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Life's closing stage-old age. The stages were places on the road where coaches stopped to change horses: the closing stage was the end of the journey.

QUESTIONS.

What trees flourish in India? Spain | branches? leaf? acorns? What is someand Portugal? France? What trees here named grow in England? Where is the yew commonly found? and the willow? What is said of the birch? poplar? beech? Which of all British trees is the poet's favourite? What is said of the stem of the oak? its

times found growing on the oak? When is the mistletoe used? Of what are the oak buds a type? What are made of oak timber? Why is the oak called the forest's king? Why is it called man's castle on the sea?

Pronounce and explain-exalt, exult; Britain, Briton ; poplar, popular; beech, beach'; yew, ewe; glassy, glossy; pearl, peril.”

DICTATION.

He who exalts himself shall be humbled. The giant exults in his strength. The people of Britain are Britons. The poplar is a tall tree. Penny-readings are popular in the country. Was the beech growing near the sea-beach? The ewe and lamb lay under the shide of the yew. The zephyr ripples the glassy lake. Her glossy skin was streaked with blood. The pearl-diver was in great peril.

XXXIV.-THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN (1388).

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In-ter rup'-tions, hindrances.
In-sult'-ing, insolent.

Is'-su-ing, coming out, emerging.
Lim'-it, confine.

Out-num'-bered, surpassed in
number.

Pa'-tron, protector.
Re-pre-sent'-ed, pictured

Sal'-lied, rushed out.

Sub'-ject, theme, topic.
Tro'-phy, prize.

Un-dis'-ci-plined, untrained, dis-
orderly.

IN 1388, the Scottish nobles had determined upon an invasion of England on a large scale, and had assembled a great army for that purpose. But learning that the people of Northumberland were raising an army on the eastern frontier, they resolved to limit their incursion to

what might be achieved by the Earl of Douglas with a chosen band of four or five thousand men.

With this force Douglas penetrated into the mountainous frontier of England, where an assault was least expected; and issuing forth near Newcastle, he fell upon the flat and rich country around, slaying, plundering, and burning, and loading his army with spoil.

Percy, Earl of Northumberland, with whom Douglas had frequently had encounters, sent his two sons, Sir Henry and Sir Ralph Percy, to stop the progress of the invaders. Both were gallant knights; and the former, who, from his impetuosity, was called Hotspur, was one of the most distinguished warriors in England, as Douglas was in Scotland. The brothers threw themselves hastily into Newcastle, to defend that important town; and as Douglas, in an insulting manner, drew up his followers before the walls, they sallied out to skirmish with the Scots.

In the struggle that ensued, Douglas got possession of Hotspur's spear, which had attached to it a small ornament of silk embroidered with pearls, on which was represented a lion, the cognizance of the Percies. Douglas shook this trophy aloft, and declared that he would carry it into Scotland, and plant it on his Castle of Dalkeith. "That," said Percy, "shalt thou never do. I will regain my lance before thou canst get back into Scotland.” "Then," said Douglas, "come to seek it, and thou shalt find it before my tent."

The Scottish army now began their retreat up the vale of the Reed, which afforded a tolerable road, leading north-westward to their own frontier. They encamped at Otterburn, about twenty miles from the Scottish border, on the 19th of August, 1388.

In the middle of the night, the alarm arose in the

Scottish camp that the English host were coming up, and the moonlight showed the approach of Sir Henry Percy, with a body of men superior in number to that of Douglas. He had already crossed the Reed, and was advancing towards the left flank of the Scottish army. Douglas, not choosing to receive the assault in that position, drew his men out of the camp, and, with a degree of military skill which could scarcely have been expected, when his forces were of such an undisciplined character, he altogether changed the position of the army, and presented his troops with their front to the advancing English.

Hotspur, in the meantime, marched his squadrons through the deserted camp. The interruptions which his troops met with threw them into disorder, when the moonlight breaking from the clouds showed them the Scottish army, which they had supposed to be retreating, drawn up in complete order, and prepared to fight.

The battle commenced with the greatest fury; for Percy and Douglas were the two most distinguished soldiers of their time, and both armies trusted in the courage and talents of their commanders, whose names were shouted on either side.

The Scots, who were outnumbered, were about to give way, when Douglas caused his banner to advance, attended by his best men. He himself, shouting his war-cry of "Douglas!" rushed forward, clearing his way with his battle-axe, and breaking into the very thickest of the enemy. He fell, at length, under three mortal wounds. Had his death been observed by the enemy, the event would probably have decided the battle against the Scots; but the English only knew that some brave man-at-arms had fallen.

Meantime, the other Scottish nobles pressed forward, and found their general dying among several of his faithful attendants, who lay slain around him. A stout priest, called William of North Berwick, the chaplain of Douglas, was protecting the body of his wounded patron with a long lance.

"How fares it, cousin?" said Sinclair, the first knight who came up to the expiring leader.

"Indifferently," answered Douglas, "but blessed be God, my ancestors have died in fields of battle, not on down beds. I sink fast; but let them still cry my warcry, and conceal my death from my followers. There was a tradition in our family that a dead Douglas should win a field, and I trust it will this day be accomplished."

The nobles did as he enjoined: they concealed the earl's body, and again rushed on to battle, shouting "Douglas! Douglas!" louder than before. The English were weakened by the loss of the brave brothers, Henry and Ralph Percy, both of whom were made prisoners, fighting most gallantly, and almost no man of note among the English escaped death or captivity.

The battle of Otterburn was disastrous to the leaders on both sides-Hotspur being made captive, and Douglas slain on the field. It has been the subject of many songs and poems; and the great historian Froissart says that, with one exception, it was the best fought battle of that warlike time.-Sir Walter Scott.

Otterburn-in Northumberland.

The Otter is a tributary of the Reed, which flows into the North Tyne. Froissart-a French poet and historian (1337-1410). He resided for some time at the court of Edward III. of England. In 1364, he visited Scotland, and was the guest of David II. His "Chronicles," which include the history of France, England, and Scotland, give charming pictures of the character and manners of the age in which he lived.

QUESTIONS.

Where is Otterburn? When was the battle fought there? What did the Scots resolve to do in that year? Why did they not do so? How many men invaded England? Who led them? What did they do to the country? Who were sent to check them? Who was Hotspur? Why so named? What town did the Percies wish to defend? What did Douglas take from Percy? What did he say about it? What was Percy's reply? What did the Scots then do? Where did they encamp? What did Douglas do before Percy's

arrival? How did this movement escape Percy's observation? In what state did he find the Scots? Why was this battle so obstinately fought? What act of bravery did Douglas perform? What happened to him? Who defended the dying earl? What did Douglas order Sinclair to do? What tradition was there in Douglas's family? How was it verified at Otterburn? What became of Hotspur? Who was Froissart? What does he say about this battle?

Spell adverbs formed by adding ly to stout, brave, gentle, humble, firm, idle, noble, busy, merry, whole, sole, sure, day, gay, due, true, full, one, skilful, wilful.

DICTATION.

Pearl-divers are daily exposed to great peril. The lightning struck the manor-house. This manner of lightening a ship is unusual. I duly received your letter. Fill the ewer with water. A series of misfortunes placed him in serious danger. The lambs gambol gaily in the meadow. It is wrong to gamble. He cannot tell whether his friend is wholly ruined or not. Whither have the swallows flown?

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ON one of the roads leading from Switzerland to Italy, called the Pass of St. Bernard, stands a famous convent. It is the highest habitation in Europe; and you may be sure that the monks, who live there, have not chosen this spot as their residence on account of its pleasant situation.

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