more good to his country, if he staid and gave Pisistratus good advice, than if he tried to oppose him. But he did not live long after this; I believe only two years.

J. Mama, did these philosophers have wives and children?

'No

Mrs H. Sometimes they did, and sometimes they did not. Solon had a wife and children; and being once on a visit to Thales he asked him why he did not get married. At first he made no direct answer; but the next morning a stranger was introduced as having just come from Athens. And did you learn any news there?' asked Solon. thing in particular,' replied the stranger, 'except that people were all in grief for the death of a most excellent young man, whose father was absent.' Unhappy father!' returned Solon; did you learn his name?' I did, but have forgotten it, only that he was the man most respected in the whole city.' Questions were put by the trembling father, till he could no longer refrain from asking the one he most dreaded to hear answered, was the father's name Solon?' 'That was it,' replied the stranger. The heart-stricken man, now gave utterance to his grief in the most affecting manner, tearing his robes and his hair, perfectly frantic with sorrow and disappointment. But Thales, taking him by the hand exclaimed, 'Quiet

6

yourself my dear friend; all you have heard is a fiction; your beloved son is living; but you now see the reason why I never married; I do not wish to expose my life to such sorrows.'

F. I think that was a cruel way to explain

his reasons.

H. I should have gone home, and left Thales to his old batchelorism, after such a joke.

Mrs H. Now I think you have recited enough for to day, and unless you wish to ask some explanations, I believe I must leave you till to-morrow.

F. I should like to ask one explanation, mama, if you please. We saw the words 'Heraclidæ,' and Pelopidæ,' and some others like them in those books, and we did not know what they meant.

Mrs H. They mean the family descendants, of Hercules, Pelopidas, and others; this termination of the name is according to the construction of the Greek language.

J. But, mama, I thought Hercules was a god.

Mrs H. So he was; but he and many other heathen gods, were men who had signalized themselves by their success in war, or their great skill in hunting, and such like; and their godesses were the mothers or wives of these men, or sometimes ladies who were

famous for beauty, or some other qualification; and after the death of these persons, they were worshipped as gods, and were supposed still to direct human events as formerly.

CHAPTER IX.

HISTORY OF THE GRECIANS.

Mama, do you think we shall ever get through those great books?' inquired Henry, whose perseverance was beginning to give way to his love of change. Undoubtedly you will, if you hold to your resolution,'replied his mother. 'But it is tiresome being day after day at one study.' 'Yes, tiresome to those who have not resolution to overcome their faults; but I think this very study, is the best thing in the world for you, at your age and with your habits of restlessness, or perhaps I ought to say idleness: for when the novelty of a thing is worn off, you are quite too anxious to leave it for another. This inclination, my dear Henry, you must overcome, or it will give you a vast deal of trouble, all your life. H. Well, will you hear us now, mama, while Helen is asleep?

Mrs H. If you will not get into a frolic with Jane, as you are apt to while you recite, and wake her. But you may keep the books among yourselves, for I have this large work in my lap, and cannot hold any thing more.

F. We have several more of these poets and philosophers to tell about yet, mama. J.. But are such things of any consequence in history?

Mrs H. Yes; for it is thus that we get our ideas of the characters and manners of people. Who is your first story about, Frances?

F. About Pythagoras. He was born on the island of Samos about the time that Solon died; or in the year 3480; or 524 before Christ. He enriched his mind with the best knowledge the age afforded, by travelling into various countries, and learning all he could in each. He returned

to his own country, but did not stay there long, because Polyrates was so tyrannical in his government. He soon went to Italy, and established a school which soon became so famous that he sometimes had five hun

dred scholars at once; and the whole country soon felt the benefit of his instructions, for it became fashionable to study, and a love of learning spread all about the country. Multitudes flocked from the neighboring cities, and all the princes of the country thought it an honor to receive visits from Pythagoras. His scholars were so fond of him, and so satisfied with every thing he said, that they never attempted to inquire into the opposite side of