LESSON LXVI THE TWO BROTHERS. About the time that so many people went over to South America, with the hope of finding gold and silver, there was a Spaniard, whose name was Pizarro, that had a great inclination to try his fortune like the rest; but having an elder brother, for whom he had a very great affection, he went to him, told him his design, and solicited him earnestly to go, promising him that he should have an equal share of all the riches that he obtained. * The brother, whose name was Alonzo, was a prudent man, and of a contented disposition; he therefore did not much approve of the project, and endeavoured to dissuade Pizarro from it, by setting before him the dangers to which he would expose himself, and the uncertainty of his success. Finding that all he said was in vain, he agreed to go with him, but told him at the same time, that he wanted no part of the riches that he might obtain, and he would ask no other favour than to have his luggage, and a few servants taken on board the vessel with him. Pizarro, having sold all that he possessed, bought a vessel, and embarked with several adventurers, who had all great expectations, like himself, of soon becoming rich. As to Alonzo, he took nothing with him but a few ploughs, harrows, and other farming implements, also a quantity of corn and potatoes, together with some seeds of the different kinds of vegetables then used for food. After sailing sometime with prosperous winds, they put into the last port where they were to stop, before coming to the country in which they intended to search for gold. Here Pizarro bought a number of pickaxes, shovels, and other tools for digging, also the necessary conveniences for melting and refining the gold he expected to find. Alonzo, on the contrary bought only a few sheep, some stout oxen with their harness, and food enough to subsist them till thy should arrive at their destination; providence favoured them with a successful voyage, and they all landed in perfect health. Alonzo then told his brother, that, as he had only come to accompany and serve him, he would stay near the shore with his servants and cattle, while Pizarro and his companions went farther into the country in search of gold, and when they had obtained as much as they desired, he would always be ready to embark with them to Spain. Pizarro accordingly set out with so great a contempt for his brother's narrow mind, that he could not avoid expressing it to his companions; "I always thought," said he, "that my brother was a man of sense; he bore that character in Spain, but I find that people were strangely mistaken in him. Here he is going to divert himself with his sheep and oxen, as if he were living quietly upon his farm at home; but we know better what to do with our time; so come along my lads, and if we have but good luck, we shall soon be enriched for the rest of our lives." To be continued. LESSON LXVII. GEOGRAPHY. The surface of the globe on which we live consists of land and water, about one third being land, and the remaining two thirds water; the land is usually divided into four great portions, called Quarters, namely Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Europe is estimated to contain about four millions of square miles, Asia sixteen, Africa eleven, and America fifteen; to every square mile in Europe, we may allow sixty inhabitants, in Asia thirty, in Africa eight, and in America three. The number of inhabitants existing on the surface of the earth, is supposed to be about nine hundred millions, and of these, perhaps, two sixths may be considered Christians, one sixth Mo-ham'-me-dans, and the remaining part, that is, one half, Pagans, or such as have not the revealed will of God to direct them. Although Europe is much the smallest of the great divisions of the earth, yet it may be considered the most important, and the most powerful; in it the arts and sciences are cultivated to a much greater extent than in any of the other quarters, and its inhabitants are distinguished for their knowledge, their energy, and their refinement. Asia is the largest and the most populous of the four quarters, and taken as a whole the most fertile; it was also first peopled, it was the residence of our first parents, and the scene of most of the interesting events mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures. In Asia is Jerusalem, once the celebrated capital of the Jewish nation, although now an inconsiderable place, with a population considerably under twenty thousand; it is still much frequented by pilgrims who visit it for the purposes of devotion. In Asia also is the Chinese Empire, estimated to contain upwards of three hundred millions of inhabitants, or one third of the whole human race; in it is also the famous Great Wall, measuring fifteen hundred miles in length, twenty-five feet in height, and sufficiently broad to allow five men to ride abreast. This wall was built more than two thousand years ago, to protect the Chinese from the incursions of the Tartars. The leading features of Africa are its vast deserts of burning sand, the ignorance and uncivilized state of the inhabitants in the interior of the country, and the number, and the savage nature of its wild beasts. The greater part of Africa lies within the torrid zone, that is, near the equator, and the climate is very hot, especially when the winds acquire additional heat from passing over the burning sands; the climate is therefore, unfavourable for health, and also for civilization. The immense continent of America was unknown to the rest of the world till the year 1492, when it was discovered by Columbus, a native of Gen'-o-a, a city in Italy; the length of the whole continent is about nine thousand miles, and its average width about two thousand, and it enjoys every variety of climate found on the globe. The distinguishing features of America are its great extent, the grandeur of its rivers, the height and size of its mountains, the extent of its lakes, some of which might be called inland seas, and the richness of its mines in the precious metals. LESSON LXVIII. THE CHAMELEON.-PRINCIPLE PUT TO THE TEST. Oft has it been my lot to mark Two travellers of such a cast, Ka-me'-le-on. |