us in the bed of the river by the waterside, and we rode toward our camp, well satisfied with the day's work. SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER. 66 Explain the expressions: "broken cover" (1); "bearing down " (2); awaited the onset (3); "the great leader came straight at me" (4). His Sir Samuel White Baker, the African traveler and explorer, was born in England in 1821, and died December 30, 1893. He was educated as an engineer, and at an early age went to Ceylon. love of field-sports and of adventure led him to undertake a journey of exploration on the Upper Nile. In 1862, accompanied by his wife, he reached Khartoum, in Africa, and then ascended the White Nile. On March 14, 1864, after a perilous journey, he reached a vast inland sea, to which he gave the name of Albert 'Nyanza. For this he was knighted. He wrote many books of travel and adventure, the principal ones being "The Albert 'Nyanza" and "The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia." ĕs eu' ri al; n. a palace of the kings of Spain. 4. ěm bog' omed; v. half con 2. plǎids; n. narrow woolen garments or pieces of cloth worn round the waist or on the shoulders, and reaching to the knees 7. In' no vā' tions; n. unreasonor feet. cealed. able changes or alterations. The Hospitality of the Spanish People. 1. The moon was bright and beautiful, and enabled the travelers to see the royal hunting-box and woods, and the rest of the fine scenery through which they passed, so that the journey was far less intolerable than usual, as is often the case when a thing has been much dreaded beforehand. At four o'clock in the morning they were turned out, shivering with cold, at a wayside station, where they were to take the train to Avila; but, to their dismay, were told, by a sleepy porter, that the six o'clock train had been taken off, and that there would be none till ten the next morning, so that all hopes of arriving at Avila in time for church (and this was Sunday) were at an end. 2. The station had no waiting-room, only a kind of corridor with two hard benches. Establishing the children on these, for the moment, with plaids and shawls, one of the party went off to some cottages at a little distance off, and asked in one of them if there were no means of getting a bedroom and some chocolate. A very civil woman got up and volunteered both; so the tired ones of the party were able to lie down for a few hours' rest in two wonderfully clean little rooms, while their breakfast was preparing. The question now arose for the others: "Was there no church anywhere near?" It was answered by the people of the place in the negative. "The station was new; the cottages had been run up for the accommodation of the porters and people engaged on the line; there was no village within a league or two." 66 3. Determined, however, not to be baffled, one of the party inquired of another man, who was sleepily driving his bullocks into a neighboring field, and he replied that over the mountains, to the left, there was a village and a curé; but that it was a long way off, and that he only went on great festivals." It was now quite light; the lady was strong and well, and so she determined to make the attempt to find the church. Following the track pointed out to her by her informant, she came to a wild and beautiful mountain-path, intersected by bright, rushing streams, crossed by stepping-stones, the ground perfectly carpeted with wild narcissus and other spring flowers. 4. Here and there she met a peasant tending his flocks of goats, and always the courteous greeting of "God be with you!" or "God guard you!" as heartily given as returned. At last, on rounding a corner of the mountain, she came on a beautiful view, with the Escurial in the distance to the left; and to the right, embosomed as it were in a little nest among the hills, a picturesque village, with its church tower and rushing stream and flowering fruit-trees, toward which the path evidently led. This sight gave her fresh courage, for the night journey and long walk, undertaken fasting, had nearly spent her strength. 5. Descending the hill rapidly, she reached the village green just as the clock was striking six, and found a group of peasants, both men and women, sitting on the steps of the picturesque stone cross in the centre, opposite the church, waiting for the Curé to come out of his neat little house close by, to say the first Mass. The arrival of the lady caused some astonishment; but, with the inborn courtesy of the people, one after the other rose and came forward, not only to greet her, but to offer her chocolate and bread. She explained that she had come for Communion, and would go into the church. 6. The old, white-haired clerk ran into the house to hasten the curé, and soon a kind and venerable old man made his appearance, and asked her if she wished to see him first in the confessional. He could scarcely believe she had been in Segovia only the night before. Finding that she was hurried to return and catch the train, he instantly gave her both Mass and Communion, and then sent his housekeeper to invite her to breakfast, as did one after the other of the villagers. 7. Escaping from their hospitality with some difficulty, on the plea of the shortness of the time and the length of the way back, the English lady accepted a little loaf, for which no sort of payment would be heard of, and walked, with a light heart, back to the station, feeling how close is the religious tie which binds Catholics together as one family, and how beautiful is the hearty, simple hospitality of the Spanish people when untainted by contact with modern innovations and so-called progress. There was not a time during the four months that our travelers spent in this country when this natural, high-bred courtesy was not shown. LADY HERBERT. LESSON VIII. 1. stub' bled; a. covered with the stumps of wheat and other grain left in the ground. 1. Yūle; n. Christmas. 3. rough-hewn; a. roughly cut. 4. un blěnch' ing; adv. not drawing back through fear. 7. chāfed; v. rubbed. 8. på podsè'; n. a young child, 10. wạm' pŭm; n. ornaments made of small shells. 5. gut' tur al; α. hoarse; 12. Im pēach'; v. bring discredit formed in the throat. on; call in question. Lady Yeardly's Guest. 1. 'Twas a Saturday night, midwinter, To welcome the Christmas in. 2. "Ah, so! We'll be glad to-morrow," As she looked at the eager workers, "For heaven is just as near As if he were with us here. 3. "So choose ye the pine and holly, The happy old walls at home." 4. She sighed. As she paused, a whisper Set quickly all eyes a-strain : "See! See!" and the boy's hand pointed, "There's a face at the window-pane!" One instant a ghastly terror Shot sudden her features o'er; 5. "Who be ye that seek admission? This night is a night above others "I come from the great Three Rivers, |