QUESTIONS. 1. Where is Switzerland? Describe the appearance of the country.- -2. What of the people?- -3. What of Albert the First? What of Gesler?- -4. What of William Tell? -5. How did Switzerland obtain her liberty?- -6. What legend Have the Swiss concerning William Tell and his two companions? -7. What of Switzerland since the time of Tell ?- -8. What of the Swiss people?

CHAPTER CXIX. EUROPE continued.-Sequel of German History.

1. I WILL now proceed with the history of Germany. Charles the Fifth was the most renowned of the emperors of Germany. He was likewise king of Spain, and ruler of the Netherlands, and part of Italy.

2. When this great potentate was fifty-seven years old, he grew weary of pomp and power: he therefore resigned his crown to his son Philip, and went to live in a monastery in Estremadura in Spain. He dressed

very plainly, and occupied himself in saying his prayers and working in a garden.

3. One day, he wrapt himself in a shroud and lay down in a coffin, stretching himself out as if he were dead, and then ordered his attendants to carry him to the tomb. The reader must not suppose that the emperor meant to be buried alive: he merely wished to keep himself in mind that his life must soon close. But the ceremony hastened his end; for it brought on a fever, of which he died, in 1558. 4. Ferdinand the Second, who began to reign in 1619, was called by the Catholics the Apostolic Emperor, because he was a bitter persecutor of the Protestant inhabitants of Germany. This gave rise to what is called the Thirty Years' War; the Protestants sought the aid of Gustavus Adolphus, the king of Sweden, who accordingly invaded Germany, and gained many victories, but was killed at the battle of Lutzen.

5. The subsequent history of Germany does not abound with the sort of events which my young readers would be desirous of knowing. Few or none of the later emperors performed any remarkable actions.

6. The emperor of Germany, as I have mentioned above, was generally a prince of the Hapsburgh family. The territories of Austria were enlarged by the successive emperors, and it finally became great and powerful.

7. In 1792, Francis the Second became emperor of Germany. He undertook a war against the French, but his armies were routed, and, in 1806, he was compelled to resign the title of emperor of Germany, and took that of emperor of Austria. His empire, at the time of his death, which happened in 1835, was one of the most powerful sovereignties of Europe, and deserves a separate chapter.

QUESTIONS. 1. What of Charles the Fifth ? anecdote of him.- -3. When did Charles the 4. When did Ferdinand the Second begin to reign?

-2. Relate an Fifth die ? What of him?

What were the Protestants forced to do?-5. What of the late emperors of Germany?-7. With what countries has Austria waged war?-8. Who became emperor of Germany in 1792 ? What took place in 1806? What of the Austrian empire?

1. AUSTRIA is an extensive and powerful empire, lying south of Russia and Poland, and north of Turkey. On the west, it is bounded by the German states, Switzerland, and Italy.

2. The dukedom of Austria was formerly part of Germany, and is still considered as belonging to it; but of late years other countries have been added to the empire which do not belong to Germany; it now includes Hungary, Bohemia, part of Poland, part of Italy, and many other states which were formerly independent. Its present population is about thirty-two millions.

3. Vienna, the capital of the German part of Austria, is one of the most splendid cities in Europe, and is situated on the Danube, which is here a large river. In winter it is frozen over, and the people amuse themselves by sliding, skating, and driving upon it in sledges. The scene presented at such a time is very gay and pleasant.

4. In summer, the inhabitants resort to the public gardens, which are extensive and beautiful. Here are fine walks, where you may see people of all kinds. There are ladies and gentlemen taking the air, boys and girls scampering about, men with monkeys taught to dance, and a multitude of curious sports. The gentlemen of Austria are very fond of hunting wild boars, which are common in that country.

5. In the German part of Austria, which is the eastern portion, the inhabitants speak the German language, and have the manners and customs of Germany. The history of this country has been partly told: in early times it was occupied by tribes of barbarians; and at a later period it formed one of the states of the German empire.

6. At this time it was called an archduchy, and was governed by an archduke, who was, however, subject to the emperor. Rodolph of Hapsburgh succeeded to the government of the empire in 1273, as I have told you, and from him the subsequent sovereigns of Austria have descended. After his time, Austria rapidly increased in power, and at length its archduke was usually elected emperor of Germany.

7. It has since been engaged in many wars, particularly with Prussia, Turkey, and France. In 1683, the Turks pushed their arms into the heart of the empire, and laid siege to Vienna, but were finally driven back.

8. In 1809, Austria was involved in war with Buonaparte. She had well-trained soldiers and able generals, but the French emperor beat them in several pitched battles, and finally entered Vienna. Here he made peace

with the emperor, but took from him a large portion of his dominions.

9. These, however, after the fall of Napoleon, were recovered; and at the present day, Austria is considered as one of the leading powers of Europe.

QUESTIONS. 1. Where does Austria lie? Its boundaries ?

2. To what does Austria belong? What does it now include ?3. What of Vienna? What of the Danube ? Amusements ?

4. What of the public gardens ?- -5. What of the German part of Austria? What of it in ancient times? At a later period?6. What was it called at this time? Who succeeded to the empire in 1273? What of Austria and its archduke ?-7. What of the wars of Austria? What happened in 1683 ?- -8. What happened in 1809? What did Buonaparte do ?- -9. How may Austria be considered at the present day?