sel, and as it was borne along swiftly by the breeze, his eyes were fixed in watchfulness on the dusky horizon, until it was hid by the darkness of night. His anxiety prevented all disposition to sleep, and as he sat, with the silence of midnight around him, suddenly a light appeared, which seemed like a torch in the hand of a person, raising and lowering it as he walked. Long, very long, no doubt, appeared the hours from that moment until the dawning of the day. At length that dawn. came. It was the 12th of October, in the year 1492, and the little vessel of Columbus became to him what "the mountain of Nebo," was to the leader of Israel; for as Moses had been led through the dangers of the wilderness, to that mount from which he saw "the promised land," so Columbus had been guided by the same mighty hand over the desert of the ocean, to a spot from which his joyful eyes beheld the unknown land, on which his thoughts and hopes had been for many years engaged. It was a beautiful level island, covered with trees like an orchard, and the inhabitants were soon seen running towards the shore, to gaze at the wonderful sight which was presented by the little fleet of Columbus. He entered his small boat, and was rowed to the rural spot; he sprung on it with joy, and kneeled down to offer thanksgiving to God with tears of gratitude. As he approached, the wild natives fled; but one of

them, more courageous than the rest, ventured to return; and others, seeing that he was not harmed, soon joined him. They expressed their astonishment by making signs that they thought Columbus and his companions had come from the sky, and that the sails of the vessels were the wings on which they had flown down. He remained all the day amidst the refreshing groves, noticing the artless natives, and giving to them glass beads, and other trifles, which they received with wonder and gladness, and brought in return cakes, formed from the roots of a plant which they cultivated in their fields. They had ornaments of gold around their necks, and made Columbus understand that they got them from a country to the south of their island. As he thought that the island was near India, he called the natives Indians; and that name has been continued to all the original inhabitants of the new world. He gave the name of San Salvador to the island; it is one of the cluster which is now called the Bahamas.

When he had spent two days in examining the island, he determined to sail again and visit others, which he understood from the natives, were not distant. He continued sailing in different directions, and discovered the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola; he then returned to Spain, and entered the port of Palos, March 15, 1493, after an absence of 7 months and 12 days. When the inhabitants heard of

his arrival, there was a great tumult; and when they knew he had discovered "the unknown land," and that some of the natives had willingly returned with him, they were ready to receive him with such honours as they would have paid to the king. What a contrast to the time of his departure, when every tongue was uttering lamentations or abuse !

When the king and queen heard of his return and success, they ordered great preparations to be made for welcoming him, and he was every where surrounded by a wondering and admiring multitude. Who would have thought that he was the same Columbus, who but a few years before, had stood at the convent gate, begging bread and water for his child! In the course of the next twelve years he made four very important voyages, and in honour of him, all the newly found world should have been called Columbia. He was deprived of this distinction, by a rich merchant of Italy, Amerigo Vespucio, who sailed with a large fleet, in 1501, and aided by the publications and maps of Columbus, reached a more southern part of the continent than the great discoverer, and gave so interesting an account of his voyage, and of the country he had seen, that his name was given to it, as if the discovery were his. But the people have given the names Columbia and Columbus to

several places in America, especially in the United States, where there is a district called Columbia, in which is the city of Washington, the seat of government. Thus the names of the two great men are connected, to whose genius and virtue our country owes so much.

While he was engaged in making discove ries, Columbus endured various trials of mind, and toils of body; and after all his faithful services, the king of Spain refused even to furnish him the means of paying his seamen, for whom he pleaded earnestly, although many of them had acted as his enemies. The amiable queen, Isabella, was an unchanged friend; but she died, and then it was vain for Columbus to ask for justice. He wrote to a friend, that he had done all in his power, and that he left the result to God, who had never forsaken him in his time of need. In his seventieth year, he felt that all his cares would soon cease, and he settled his earthly affairs and prepared for death. He charged his children to be active in spreading abroad the Christian religion; and on the 20th of May 1506, he uttered his last words, which were, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

The accounts which had been published by Columbus, caused many nations to desire to have possession of some portions of the new world. French, Dutch, and English