race; and more than a hundred thousand persons perished during this frightful siege!

10. At length the city was taken in the night-time, and set on fire. The flames caught the temple. The hills on which Jerusalem is situated were all blazing like so many volcanoes. The blood of the slaughtered inhabitants hissed upon the burning brands.

11. Ninety-seven thousand Jews were taken prisoners. Some were sold as slaves. The conquerors exposed others to be torn in pieces by wild beasts. A few people remained in Jerusalem, and partly rebuilt the city. But it was again destroyed by a Roman emperor named Adrian. He levelled the walls and houses with the earth, and sowed the ground with salt.

12. The Jews were scattered all over the world. This

catastrophe had long been prophesied. There are now between three and four millions of them in different parts of the earth. They still keep their religion, and many of their old customs. Jerusalem has been partially restored, but it is now very different from what it was in the time of our Saviour.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the greatest event that has occurred on the globe? How long is it since Christ was born? How long after the creation did Christ appear? Ans. Four thousand and four years. How long after the flood? 2. How did the Jews receive Christ? 3. What of Pilate? The crucifixion? 4. What did Christ's apostles do after his death? What of Paul? 5. What countries did Paul visit? Where was he at

When did he arrive
What is supposed to
What of the wor-

length sent? 6. Where was Paul's vessel wrecked? at Rome? To whom did he preach Christianity? have been his fate? 7. What had the apostles done? ship of the heathen deities? What of Christianity? 8. To whom had the Jews been long subject? What occurred forty years after the death of Christ? 9. What of Titus? Describe the siege of Jerusalem. 11. What of Adrian? 12. What became of the Jews? What event had been foretold by the prophets? What of Jerusalem?

CHAP. XXV.-ASIA continued.

CYRUS CONQUERS BABYLON. HIS DEATH.

It was

1. IN a former part of this book I have told the story of Assyria, the first great empire of ancient times. situated, as you remember, in the land watered by the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Its place is shown on the map which is there given. In this region the climate is warm, and the soil exceedingly fruitful. Here the human race seemed to multiply in the most wonderful manner.

2. Thus many nations soon sprang up and increased, till the whole surrounding country was filled with multitudes of people. Assyria, at one time, extended its dominion over most of these nations; but at length Persia became a powerful monarchy, and not only Assyria, but a great many other nations became subject to it.

3. The first inhabitants of Persia were descended from Elam, the eldest son of Shem. They were therefore called Elamites. Very little is known of their history till about

eighteen centuries after the deluge. Cyrus, a great conqueror, then ascended the throne of Persia. Some historians have spoken of Cyrus as a wise and excellent monarch, but it appears probable that he was no better than most other conquerors.

4. Cyrus continued to extend his empire in all directions. Media, Parthia, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Syria, Canaan, and parts of Arabia, were subdued, and made portions of his kingdom. One of his chief exploits was the taking of the city of Babylon, the capital of Assyria. The walls of this great city were so thick and high, that it would have been impossible for any enemy either to break them down, or to climb over them. It was, therefore, a very difficult matter to take this strong place.

5. Now, the channel of the river Euphrates ran directly through the centre of Babylon. Cyrus caused deep ditches to be dug around the city, so that he could draw off the water of the river, and leave the channel dry. When the ditches were completed, he waited for a proper time to draw off the river.

6. On a certain night, Belshazzar, king of Babylon, made a great festival. His guards, and nearly all the inhabitants, were eating and drinking, thoughtless of the enemy on the outside of their walls. The Persians seized this opportunity to throw open the dams of the ditches.

7. The whole water of the Euphrates immediately flowed into them. Cyrus put himself at the head of the Persian

army; and, where the mighty river had so lately rushed along there were now the trampling footsteps of an innumerable host. Thus the Persian troops entered the city.

8. The guards of the royal palace were surprised and slain. Belshazzar heard the clash of arms, and the shrieks of dying men, as he sat with his nobles in the banquet-hall, But it was too late to escape. They were all slaughtered, and their blood was mingled with the wine of the festival. Thus Babylon was taken, and Assyria became a part of Persia.

9. Cyrus afterwards marched against the Scythians, a brave nation, who dwelt to the north-east of the Caspian Sea. But Tomyris, their queen, collected an army, and fought a bloody battle with the Persians. Cyrus was defeated, and taken prisoner. The son of the Scythian queen had been killed in the battle, and she resolved to avenge his death. She ordered her attendants to kill Cyrus, which was done in a horrible manner.

Soil? The human race? Persia? Which way was What gulf lies south of

QUESTIONS.-1. What was the first great empire of the world? Where was Assyria situated? Climate of this region? 2. Increase of mankind? What of Assyria? Persia from Canaan? Arabia? Caspian Sea? Persia? 3. What of the first inhabitants of Persia? At what time did Cyrus ascend the throne of Persia? What of Persia before the time of Cyrus? Character of Cyrus? 4. What were some of the countries conquered by Cyrus? In which direction from Persia was Media? Parthia? Mesopotamia? Armenia? Syria? Canaan? Arabia? Describe the taking of Babylon. 8. What event terminated the Assyrian empire? 9 Where did the Scythians live? Their character? What of Cyrus?

CHAP. XXVI.-ASIA continued.

REIGN OF CAMBYSES.

1. CAMBYSES, the son of Cyrus, seems to have been a worse man than his father. He was addicted to drinking wine; and Prexaspes, a favourite courtier, hinted to him that he injured his health and faculties by this practice. When Prexaspes had done speaking, Cambyses called for wine, and drank off several large goblets. "Now we shall see," said he, "whether the wine has dimmed my sight, or rendered my hand unsteady!"

2. He then called for a bow and arrow, and ordered the son of Prexaspes to stand at the further end of the hall. The boy did so; and, while his father looked on, the cruel Cambyses took aim at the poor child, and shot an arrow directly through his heart.

3. I am very sorry, my dear young reader, to tell you such horrible stories as these. I would not tell them but that they are true, and they may teach us good and useful lessons: they may show us how wicked and miserable even kings may be.

4. They may also make us rejoice that we live in an age when such things do not happen. You must recollect that I am telling you of what took place many ages since. The people were then thought to be merely the playthings of their kings, and only made to serve them. Since that time,