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Short Chapters on English Bistory.

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THE DANES.

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T was nearly 380 years after the first Saxons came here with their two pirate chiefs, Hengist and Horsa, that England began to have only one king. There were still some other princes, who bore that title, but they had so little power, that they could hardly be called kings; so that a brave prince, named Egbert, who conquered the last kingdom of the Heptarchy, is usually called the first king of England. The civil wars were thus for a time ended; but it seemed as if the English were never to be long at peace, for they now had some terrible enemies to contend with, who kept the country in constant alarm. These were the Danes, who came from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and were almost the same people as the Saxons; for they spoke the same language, followed the same customs, and lived by piracy, as the Saxons did in former times.

I have not room to tell you of half the mischief they did in England. Sometimes they would land suddenly from

their boats in the night, when the affrighted people were awakened by a cry of, "The Danes! the Danes!" and, starting up, perhaps, beheld the villages in flames; and, as they ran in terror from their cottages, were either killed or dragged away to the pirate vessels, with the cattle and anything else that could be found, and made slaves of.

Egbert had fought a battle with them in Cornwall, and forced them to depart; but, during the reign of Ethelwulf, the next king, and three of his sons, they not only attacked the towns and villages on the sea-coast, but used to seize the horses and ride about the country in search of plunder. They broke into the monasteries, where the people often put their money and jewels for safety; and if the inmates made any resistance they would set the building on fire. Then they set up fortified camps in many places; that is, a number of tents, close together, like a town, surrounded with a wall or ditch; and thus a great many of the Danes established themselves in the country, and conquered all the northern part of it. This was the sad state of affairs when Alfred the Great came to the throne.

I dare say you have heard of this good prince, who was the youngest and favourite son of Ethelwulf, for he was the cleverest and the best. His mother, being an accomplished lady, tried to teach all her sons to read; but none of them would learn except Alfred, who afterwards went to Rome to study Latin, and learn to write, so that he was a good scholar for those times. His three brothers had all reigned in turn, and were all dead by the time he was twenty-two years old, therefore he was then heir to the crown: but insead of being able to think about the best way of governing

the country, he was obliged to get together as many soldiers as he could, and go out with them to fight the Danes. There was no regular army then, as there is now; but, when the king wanted soldiers, he sent to all the noblemen and landholders in the kingdom, who were obliged to come themselves and bring so many men with them, according to the size of their estates; some on horseback, some on foot, and all well armed.

You must remember that people could not buy land then for money, nor have it for paying rents; but large estates were given to the thanes and nobles by the king, on condition that they should perform certain services for him; and you have already seen how the vassals of the nobles held their little farms on similar terms. This was called the feudal system, which means, holding land for services, instead of rent; and the person holding the land was called the vassal of him to whom it belonged, whether rich or poor; so the nobles were the vassals of the king, and the ceorls were the vassals of the nobles.

Che Boastful Donkey.

BY W. C.

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N ass whose shallow head had become elated from living in a beautiful green meadow for some weeks, with nothing to do, and who had not only grown very sleek and fat, but also very proud, began at last to think there was no person so clever, so great, or so good as he, and quite forgot his ugly ears, which would show themselves, however he might try to hide them and to appear clever.

One day, when he had been thinking himself much greater than usual, and rolling over and over in the enjoyment of the idea, a lion, who was taking a quiet walk, crossed the meadow, and seeing Master Jack, he thought it very fortunate to have met with a person with whom he could hold a little conversation,

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"Good morning, Master Jack," said the lion, I hope I see you in such good health and spirits as to fully enjoy this beautiful day.

"Thank you, Master Lion, I believe I am pretty well,

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but as to the weather, I seldom trouble myself about that, being engaged in things of more importance;" saying which he endeavoured to look great and thoughtful and to fill the lion with the awe of his

presence.

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Indeed!" said the lion, not at all overawed by his manner, but, on the contrary, when he found him so conceited, promised himself some fun, "pray, what may your thoughts be engaged upon, then?"

"That is my business," replied he, and, stretching his neck, he brayed very loudly; in order to prevent the lion's asking any more questions, for like most boastful persons, he feared his ability of answering them, and for that reason endeavoured to intimidate him.

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