for your kindness to strangers. Is there not some favor that we can grant you?" Then Philemon and Baucis both answered, "Let us finish our lives here where we have lived so long, and when the time comes for us to die let us both pass from life together." s "You shall have your wish," said Jupiter. Even while he spoke Philemon and Baucis saw a wonderful change come over their humble dwelling. Lofty columns took the place of the corner posts, the thatch was changed to a gilded roof, and the doors were hung with 10 ornaments of gold. The cottage was transformed into a beautiful temple. For many years the two old people were the keepers of the temple. But one day as they were standing outside and looking up into the sky, they felt themselves stiffen 15 so they could not stir. They had hardly time to say, 'Good-by, dear Philemon," and "Good-by, dear Baucis," when they were changed into two noble trees — he into an oak and she into a linden. Long, long ago the temple fell in ruins and was forgotten, but the trees still stand side by side on the slope of the hill. When the wind rises the poor people who pass that way hear the rustle of the leaves and see the branches caress each other; and they fancy that they hear the trees saying, "Dear Baucis!" - "Dear Philemon!" -Retold from Ovid's Metamorphoses. I. Find from a book of myths what positions Jupiter (Zeus) and Mercury (Hermes) held among the gods. 2. Myths have been told to account for almost everything. What does this one undertake to explain? 3. What was the wish of Baucis and Philemon? What would you wish for if you had been in their place? 4. What does the story teach us as to hospitality? 20 25 το 15 20 THE VISION OF BELSHAZZAR BY GEORGE GORDON BYRON HE king was on his throne, TH The satraps thronged the hall; The godless heathen's wine! In that same hour and hall, A solitary hand- And traced them like a wand. The monarch saw and shook, And expound the words of fear, A captive in the land, A stranger and a youth, He saw that writing's truth. The morrow proved it true. Is light and worthless clay; His canopy, the stone; The Mede is at his gate, The Persian on his throne!" 1. Lord Byron based his poem on a Bible story. See the fifth chapter of Daniel. Who was the captive that read the handwriting on the wall? Why was he called to interpret it? What was the interpretation? 2. The Medes and the Persians under Darius captured Babylon 538 B. C. The kingdom of Babylon has passed away but the city is still in existence. Where is it? ΤΟ THE SONS OF FERIDOUN BY JAMES BALDWIN IN VERY ancient times, when the world was young and men lived long, there was a king of Persia whose name was Feridoun. He had ruled his country wisely and well for more than five hundred years; and still, although his shair was white with age, his eyes were sharp as the eagle's, his arms were strong as bars of iron, and his feet were swift as those of the gazelle. He went constantly from one part of his kingdom to another, doing whatever he could to make his people happy. He sought out the things that were hidden, he righted that which was wrong, he ruled by kindness and love. Persia, during his reign, was like a garden of beauty watered by rivers of contentment and peace. But as the years passed and Feridoun grew older and older, it was 15 plain that he could not live and reign forever. Then his wise men and counselors began to ask each other, "Who shall be the ruler of our country when he is no more?" Now Feridoun had three young sons, fair and tall and strong, the joy and pride of his old age. But they were 20 as yet known only by the pet names of their babyhood, for he had not tested their hearts. At length, however, when they had come to the strength of manhood, he thought it time to determine which of the three was most worthy to sit on his throne. So he bade them get ready for a long 25 journey that they might visit the king of Yemen, who was his friend. The young men gladly obeyed him. They set out for Yemen with a great company of servants and warriors, with horses and camels and elephants as countless as the stars. The king of Yemen, when he learned of their coming, went forth to greet them; and his train was as grand as s their own glittering with silver and gold, and gorgeous as the plumage of a pheasant. For one whole year the sons of Feridoun dwelt in Yemen. And they wooed and won for themselves the three daughters of the king-princesses as fair as the moon and as sweet 10 as roses at the dawn of a summer day. At length, when the time came for them to return to their father, the king of Yemen loaded their camels and their elephants with much treasure and gave to each an umbrella of gorgeous beauty as a sign of kingly authority. Now when Feridoun learned that his sons were on their way home, he went out to meet them and to prove their hearts. "For," he said, "I will thus learn which is the worthiest to succeed me as ruler of the world." 15 By his art in magic he caused the form of a dragon to rise 20 from the earth a form without substance, yet terrible to see a dragon with eyes of fire and tongue of flame. This he placed in a narrow mountain pass, through which his sons would ride. When the young men with their train appeared, the 25 dragon of magic leaped out like a whirlwind. It beat upon the ground and raised a great dust, through which none could see. It roared terribly, like a lion of the desert. There was then great confusion among the horses, the camels, the elephants, and all who followed in the com- 30 pany of the princes. "What enemy is this who threatens us?" cried the eldest; |