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easily have done.1 After some time spent in peeping, grinning, and chattering, he at last espied me, and reaching one of his paws in at the door, as a cat does when she plays2 with a mouse, although I often shifted place to avoid him, he at length seized the lappet of my coat, (which, being made of that country's silk, was very thick and strong,) and dragged me out. He took me up in his right fore-foot, just as I have seen the same sort of creature do3 with a kitten in Europe; and when I offered to struggle, he squeezed me so hard, that I thought it more prudent to submit. I have good reason to believe that he took me for a young one of his own species, by his often stroking my face 4 very gently with his other paw. In these diversions he was interrupted by a noise at the closet door, as if somebody had opened it; whereupon he suddenly leaped up to the window at which he had come in, and thence upon the leads and gutters, walking upon three legs, and holding me in the fourth, till he clambered to a roof that was next to ours; but an honest lad, one of my nurse's footmen, climbed up, and putting me in his pocket, brought me down safe.6

SWIFT. 1667-1745.

THE ESCAPE OF MARY FROM LOCHLEVEN CASTLE. THE laird of Lochleven discharged with severe fidelity the task of Mary's jailer; but his youngest brother, George Douglas, became more sensible to the queen's distress than to the interests of the Regent Murray, or of his own family. A plot laid by him for the queen's deliverance was discovered, and he was expelled from the island in consequence. But he kept up a correspondence with a kinsman of his own,8 called little Douglas, a boy of fifteen

1 As I might easily have done, Comme j'aurais pu le faire aisément.-2 As a cat does when she plays, Comme fait une chatte qui joue.-3 Just as I have seen the same sort of creature do, Comme j'ai vu faire à la même créature.-4 By his often stroking my face, Parcequ'il me caressait souvent la figure.-5 In these diversions he was interrupted, Ce divertissement fut interrompu.-6 Brought me down safe, Me fit descendre en sûreté.-7 Discharged with severe fidelity the task, Remplissait avec fidélité, mais avec rigueur, l'emploi de.-8 A kinsman of his own, Un de ses parents.

or sixteen, who had remained in the castle. On the 2d of May 1568, this little William Douglas contrived to steal2 the keys of the castle while the family were at supper. He let Mary and her attendant out of the tower when all had gone to rest, locked the gates of the castle to prevent pursuit, placed the queen and her waiting-woman in a little skiff, and rowed them to the shore,3 throwing the keys of the castle into the lake in the course of their passage. Just when they were about to set out on this adventurous voyage, the youthful pilot made a signal by a light in a particular window visible at the upper end of the lake, to intimate that all was safe. Lord Seaton and a party of the Hamiltons were waiting at the landing-place. The queen instantly mounted, and hurried off to Niddry,5 in West Lothian, from which she went next day to Hamilton. The news flew like lightning throughout the country, and spread enthusiasm everywhere. The people remembered Mary's gentleness, grace, and beauty : they remembered her misfortunes also; and, if they reflected on her errors, they thought they had been punished with sufficient severity. On Sunday, Mary was a sad and helpless captive in a lonely tower. On the Saturday following, she was at the head of a powerful confederacy, by which nine earls, nine bishops, eighteen lords, and many gentlemen of high rank, engaged to defend her person and restore her power. But this gleam of success was only temporary.8 WALTER SCOTT. 1771-1832.

THE WHISTLE.

WHEN I was a child, of seven years of age, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pockets with coppers.10 I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and, being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I saw on the way in the hands of

1 See § 36, 8.-2 Contrived to steal, Parvint à dérober.-3 And rowed them to the shore, Puis il se mit à ramer dans la direction du rivage.-4 That all was safe, Que tout allait bien.-5 And hurried off to Niddry, Et se dirigea en toute hâte sur Niddry.-6 From which, D'où.-7 See § 36, 8.-8 Was only temporary, Ne devait durer que bien peu de temps.-9 Holiday, Jour de fête.-10 With coppers, De sous.

another boy, I voluntarily offered him all my money for it.2 I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth. This put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money;5 and they laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation,7 and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, "Don't give too much for the whistle ;" and so I saved my money.

As I grew up, and observed the actions of men, I met with9 many, very many,10 who gave too much for their whistle.

When I saw any one too ambitious of court favours, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, 11 his repose, his liberty, his virtue and perhaps his friends, I have said to myself, "This man gives to much for his whistle."

When I saw another 12 fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, 13 neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect: "He pays, indeed," said I, "too much for 14 his whistle."

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living,15 all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth : "Poor man," said I, "you do indeed pay too much for your whistle."

If I saw one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipages,

1 I voluntarily offered him, Je lui proposai -2 For it, Pour l'avoir-3 I had given four times as much for it as it was worth, Que j'en avais donné quatre fois plus qu'il ne valait.—4 This put me in mind what good things, Cela me fit réfléchir à toutes les bonnes choses que.-5 The rest of the money, Le surplus de l'argent.— 6 See § 32, 8.-7 With vexation, De dépit.-8 Was of use to me, Me fut utile.-9 See § 36, 5.-10 Very many, Un très-grand nombre.-11 In attendance on levees, En assiduités aux levers.-12 See § 20.-13 Political bustles, Discussions politiques.— 14 See § 36, 9.-15 Every kind of comfortable living, Toute espèce de bien-être.

all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in prison: "Alas!" said I, "he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."

In short, I conceived that a great part of the miseries of mankind were brought upon them by the false estimates they had made of the value of things, and by1 their giving too much for their whistles. B. FRANKLIN. 1706-1790.

CATHARINE I. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA.

CATHARINE, born near Derpat, a little city in Livonia, was heiress to no other inheritance than the virtues and frugality of her parents. Her father being dead, she lived with her aged mother in their cottage covered with straw ;2 and both, though very poor, were very contented. There, retired from the gaze of the world, by the labour of her hands, she supported her mother, who was now incapable of supporting herself. While Catharine spun, the old woman would sit by and read some book of devotion ; thus, when the fatigues of the day were over, both would sit down contentedly by their fireside.

Though her face and person were models of perfection, yet, her whole attention seemed bestowed upon her mind; her mother taught her to read, and an old Lutheran minister instructed her in the maxims and duties of religion. Nature had furnished her not only with a strong but a right understanding. Such accomplishments procured her several solicitations of marriage 10 from the peasants of the neighbourhood; but their offers were refused; for she loved her mother too tenderly to think of11 a separation.

Catharine was fifteen 12 when her mother died; she now therefore left her cottage, and went to live with the Lutheran minister, by whom she had been instructed from her childhood. In his

1 See § 31, 5.-2 Was heiress to no other inheritance than, N'eut pas d'autre héritage que-3 See § 29, 2.-4 See § 3, 9.-5 Of supporting herself, De se suffire à ellemême.-6 See § 4.-7 When the fatigues of the day were over, Après les fatigues de la journée.-8 See § 42.9 Accomplishments, Talents.-10 Solicitations of marriage Demandes en mariage.--11 See § 33, 2.-12 See § 55, 14.

house she resided in quality of governess to his children, at once reconciling in her character1 unerring prudence with surprising vivacity.

The old man, who regarded her as one of his own children,2 had her instructed in3 dancing and music by the masters who attended the rest of the family; thus she continued to improve till he died, by which accident she was once more reduced to pristine poverty. The country of Livonia was at this time wasted by war, and lay in a most miserable state of desolation. Those calamities are ever most heavy upon the poor; wherefore Catharine, though possessed of so many accomplishments, experienced all the miseries of hopeless indigence. Provisions becoming every day more scarce, and her private stock being exhausted, she resolved to travel to9 Marienburgh, a city of greater plenty.10

With her scanty wardrobe packed up in a wallet, she set out on her journey on foot; she had to walk through a region miserable by nature, but rendered still more hideous by the Swedes and Russians, who plundered it at discretion: but hunger had taught her to despise the dangers and fatigues of the way.

One evening as she entered 11 a cottage by the wayside, to take up her lodging for the night,12 she was insulted by two Swedish soldiers, but a subaltern officer, accidentally passing by, came in to her assistance; upon his appearing,13 the soldiers immediately desisted; but her thankfulness was hardly greater than her surprise, when she instantly recollected in her deliverer the son of the Lutheran minister, her former instructor and friend.

This was a happy interview 14 for Catharine; her little stock of money was by this time quite exhausted; her clothes were gone, piece by piece,15 in order to satisfy those who had entertained her

1 At once reconciling in her character, Sachant concilier à la fois dans sa conduite. -2 of his own children, De ses filles.-3 Had her instructed in, Lui fit apprendre.4 Who attended the rest, Qui donnaient des leçons aux membres.-5 To improve, A se perfectionner. By which accident she was once more reduced to, Malheur qui la réduisit encore une fois à.-7 Possessed of, Douée de.-8 Her private stock, Sa réserve personnelle.-9 To travel to, De se diriger sur.-10 Of greater plenty, Qui offrait plus de ressources.-11 See § 37, 12-12 To take up her lodging for the night, Pour y passer la nuit.—13 Upon his appearing, À son aspect.-14 A happy inter. view, Une heureuse rencontre.-15 Her clothes were gone, piece by piece, Ses vêtements s'en étaient allés un à un.

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