SUMMARY.

A gentleman named Rowland Hill was one day talking to a poor woman when the postman brought her a letter. The postage had not been paid, and the woman, after looking at the letter, gave it back to the postman, saying that she could not afford to pay anything. Rowland Hill paid the money for her. The letter was from her husband, and had certain marks on the outside by which she knew that he was well. Rowland Hill afterwards tried to find out some plan by which letters could be sent cheaply from one person to another. Soon after Queen Victoria began to reign the government were persuaded by Rowland Hill to use postage stamps, and to charge only a penny for each letter. In former times letters used to be taken from one town to another by boys on horseback.

XXXVII.—THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

1. In 1854 a great war was carried on in the south of Russia, in a part of the country called the Crimea. The English, French, and Turks, were fighting against the Russians.

2. In one of the many battles that were fought during that war an order was sent by some mistake or other for a small body of English horse-soldiers, known as "The Light Brigade," to charge the Russian army.

3. When their officer heard what his men were expected to do he was unwilling to obey the command, because he knew that very likely they would all be killed, and that no advantage would be gained by thus risking their lives.

4. But the captain who had taken the message to him repeated it again, and, pointing with his sword, said, "There are the enemy, there are the guns you are to take from them." The officer waited

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

91

no longer, but rode to his men and gave them the order to ride forward.

5. As soon as they began to advance they were met by quite a storm of shot and shell from the Russians. The cannon were in front and on each side of them, but, in spite of all the danger that

Russian guns and
Then the enemy

6. They went forward to the killed many of the gunners. closed round them, and they were in the greatest danger of being destroyed. By very hard fighting some of them were able to cut their way through

the Russians and return safely to their friends, but the greater number were killed.

7. All who saw the charge were very much surprised, and greatly admired the bravery of the soldiers. When the people at home heard of it they were very angry that such a mistake should have been made, and the officers who were to blame were ordered to return to England.

8. After the war had lasted about three years the great fort of Sebastopol was taken from the Russians, and soon afterwards peace was agreed upon between Russia and the allied forces.

Ad-vant'age, good, gain, benefit. Al'lied forces, the armies of England, France, and Turkey, who were joined together against Russia.

The Crimean War began,

Rus'si-a, a large country in the
east of Europe.
Se-bas'to-pol, a Russian fort on
the Black Sea.

Sur-pris'ed, astonished.
To charge, to attack.

SUMMARY.

A.D. 1854.

Not many years ago the English, French, and Turks were fighting against the Russians. The war was carried on in the Crimea, in the south of Russia. In one of the many battles, by some mistake a small body of English horse-soldiers, called "The Light Brigade," was sent to attack the Russian army. A few fought their way back to their friends, but the greater number were killed. All who saw the charge greatly admired the bravery of the soldiers. The people in England were very angry that such a mistake should have been inade. When the war had lasted three years the fort of Sebastopol was taken, and peace was soon afterwards agreed upon.

XXXVIII.-OUR QUEEN.

1. On the 24th of May, 1819, a little daughter was born to the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The Duke of Kent was brother to William the Fourth, and therefore the baby princess was the king's niece. Her parents gave her the name of Victoria. In course of time she became our queen, as her uncle had no children.

2. She lived very quietly at Kensington Palace

until she was eighteen years old. Then one morning she was aroused from her sleep to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury and other gentlemen, who brought the news that her uncle was dead, and that she was now the Queen of England.

3. They had hurried from Windsor Castle, where William the Fourth had died, and arrived at Kensington Palace very early in the morning, before

any of the inmates thought of rising. They knocked long and rang loudly before the doors were opened, and even when they were admitted they could not at once see the new sovereign.

4. The princess is in a sweet sound sleep," said her maid, "and I cannot disturb her." "She is now the Queen, and we have come to see her on affairs of state," was the reply; and then, of course, it was seen that she must be called.

5. Presently Her Majesty appeared in a loose white night-dress and shawl, with her hair falling over her shoulders. When she was told that she was now to be Queen, she burst into tears; but in a short time she became quite calm and collected, and ready to attend to the business which had to be done.

6. Three years afterwards the Queen married her cousin Albert, a German prince,—an amiable man, possessed of great abilities. He helped the Queen to perform her duties, and shared her cares and troubles. He was sometimes called the "Prince Consort."

7. They lived very happily together for twenty years, trying to train up their children to be good men and women, and to promote the welfare of the people. In the year 1861 Prince Albert died, to the great grief of the Queen and the nation.