more delighted he was with it, for never had he seen such fruits or breathed such pure sweet air.

No sooner did Columbus set foot on the shore than he threw himself on his knees, kissed the earth, and thanked God for His goodness, with his eyes full of tears of joy.

The natives of the island (St Salvador), when at the dawn of day they had seen the ships hovering on the coast, had supposed them to be monsters, which had come forth from the sea during the night. Their moving about without any trouble, and the shifting and furling their sails, which looked like huge wings, filled them with astonishment-when they saw their boats coming near, and a number of strange beings, dressed in bright steel armour, or else clothes of various colours, landing on the beach, they fled in great right to the woods. Finding, however, that there

was no attempt to follow, or hurt them, they little by little recovered from their terror, and came near the Spaniards with great awe, frequently throwing themselves on the ground, and making signs of worship.

Whilst Columbus was taking possession of the island, they stood looking in timid admiration at the complexion, the beards, the shining armour, and the splendid dress of the Spaniards. Columbus in particular pleased them from his great height, his air of authority, his scarlet dress, and the way in which his companions obeyed him, all which things proved him to be their commander. When they had still further recovered from their fear, they came near the Spaniards, touched their beards, examined their hands and faces, admiring their whiteness. Columbus, pleased with their simplicity, and the confidence they reposed in beings who must have seemed so formidable to them, let them look as long as they liked. This pleased the savages, and now they thought that these strangers had come down from above.

The natives of the island were no less objects of curiosity to the Spaniards, for they were different to any race of men they had ever seen. They were entirely naked, and painted with strange colours and patterns. Their natural colour was a copper colour, and they had no beards. Their hair was straight and coarse, partly cut above the ears, but some locks behind left long, and falling upon their shoulders. Their faces, though spoiled by paint, were agreeable, they had lofty foreheads, and very fine eyes. They seemed to be a simple and artless people, and of gentle and friendly disposition. Their only arms were lances, hardened

at the end by fire, or pointed by a flint or the bone of a fish. There was no iron to be seen amongst them, nor did they know its properties, for when a drawn sword was given them, they thoughtlessly took it by its edge. Columbus gave them coloured caps, glass beads, little bells, and other trifles, which they took as if they were priceless gifts, and dressing themselves in them were wonderfully delighted with their finery.

Adapted from Washington Irving's "Columbus."

prowl-ing

21.-THE SUSPICIOUS COCK AND HEN.

quick-ly squeaking

She's prowling about,

There can be no doubt,

To steal our sweet chickens away."

The hen upon that

Went up to the cat

And told her no longer to stay.

Miss Puss had been bent

On no bad intent

But merely on catching of mice,
What silly hen said

First put in her head

To seize a poor chick in a trice.

The cock and his dame,
In sorrow and shame,

Set up a most terrible clacking;

The pigs began squeaking,

The peacock was shrieking,

The ducks in the pond fell a quacking.

The cattle hard by

Soon joined in the cry,

The gander must add to the clatter,

The turkey-cock gobbled,

The old woman hobbled,

To see what on earth was the matter.

As soon as she heard

What 'twas that had stirred

This terrible racket and riot,

She said, "Fie, for shame,

You all are to blame,

I'll beat you to make you be quiet."

The cat slunk away

And gave up her prey,

The cock and hen flew to their coop;

Each beast hung his head,

The birds quickly fled,

Their feathers beginning to droop.

This story may teach

That ill-natured speech

Provokes an ill-natured return,

In birds, beasts, and boys,

And making a noise,

It is but a silly concern.

Sara Coleridge.

22. THE DOG AND THE AVALANCHE.

pre-vi-ous un-speak-able dis-ap-pear

serve-ice friend-li-ness scratch-ed

serv-ice

friend-li-ness

scratch-ed

More than a hundred years ago, Caspar of Brandenburgh, a Colonel in the Spanish service, was travelling in Switzerland over the mountain of St