the camp of the Danes, and began to play to the soldiers. Then Guthrum the general came to listen, for Alfred could play and sing as well as he could fight.

2. Guthrum was so pleased with him that he kept him a long while in the camp, thinking Alfred was only a strolling singer. But all the time you may suppose Alfred kept his eyes open, and found out all he wanted to know. He saw that the Danes, instead of keeping good watch, thought of nothing but feasting, and dancing, and amusing themselves.

3. So one day he managed to slip out of their camp, and called together all his faithful subjects to fight a great battle with the Danes. And a great battle was fought, and the English won, and took a great many prisoners. But instead of killing the Danes, Alfred said that if they would become Christians, and promise to behave properly, they might stay in England. This was the famous PEACE of WEDMORE, made just a thousand years

ago.

4. About twelve years from this time a great Danish Captain, called Hasting, came over to invade this country. And some say the other Danes, whom Alfred had beaten

and forgiven, broke their oaths and fought on the side of Hasting against the English.

5. But Alfred won another great victory over them all, and among the prisoners he took the wife and children of Hasting. He gave them up safe to Hasting, and then the Danes agreed to leave England for good.

6. You will hear a good deal more of the Danes and of the things they did in England, when Alfred was dead. But for the four years which he lived after this last great battle his kingdom was in peace.

7. After the battle Alfred set himself to work to repair all the damage the Danes had done in the wars. And he built ships, and churches, and colleges. And the churches. and the colleges and the ships were all built of wood.

8. He also began to write a History of England, and other books. And he set up schools, and brought home learned men from France and other countries to teach

the people. And so he ended his days doing his duty and serving God, and making his people safe, and good and wise and happy. Shortly before his death he said, 'So long as I have lived I have tried to live worthily.

9. You have now read enough to know why King Alfred is always called ALFRED THE GREAT.

I. I AM a happy wanderer,

With neither gold nor goods;
I find my bed-room every day
All ready in the woods.
My landlord's name is Sunshine,
His house is bright and gay,
His wine, the best I ever taste-
The morning dew in May.

2. My table under shady trees
Is spread where'er I stand,
And from the sunrise until night
There plays a glorious band.
The best is Mrs. Nightingale,
Who knows her rôle by heart;
Her joyous lay turns night to day,
And wakes me for my start,

3. And when the evening closes
A star shines out for me,
And I watch his merry winking
Beneath the linden tree.
All on the grass and flowers
I rest my weary head;

The stars so bright wake all the night
And watch above my bed.

Hannah Schmidlin.

I. THERE was once a mother who liked above all things to make her children happy; so one day she promised to make them a fine large pancake.

2. It will be such a fat pancake,' said the mother, tossing it into the pan. Now this was a very wonderful pancake; for it could hear and understand all that went on.

3. The pancake knew perfectly well that it was going to be eaten, and it did not at all like the prospect; so it sprang out of the frying-pan, rolled quickly to the door, and

then out upon the steep road, which was all down-hill from the cottage.

4. The mother and her two children were so astonished that, for a moment, they stood quite still, and so the pancake got the start. But as soon as they felt sure that the pancake was running away, they all ran after it as fast as they could, crying, 'Stop! stop!'

5. Of course such a sensible pancake was not likely to do anything of the sort. Away it went so quickly that it was soon out of sight; and the hungry children went back to the cottage with tears in their eyes, for there was neither flour nor eggs to make another pancake.

6. As the pancake rolled along, an old man came towards it, and he too cried out 'Stop!' for he thought such a fine pancake ought to be eaten; but it was of no use. A cock and a hen, a duck and a drake, a goose and a and a gander, one after the other, rushed out hoping to get a meal; but the pancake escaped every one of them, and rolled down the hill faster than ever.

7. At length a pig came to meet it, and instead of crying 'Stop!' he said 'Good morning;' so we must suppose that this pig had been well-taught, and knew how to behave himself.