audacious manner.

carries off fowls, or even lambs, in the most The wild cat haunts the shores of the lakes; and it is easy to know where to lay a trap for them. Having caught and killed one of them, if the body of their slain relative is left in some place not far from their usual hunting grounds, and surrounded with traps, every wild cat that passes near the place will to a certainty come to it, and be easily taken.

ST. JOHN'S "Highland Sports."

QUESTIONS.-1. Why is the wild cat becoming scarce? 2. Where are wild cats generally found? 3. What differences are there between the domestic and the wild cat? 4. When is the cry of the wild cat generally heard? 5. What effect has this cry upon the Highlander? 6. What is a Skye terrier? 7. What damage may a wild cat do if he takes up his abode near a house?

LESSON XXIX.

King Lear and his Three Daughters, I.

ex-trem'-i-ties, dangers, perils. | seem'-ing, looking.

cause'-less, needless.

de-cayed', died out.

plight'-ed, pledged, engaged.

pomp'-al, royal, magnificent.

sus-tain', support.

un-der-take', attempt, bear.

KING LEAR once ruled in this land

With princely power and peace;
And had all things with heart's content,
That might his joys increase.
Amongst those things that nature gave,
Three daughters fair had he,

So princely seeming, beautiful,
As fairer could not be.

So on a time it pleased the king
A question thus to move,

Which of his daughters to his grace

Could show the dearest love:

For to my age you bring content," Quoth he, "then let me hear, Which of you three in plighted troth The kindest will appear."

To whom the eldest thus began:

Dear father mine," quoth she, "Before your face to do you good,

My blood shall rendered be:
And for your sake my bleeding heart
Shall here be cut in twain,
Ere that I see your reverend age
The smallest grief sustain."

"And so will I," the second said,
"Dear father, for your sake,
The worst of all extremities
I'll gently undertake :

And serve your highness night and day
With diligence and love;

That sweet content and quietness

Discomforts may remove."

"In doing so, you glad my soul,"

66

The aged king replied;

But what sayest thou, my youngest girl, How is thy love ally'd?"

"My love," quoth young Cordelia then,

"And wilt thou show no more," quoth he, "Than doth thy duty bind?

I well perceive thy love is small,
When as no more I find.
Henceforth I banish thee my court,

Thou art no child of mine;
Nor any part of this my realm
By favour shall be thine.

"Thy elder sisters' loves are more

Than I can well demand,

To whom I equally bestow
My kingdom and my land,

My pompal state and all my goods,

That lovingly I may

With those thy sisters be maintain'd
Until my dying day."

Thus flattering speeches won renown
By these two sisters here;

The third had causeless banishment,
Yet was her love more dear:
For poor Cordelia patiently

Went wand'ring up and down,
Unhelp'd, unpitied, gentle maid,
Through many an English town.

Until at last in famous France

She gentler fortunes found;

Though poor and bare, yet she was deem'd The fairest on the ground:

Where, when the king her virtues heard,

And this fair lady seen,

With full consent of all his court,
He made his wife and queen.

Her father, King Lear, this while
With his two daughters stayed:
Forgetful of their promised loves,
Full soon the same decayed;
And living in Queen Regan's court,
The eldest of the twain,

She took from him his chiefest means,
And most of all his train.

For whereas twenty men were wont
To wait with bended knee,
She gave allowance but to ten,

And after scarce to three;

Nay, one she thought too much for him;

So took she all away,

In hope that in her court, good king,

He would no longer stay.

"Am I rewarded thus," quoth he,

In giving all I have

Unto my children, and to beg

For what I lately gave?

Full fast he hies then to her court;
Who, when she heard his moan,
Return'd him answer, that she griev'd
That all his means were gone;
But no way could relieve his wants;
Yet, if that he would stay
Within her kitchen, he should have
What scullions gave away.

When he had heard with bitter tears,
He made his answer then;
"In what I did, let me be made

Example to all men.

I will return again," quoth he,

"Unto my Regan's court;

She will not use me thus, I hope,
But in a kinder sort."