7. "Great queen,” cried Takupi, “I acknowledge my crime; and since I am to be banished, I beg it may be to some ruined town or desolate village in the country I have governed." The request seemed reasonable, and a courtier had orders to fix upon a place of banishment answering the minister's description.

8. After some months' search, however, the inquiry proved fruitless. Neither a desolate village nor a ruined town was found in the kingdom. "Alas!" said Takupi then to the queen, "how can that country be il governed which has neither a desolate village nor a ruined town in it?" The queen perceived the justice of his expostulation, and the minister was received into more than former favour.

Goldsmith. "Citizen of the World."

Takupi is an imaginary person, and Tipartala an imaginary country. 1. Explain the terms imaginary, prime minister, confines, inspector, monuments, innovation, desolate.

2. How did Takupi prove himself to be a virtuous minister "? 3. Write down all words you can think of ending in our, such as favour.

A NOBLE DEED NOBLY REQUITED.

.I. MALCOLM MALCOLMSON, Esq. (for such is the name by which we are pleased to call him), was a gentleman holding a high appointment under Government in India at the time of the Indian Mutiny. Already the storm had broken in several places. Regiments had mutinied and murdered or driven away their officers. Still the gentlemen with whom Mr. Malcolmson was associated remained at their posts, transacting their ordinary duties, as Englishmen will, imperturbably amidst the general confusion.

2. At last the news is brought to them that the regiments at a neighbouring station had broken out into mutiny and were in full march in their direction, that their own soldiers were on the eve of declaring themselves, and that after four o'clock that afternoon their safety could not be assured. Hastily they gathered their effects together, and were preparing to depart, when a message reached them from a neighbouring Rajah, or native chief, with whom they had always been on friendly terms, that if they would trust themselves to him, he would protect them, and be answerable for their safe conveyance to the nearest British fortress.

3. They accepted his offer, and in a few hours were securely housed in a sort of upper verandah in his fort, where he daily fed them, and made them as comfortable as his means would allow. He dug up guns, which had been buried on the British annexing and pacifying the country. He assembled his

his

retainers, to the number of some five hundred, armed with long guns in the native fashion, under whose escort, after an interval of a few days, Mr. Malcolmson and his party proceeded to the river which divided them from the fortress of Allahabad, where the English still held out.

4. Earnestly they endeavoured to persuade the

Rajah to come over to the British side, but to no purpose. His friendship was to them personally, not to the British raj, which had circumscribed his power. So far as his political sentiments were concerned, he preferred the good old times of feudal anarchy, when he was a person of importance -times which the mutineers seemed likely to reestablish.

5. At least then, they urged, he would allow them

to present him with the 3000 rupees, which was all the money they possessed, for distribution amongst his followers. But no! he was resolved to receive nothing for his trouble. He desired that his hospitality should be bestowed without fee or reward. Accordingly, with many salaams and expressions of mutual goodwill, they parted, the English into Allahabad, where they were secure from injury, the Rajah and his body-guard to join the rebel army.

6. Months rolled past. The tide, which had flowed continuously in one direction, now set the other way. The gallant Havelock, at the head of a handful of Europeans and loyal natives, had achieved victory. after victory. Outram, "the Bayard of India," with walking-stick aloft, had charged again and again at the head of his heroes into the native hosts, scattering them like dust before the wind. Wake and Colvin and Vicars Boyle and Vincent Eyre are but a few out of the long list of illustrious names which stand out in imperishable light on those dark pages of the history of British India.

7. Mr. Malcolmson himself was transformed from a peaceful civilian into a volunteer trooper, and, amongst other prodigies he performed in the exercise of his novel duties, he was one of four Europeans who, at the head of 1000 Ghoorkas, attacked and routed a well-appointed army of 10,000 Sepoys, when, after the battle was won, he beheld to his sorrow the son of his old friend the Rajah lying dead upon the field.

8. Again another interval of victories, when, one

night, after Mr. Malcolmson had retired into his tent to rest, a Sowar awoke him to say that a messenger from the Rajah was waiting outside the lines, anxious for an interview. Instantly he hurried on his clothes and hastened to the spot, where the messenger informed him that his master, reduced to the last extremity, was desirous of making his peace, if his life were assured to him.

9. Mr. Malcolmson bade him invite his master to come in, for he had nothing to fear. The next morning, accordingly, he surrendered. His case was inquired into. Mr. Malcolmson and his friends exerted themselves in his favour. It was found, as was to be expected from his noble nature, that he had never once, except in fair fight, lifted his hand against an European; and not only was he accorded a free pardon, as was his due under the terms of the amnesty, but his estates and all his honours were restored to him, and he was re-established in the position he had occupied before.

10. His son was left upon the battle-field, and the dead can never be called to life again; but the old man had other descendants, one of whom is now living in affluence in England, to testify at once to the clemency of the British Government, and to the gratitude of those by whose interposition his grandsire's noble deed was so nobly requited.

U

The Indian Mutiny, or revolt of the native troops in India against the British Government, commenced in January, 1857, and ended with the complete subjugation of the mutineers in 1859.