it was built better than it was before. Often it improves a city very much to be burned down, because the people have learned by that time to build better than they knew how to in the beginning."

"What useful geese they were," exclaimed Vial, "that gave warning when the Gauls were climbing up the hill! I should think they would have taken care of them ever after."

"They did," replied Glassée. "They were sacred geese, that belonged to the goddess Juno: that was her temple that they were in. Geese and peacocks and cuckoos were all consecrated to her of course they were taken fine care of. In the old times, long ago, they used to feed the geese, that were consecrated, upon figs and such nice things, to make them fat and good-flavored:

I suppose these were served in the same manner, and were treated better than ever, after they had been the means of saving the city. For you must know, that, if the Gauls had taken the Capi

tol, they might, perhaps, have kept possession of the city, and lived on in it forever."

"Oh, how sad and terrible that would have been!" all could all could not but exclaim. Glassée laughed outright. "Oh! I suppose they would have become civilized, and softened down in this beautiful country," she said: "only I am glad that they never did stop here; for I do not think that this city would have been so beautiful as it was if such great, shaggy, yellow-haired people as they were then had had the making of it."

They had had such a long, long sitting this day, that I presume the queen and all her fairy band could not have been at all sorry when Glassée seemed to have finished, although she had not quite completed all that she intended to relate at that time. But no matter: it would do quite as well the next day.

CHAPTER V.

THE FOURTH DAY.

WHEN they had all assembled on the morrow, Glassée eagerly began about the brave, brave old Regulus. What a noble old man he was! and how it makes one's heart beat to think how sturdily, devotedly, unselfishly he sacrificed himself for his country! At least, he was noble, patriotic, and unselfish according to the way of thinking in those times, when nobody was so troubled at the idea of making war as one is now, and when they thought it was the finest thing in the world to have an opportunity of fighting for one's country.

This is the story of the brave old Regulus. He went over to Africa with a large army of

soldiers, and fought with the Carthaginians, because they were at war with Rome. But, after a while, he was taken prisoner, and was thrust into a deep cell, and confined there with chains. His wife and children had been left in Rome; and, when he had been four years in the dungeon, the Carthaginians thought they would send him home, and let him try to make peace; for they were tired and weary of the war, and they supposed that he would be an admirable person for such a purpose. As he had been so long confined by chains and fetters, they thought he would be only too thankful to be free, and go home to his wife and children again. So they released him, and sent him home; but they made him promise to return to Carthage if he should not succeed in obtaining peace.

He came back then to Rome; but, when he had arrived at the gates of the city, he stopped, and would not pass in. All were surprised, and begged him to come to his home. But no: he said he was a slave, and therefore could not

go where free people were. Then the senators and consuls went outside of the city gate to talk with him; and he told them what the Carthaginians desired. They asked his advice; and he answered, “Do not make peace.” They were astonished, as, in that case, he would be obliged to return according to his word, and go into prison again, and they felt very badly about it; but he insisted that it must be so, because it would not be good for Rome, he said, to make peace then.

Then they all entreated him still to come into the city, and see his home once more; and his wife and his children sent and begged, again and again, that they might be permitted to go and see him: but he always refused. Perhaps he thought, that, if he should see them, he would no longer have courage to keep his word and return to his prison.

When the business was concluded, he bade farewell anew to Rome, and went straight back to Carthage, and announced that his countrymen