WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.

61

master told him, and fetching his cat down-stairs, he gave her into the hands of the captain.

Soon afterwards he was able to obtain another cat, which drove away the rats and mice from his bedroom. But the ill-tempered cook was now more bitter against him than ever. She made people laugh at him, by telling them that he had sent his cat in order to gain riches in foreign lands. She made his life so MISERABLE, that at last he could stand it no longer, and one morning, before it was light, he started off to run away.

When he had got to Holloway, a place which was then just outside London, he stopped a few moments to think which road he had better take. While he was waiting, the bells of Bow Church began to ring, and it seemed as if they said to him :

"Turn again, Whittington, Lord MAYOR of London." "Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."

The sound of the bells seemed to give him new life and strength, and he thought that, after all, he was very foolish to take any notice of the cross old cook. So he quickly turned again towards London, and got back before any one had NOTICED that he had gone.

Meanwhile, the ship in which Dick had ventured his cat had sailed to a country called BARBARY, which is in the north of Africa. The king was very COURTEOUS to the captain and his officers, and invited them to have something to eat; but as soon as the meat was put upon the table, a crowd of rats and mice came out of their holes, and scampered away with everything they could find.

The king told the captain what a great NUISANCE to him these VERMIN were. They not only spoiled his dinner, but they CONSTANTLY disturbed his sleep. Then the captain said that he had got an animal in his ship that would soon free him from these TROUBLESOME animals. He then went and fetched the cat, who, as soon as the rats and mice came, jumped upon them, killing some, and frightening the rest away. The king was delighted, but he asked the captain where such a fierce animal was to be kept.

The

captain replied that the cat was only fierce to rats and mice, and that it was so gentle that a child might play with it. Then he asked the queen to stroke the cat, who PURRED, and seemed quite pleased and happy.

Then the king said he would give a great deal of gold to the captain, if he would part with this wonderful cat. So the cat was sold to the king of Barbary, and the ship with the gold returned to England.

When they told Dick that all this gold belonged to him, as it was the price of his cat, he thought they were making game of him, and would not at first believe it. But when they assured him it was true, he was very glad, and made presents to his fellow-servants, and to all the sailors of the ship.

Dick was now quite a rich man, and so he bought a new suit of clothes, and looked quite a gentleman. He married Miss Alice, his master's daughter, who had always been kind to him. He was afterwards three times Lord Mayor of London, and so what he thought the bells had said to him came true at last. He was made a knight by_King Henry the Fifth, and was therefore called "Sir Richard Whittington.".

This tale shows us how that if we steadily and patiently do our work we shall succeed at last; but we have no chance of getting on if we neglect it. If poor Dick had left his master, and gone to some other town, he would have lost all the gold which had been given for his cat.

EXERCISE.

What tempted Dick to run away? back again? How had his cat sold? much value?

What made him turn
What made her of so

"SHALL I go to the Orange Fair ?" asked little George Moore.

He was turning over in his pocket the penny which a lady had given him.

The Orange Fair was held in the last week in FEBRUARY each year, and a fine show there was of that bright-looking fruit. The stalls were crowded with oranges, and the persons who sold these oranges were very loud in the praises of their own stock over those of the others.

Little George had been looking forward to the time when he should hear the music, see the little horses that go round by steam, and gaze at the VARIOUS "shows" that then ENTERED the town.

His mother said he might go, but he was to be sure to keep out of danger, and that he was to take his brother Alfred with him.

"See, what nice oranges !" said Alfred; "I shall buy one."

While they were choosing one from the stall, they heard a band COMMENCE playing, and a man was hitting the big drum as hard as he could.

The band was playing in front of a wild beast show. "Oh! let us go in the show," said George; "I dare say they will let us go in for a penny."

The man said the charge was sixpence, but as they

were nice little boys, he would not be hard with them; so in they went for their penny.

Just as they were entering, the lion gave such a roar. You would have laughed to see little Alfred run back towards the door.

For some time he was afraid to look at the animals; but he gained more courage afterwards, and seemed quite pleased to look round the show.

There were monkeys with faces like little men. They were grinning at each other, and cracking some nuts which a boy had thrown to them. On a board in front of the cage it was stated that they came from South America.

As they walked on a little further, they came to the enormous ELEPHANT. He was in a cage at the end of the show, and kept throwing his large trunk towards the people as they came near him.

And what do you think he did? He put out his trunk, and took Alfred's orange from his hand, and put it in his own mouth. Poor Alfred was ready to cry; but he afterwards forgave the elephant, when he let him ride on his back up and down the

show.

In India people ride about from place to place on elephants, like we do on horses.

Then they saw, in other cages, lions, panthers, and spotted leopards. These kept walking up and down their cages, now and then GROWLING at each other. The keeper came and said the lions had been brought from Africa.

But the animal which pleased George most was the camel. He had read of him as the "Ship of the Desert," because of the ease with which he can travel in hot countries.

It was very pleasing to sec alive the curious animals of which they had before only read in books or seen pictures. They heard, too, a DESCRIPTION of each, so that when these two little boys got home, they could tell their mother all they had seen and heard about the wild animals.

She said she was glad to find they had learnt so

SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY.

65

much, though she hoped they would not go too near the cages if they ever again visited such a show.

The object in visiting a wild beast show is that you may see some of the WONDERFUL creatures which God has placed in the world; and though some may appear wild and very savage, they are all sent for some purpose. What is still more wonderful, man, little as he appears, is far above all these animals in AUTHORITY. Yet he should not be cruel to them, but make use of those which are sent for his use, and let the others enjoy themselves, so long as they do not interfere with his life or CONVENIENCE.

Remember these things, and then you will profit by a visit to the wild beast show.

EXERCISE.

Which animal did George like best? With what object in view should we visit a wild beast show? Where are elephants found? Where did the monkeys come from?

How is man above these lower animals?

LESSON XXVII.

SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY.

SHEF-FIELD, a town in the south of Yorkshire. SCULPTOR, the carver of pictures.

CAR'-PEN-TER, a worker in wood.

OP-PO-SITE, against, placed in front.

SER-VICE, employ.

or

BUS'-INESS, trade or calling.

PRO'-GRESS, advance.
LICH'-FIELD, a city in Staf
fordshire.

TASTE not only means to
touch with the tongue, but
also to relish with the
mind.

ART'-IST, a skilful man in an art or trade.

NOT far from SHEFFIELD there is a pretty little village called Norton. In the summer many persons visit this nice quiet spot, not only because here they can breathe the pure air and enjoy the sight of the green fields, but to say that they have seen the village in

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