes, very well, this fine weather, Oui, beaucoup, par ce beau temps.-8 But had you not rather play? Mais n'aimerais-tu pas mieux jouer? -9 Good, Agréable.-10 See § 2, 3.-11 See § 55, 14.-12 How long have you been out? Depuis quand as-tu été ?—13 See § 30, 14.-14 See § 55, 42.—15 Yes, Si.

B. Playthings! what are those?1

Mr L. Such as balls,2 ninepins, marbles, tops, and wooden horses.

B. No, sir; but our Tom3 makes footballs to kick in the cold weather, and we set traps for birds; and then I have a pair of stilts to walk through the dirt with; and I had a hoop but it is broken.

Mr L. And do you want nothing else?

B. No sir; for I always ride the horses to field, and tend the cows, and run to the town for errands ;5 and that is as good as play, you know.6

Mr L. Well, but you could buy apples or gingerbread at the town, I suppose, Ι if had money?

you

B. Oh! I can get apples at home; and as for gingerbread, I don't mind it much,7 for my mother gives me a pie now and then, and that is as good.

Mr L. Would you not like a knife to cut sticks?

B. I have one—here it is—brother Tom gave it me.

Mr L. Your shoes are full of holes-don't you want a better pair ?8

B. I have a better pair for Sundays.

Mr L. But these let in water.9

B. Oh, I don't care for that. 10

Mr L. Your hat is all torn, too.

11

B. I have a better at home; but I had as lief have none at all,11 for it hurts my head.

Mr L. What do you do when it rains?

B. If it rains very hard, I get under the hedge till it is over. Mr L. What do you do when you are hungry before it is time to go home?

B. I sometimes eat a raw turnip.

1 What are those? Qu'est-ce que cela?-2 Such as balls, Par exemple des balles. -3 Our Tom, Mon frère Tom. -4 Footballs to kick, Des ballons qu'on lance à coups de pied. 5 For errands, Pour faire des commissions.-6 You know, Voyez-vous.— 7 I don't mind it much Je n'y tiens pas beaucoup.-8 See § 20.-9 See § 55, 43.10 I don't care for that, Cela m'est bien égal. I had as lief have none at all, J'aimerais autant n'en pas avoir du tout.

it.1

Mr L. But if there are none?

B. Then I do as well as I can ; I work on, and never think of

Mr L. Are you not dry sometimes this hot weather?

B. Yes, but there is water enough.

Mr L. Why, my little fellow, you are quite a philosopher.2
B. Sir?

Mr L. I say, you are a philosopher, but I am sure you do not know what that means.

B. No sir-no harm, I hope !3

Mr L. No, no! (laughing.)

Well, my boy, you seem to want nothing at all, so I shall not give you money to make you want anything. But were you ever at school?

B. No, sir; but daddy says I shall go5 after harvest.

Mr L. You will want books then?

B. Yes, the boys have all a spelling-book 6 and a New Testament.

Mr L. Well, then, I'll give you them. Tell your daddy so,7 and that it is because you are a very good little boy. So now go to your sheep again.

B. I will, sir. Thank you.

Mr L. Good-bye, Peter.

B. Good-bye, sir.

J. AIKIN. 1747-1822.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TUDORS.

It has long been the fashion, a fashion introduced by Mr Hume, to describe the English monarchy in the sixteenth century 10 as an absolute monarchy. And such undoubtedly it appears to11 a superficial observer. Elizabeth, it is true, often spoke to her parliament in language as haughty and imperious as that which the

1 See § 33, 2.-2 You are quite a philosopher, Tu es un vrai philosophe.-3 No harm, I hope! Ce n est rien de mal j'espère.-4 Mr L. No, no, (laughing.) Mr L. (riant) Non, certainement. -5 See § 53.- A spelling-book, Un A B C.-7 Tell your daddy so, Dis-le à ton papa.-8 And that it is, Et ajoute que c'est.-9 I will, Jy vais-10 See § 30, 3.-11 And such undoubtedly it appears to, Et cela paraît sans doute ainsi à.

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