to discover how it was possible to argue about Satan carried her right through "Paradise Lost." Croll, the ingenious evolver of a celebrated theory upon the causes of the glacial epoch, was considered a remarkably stupid boy until, one day, he was attracted by an engraving of a grizzly bear carrying a dead horse across a one-tree bridge. Curiosity awoke, the impulse thus imparted extended to other subjects, and the bear did more for the youth than all the bear-leaders. Some Such anecdotes are highly encouraging, and show the possibilities of usefulness which may be latent in one well-selected paragraph. Be the extracts in this volume well or ill chosen, it is hoped that there may not be one, even among the purely fanciful, incapable of suggesting in a happy moment something beyond itself. especial considerations have been borne in mind. The character of such a collection must be mainly objective. Passages involving much thought or study would manifestly be out of place. Yet a wide field remains for the encouragement of subjective feeling in connection with the simple instinctive virtues-courage, generosity, humanity, friendship, the domestic affections, truthfulness, honesty, patriotism. These will, no doubt, be better inculcated by objective representation than by disquisition, and it is hoped that the proportion of pieces with this express tendency may be deemed sufficiently ample. Should any think otherwise, they may be reminded that this is not a first reading book, but the successor of others in which the building up of character has been steadily kept in view, and that, as the pupil advances in years and in the faculty of appreciating purely literary excellence, this excellence assumes more and more importance. Apart from the considerations already stated, the principle by which the compiler of this reading book has been chiefly guided has been the desire of freshness. It is believed that the majority of the passages now brought together have not been used before. It is hoped that all are animated, picturesque, or instructive, according to the nature of the particular mark aimed at, and in harmony with the taste and feeling of the present day. It is nevertheless desirable that some should be old without being antiquated, and should afford examples of literary manner not habitual, or indeed possible, in modern times. Nothing is more strongly to be deprecated in the interests of literature than a breach of continuity with the past, and this will be best averted by so accustoming the young to the style of their ancestors that they may acquire a relish for the graces of even a somewhat archaic diction, and that the speech which has expressed so many noble thoughts in eloquent phrase may never come to appear a dead language. With so rich a literature as that of Britain to draw upon, it has not been necessary to incur many obligations for the insertion of copyright pieces. The thanks of the editor are due to Mr. George Allen for permission to include "The Two Captains," by William Cory, and to Mr. P. W. Joyce, LL.D., for the liberal use which he has permitted to be made of his " Old Celtic Romances," the most exquisitely charming of all modern versions of ancient legend. R. GARNETT. LITERATURE READER. 1. THE VALLEY OF DIAMONDS. We went from island to island, and bartered our goods very profitably. One day we landed on an island which was covered with a variety of fruit trees, but so desert that we could not discover any habitation, or the trace of a human being. We walked in the meadows, and along the brooks that watered them; and whilst some of my companions were amusing themselves with gathering fruits and flowers, I took out some of the wine and provisions I had brought with me, and seated myself by a little stream under some trees, which afforded a delightful shade. I made a good meal of what I had with me, and when I had satisfied my hunger, sleep gradually stole over my senses. I cannot say how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was no longer in view. I was much surprised at this circumstance, and rose to look for my companions; but they were all gone, and I could only just descry the vessel in full sail, at such a distance that I soon lost sight of it. You may imagine what were my reflections when I found myself in this dismal state. I thought I should have died with grief. I groaned and shrieked aloud; I beat my head, and threw myself on the ground, where I remained a long time, overwhelmed by a rushing current of thoughts, each more distressing than the last. I reproached myself a thousand times for my folly in not being contented with my first voyage, which ought to have satisfied my craving for adventure; but all my regrets were of no avail, and my repentance came too late. At length I resigned myself to the will of Heaven, and not knowing what would become of me, I ascended a high tree, from whence I looked on all sides, to try if I could not discover some object to inspire me with hope. Casting my eyes towards the sea, I could discern only water and sky; but perceiving on the land side a white spot, I descended from the tree, and taking up the remainder of my provisions, I walked towards the object, which was so distant that at first I could not distinguish what it was. As I approached, I perceived it to be a ball of prodigious size; and when I got near enough to touch it, I found it was soft. I walked round it to see if there was an opening, but could find none; and the ball appeared so smooth that any attempt to climb it would have been fruitless. Its circumference might be about fifty paces. The sun was then near setting; the air grew suddenly dark, as if obscured by a thick cloud. I was surprised at this change, but how much did my |