only a quarter to four on Sunday morning. Luckily, the fellow I was living with had prepared a good stimulating hot supper against my arrival.

It proved that he had heard my gunshot, and answered it with a revolver which he carried, and when I fired again he thought I must be jammed between some rocks in a ravine, and therefore sent out after me; but, soon finding that we were on opposite sides, after cooeying for some time he went back and routed out a lot of coolies with lanterns to look for me.

He tried to induce a party of four to start off, but they would not go less than fifteen of them together, so awfully afraid are they of the jungle by night. I need not relate how much I ate, drank, and slept, but found myself laid up for some days after. This was my first exploring expedition, but although meeting since with larger game, and even closer jungle, I always dwell with pleasure on this my first adventure in the forests of Ceylon. SINE.

OUR NOTE BOOK.

Boys and Books.

WHEN I was a boy I had no books except my school books, and they were not many, as we did not trouble our heads about much learning in those days, and in the remote place of my birth. This was no trouble to me, or to the rest of the boys in the village, for we did not like books. At any rate I speak for myself; balls and marbles suited my ideas of things far better then.

I don't know that I very much regret my love for balls and marbles, for a good game at rounders, or at ring-taw, woke us up, and developed our muscle and our lung power; but I do very much regret my dislike for books. How I wish now I had been diligent and attentive then! With just as much play at ball, and twice as much work at books, what a man I might have made!

But it is of no use to cry over spilt milk-so my mother was wont to say when things went wrong. Of course my tastes have changed as the years have rolled by, but let me tell all boys who may read this that I still like a good game at rounders, and I fancy I could even now beat many of them if I tried. I feel strange and queer and young if I see boys with bat and ball, busy as boys can be. But zest at play should ensure zeal at work. A clever, quick boy with a bat ought to be a keen, ardent boy with a book. Bats, balls, and books have together made many a boy into a brave, true, good man. But, boys, as you read this, please make a note of it; books have supplied the finest and best grit of the I could name the best men of history who have loved bat and ball, and good books too. Yes, they have loved the best of all books -the Bible, with its message of love, of Christ

man.

the Saviour.

May I now tell the boys that I am passionately fond of books? I have denied myself almost everything to get books. I have worn coats and boots much longer than I should have worn them if I had not wanted a good book. The desire for books came upon me in this way. The housekeeper in a gentleman's house, where I had daily to do business as a

66

boy, gave me a small book, bearing the title, Bogatzky's Golden Treasury." She wrote in it thus: "The gift of a friend, January 14th, 1859." I have lost many things since then, but I have carefully kept that book. I mean to keep it as long as I live. Most boys, I am sure, will be surprised to hear that it is strictly a religious book. It was written for private moments, when boys or men are alone with God. I began to read it the day I got it, and at night took it to bed with me. I had a room to myself, and could do as I pleased. I read a little before I went to sleep, and then laid the book on the table. Somehow it woke me early in the morning and seemed to say, "Do wake up and read me." I did wake up, and read two or three of the short pieces, and then brushed up for the day's business, a better and stronger boy for a morning draught from a good book.

It seems strange to me now I am a man that that little book, unpretentious and "dry" compared with many others, should have created in me a thirst for books, and given a cue to my life. But it did, and I thank God for it. I beg the boys if they see a good book to peep into it. If it is good read a piece, but if it be twaddle put it down, for so much depends upon what you read. I am often grieved when I see boys reading what I know will poison their morals and vitiate their tastes for life.

Bad books and bad periodicals are dreadful things for boys to handle. They have often transformed a brave boy into a criminal and a pauper. Good books are unknown bles-ings for boys. They often make timid and weak-kneed boys brave, honest, and prosperous in life. It is just this that makes me so glad that "THE BOY'S OWN PAPER" is started, and is doing so well. I am sure it will create a taste for good, sound, lively reading, and if I thought the dear boys, who read it would enter into my talks about books I would keep on a little, and tell them what books have done and are doing still for the boys of England. Meanwhile I will tell them that good books have, with God's blessing, made me what I am, and enabled me to be of any service in the world and the Church. They are to-day my loving and confidential companions. I read then, and they seem to read me. They tell me their secrets, and in doing so they get at mine, even the deepest and most subtle secrets of my heart. Thus we hold loving converse day by day, and I keep company with the may do the same. greatest and best men of history. Every boy

W. CUFF.

[We are indebted for this note to one whose earnest labours as a preacher and as a worker in the East of London are well known, and whose hearty approval of "THE BOY'S OWN PAPER" is appreciated.-ED. B. O. P.]

STANLEY'S ADVENTURES IN

AFRICA.

(Continued from page 554)

ON THE LIVINGSTONE RIVER. Livingstone assumes a breadth of 1,800 ELOW Kaimba Island and its neighbour, the yards. The banks are very populous: the villages of the left bank comprise the district of Luavala. We thought for some time we should be permitted to pass by quietly, but soon the great wooden drums, hollowed out of huge trees, thundered the signal along the river that there of a rupture between us, we sheered off to the were strangers. In order to lessen all chances middle of the river, and quietly lay on our paddles. But from both banks at once, in fierce concert, the natives, with their heads gaily feathered, and armed with broad black wooden shields and long spears, dashed out towards us Tippu-Tib before our departure had hired to two young men of Ukusu (cannibals) as out the word "Sennenneh !" ("Peace!"), and interpreters. These were now instructed to cry to say that we were friends.

But they would not reply to our greeting,

"Good. Tell it to take us back, and we will go.'

"If you do not go back we will fight you."

'No, don't; we are friends."

"We don't want you for our friends; we will eat you."

But we persisted in talking to them, and as their curiosity was so great they persisted in listening, and the consequence was that the current conveyed us near to the right bank, and in such near neighbourhood to another district that our discourteous escort had to think of themselves, and began to skurry hastily up river, leaving us unattacked.

The villages on the right bank also maintained a tremendous drumming and blowing of warhorns, and their wild men hurried up with menace towards us, urging their sharp-prowed canoes so swiftly that they seemed to skim over the water like flying-fish. Unlike the Luavala villagers, they did not wait to be addressed, but as soon as they came within fifty or sixty yards they shot out their spears, crying out, Meat meat! Ah! ha! We shall have plenty of meat! Bo-bo-bo-bo, Be-bo-bo-bo-o-0!"

Undoubtedly these must be relatives of the terrible "Bo-bo-bo's" above, we thought, as with one mind we rose to respond to this rabid man-eating tribe.

There was a fat-bodied wretch in a canoe, whom I allowed to crawl within spear-throw of me, who, while he swayed the spear with a vigour far from assuring to one who stood within reach of it, leered with such a clever hideousness of feature that. I felt, if only within arm's length of him, Iula ove bestowed upon him a hearty thuri or he back, and cried out, applaudingly, Bravo old boy! you do it capitally!"

Yet not being able to reach him, I was rapidly being fascinated by him. The rapid movements of the swaying spear, the steady wide-mouthed grin, the big square teeth, the head poised on one side with the confident pose of a practised spear-thrower, the short brow and square face, hair short and thick. Shall I ever forget him? It appeared to me as if the spear partook of the same cruel, inexorable look as the grinning savage. Finally, I saw him draw his right arm back and his body incline backwards, with still that same grin on his face, and I felt myself begin to count one, two, three, four, and whizz! The spear flew over my back, and hissed as it pierced the water. The spell was broken.

It was only five minutes' work clearing the river. We picked up several shields, and I gave orders that all shields should be henceforth preserved, for the idea had entered my head that they would answer capitally as bulwarks for our canoes. An hour after this we passed close to the confluence of the Urindi, a stream 400 yards in width at the mouth, and deep with water of a light colour, and tolerably clear.

A RIVAL ARMADA.

We received information that the Watwa and

The

Waringa tribes lived on the other side of the Lumami. The dwarfs, called Wakwanga, were said to be in a south-west direction Wavinza occupied the tract between the Lumami and the Lowwa opposite to us. The Bakutzi, or Wakuti, live west across the Lumami, which right bank are situate Kankura, Mpassi, and agrees with Abed the guide's story. On the Mburri, the chief of the last-mentioned country being Mungamba. There is also a tribe called the Ba-ama, whose chief, Subiri, trades in dogs and shells. Dogs are considered by the Ba-ama as greater delicacies than sheep and goats. we were specially instructed to beware of the Bakumu, a powerful tribe of light-complexioned east, and who, armed with bows and arrows, cannibals, who came originally from the north. had conquered a considerable section of Uregga, and had even crossed the great river.

But

They

heedlessly exposed ourselves to the watchful tribe of Mwana Ntaba, who immediately sounded their great drums, and prepared their numerous canoes for battle.

Up to this time we had met with no canoes over fifty feet long, except that antique centuryold vessel which we had repaired as a hospital for our smallpox patients; but those which now issued from the banks and the shelter of bends in the banks were monstrous. The natives were in full war-paint, one-half of their bodies being daubed white, the other half red, with broad black bars, the tout ensemble being unique and diabolical. There was a crocodilian aspect about these lengthy vessels which was far from assuring, while the fighting men, standing up

the boat for its victim, but we reserved our fire until it was within fifty feet of us, and, after pouring a volley into the crew, charged the canoe with the boat, and the crew, unable to cipitated themselves into the river and swam turn her round sufficiently soon to escape, preto their friends, while we made ourselves masters of the Great Eastern of the Livingstone. We soon exchanged two of our smaller canoes and manned the monster with thirty men, and resumed our journey in line, the boat in front acting as a guide. Mwana Ntaba caused them to hurry down river, This early disaster to the blowing their horns and alarming with their drums both shores of the river, until about forty canoes were seen dashing down stream.

BETWIXT CATARACTS AND CANNIBALS. wide, perceptibly contracted, and turned sharply Soon after passing by the confluence, the Livingstone, which above had been 2,500 yards to the east-north-east, because of a hill which rose on the left bank about 300 feet above the right bank we passed by some white granite river Close to the elbow of the bend on the rocks, from one to six feet above the water, and just below these we heard the roar of the First Cataract of the Stanley Falls series.

But louder than the noise of the falls rose the piercing yells of the savage Mwana Ntaba from both sides of the great river. We now found ourselves confronted by the inevitable necessity of putting into practice the resolution which we had formed before setting out on the wild voy age to conquer or die. What should we do! Shall we turn and face the fierce cannibals who with hideous noise drown the solemn roar of the cataract; or shall we cry out, "Mambu Kwa Mungu" ("Our fate is in the hands of God") and risk the cataract with its terrors?

Meanwhile we are sliding smoothly to our destruction, and a decision must therefore be arrived at instantly. God knows! I and my fellows would rather have it not to do, because possibly it is only a choice of deaths, by cruel knives or drowning. If we do not choose the knives, which are already sharpened for our throats, death by drowning is certain. So, finding ourselves face to face with the inevitable, we turn to the right bank upon the savages, who are in the woods and on the water. We drop our anchors and begin the fight, but after fifteen minutes of it find that we cannot force them away. We then pull up anchors and ascend stream again, until, arriving at the elbow above mentioned, we strike across the river and divide our forces. Manwa Sera is to take four canoes and to continue up stream a little distance and, while we occupy the attention of the savages in front, is to lead his men through the woods and set upon them in rear. At 5.30 p.m. we make the attempt, and keep them in play for a few minutes, and on hearing a shot in the woods dash at the shore, and, under a shower of spears and arrows, effect a landing. From tree to tree the fight is continued until sunset, when, having finally driven the enemy off, we have earned peace for the night.

Until about 10 p.m. we are busy constructing an impenetrable stockade or boma of brushwood, and then at length we lay our sorely. fatigued bodies down to rest, without comforts of any kind and without fires, but-I speak for myself only-with a feeling of gratitude to Him who had watched over us in our trouble, and a humble prayer that His protection may be ex tended to us, for the terrible days that may yet be to come.

66

A DESPERATE SITUATION.

The Bakumu, utterly disheartened by their successive punishments and bad success, left us alone to try our hands at the river, which, though dangerous, promised greater progress than on land. The following two days' accounts of our journey are extracted from my journal:January 14th.-As soon as we reached the river we began to float the canoes down a twomile stretch of rapids to a camp opposite the south end of Ntunduru Island. Six canoes were taken safely down by the gallant boat's crev. The seventh canoe was manned by Muscati, steersman, lost his presence of mind, and soon Uledi Muscati, and Zaidi, a chief. Muscati, the upset his canoe in a piece of bad water. Mus cati and his friend Uledi swam down the furious stream to Ntunduru Island, whence they were saved by the eighth canoe, manned by out the Lady Alice; but poor Zaidi, the chief, hearted Manwa Sera and Uledi, the coxswain c paralysed by the roar of the stream, unfortu ing to his canoe, which was soon swept past our nately thought his safety was assured by cling new camp, in full view of those who had beer inevitable death. deputed with Frank to form it, to what seemed But a kindly Providence, saved him even on the brink of eternity. The which he has himself gratefully acknowledged, great fall at the north end of Ntunduru Island

happens to be disparted by a single pointed rock, and on this the canoe was driven, and, borne down by the weight of the waters, was soon split in two, one side of which got jammed below, and the other was tilted upward. To this the almost drowned man clung, while perched on the rocky point, with his ankles washed by the stream. To his left, as he faced up-stream, there was a stretch of fifty yards of falling water; to his right were nearly fifty yards of leaping brown waves, while close behind him the water fell down sheer six to eight feet, through a gap ten yards wide, between the rocky point on which he was perched and a rocky islet thirty yards long.

from the swirl of which we were compelled to draw it. Five times the attempt was made, but of the cables, we lowered the canoe until it was at last, the sixth time, encouraged by the safety within ten yards of Zaidi, and Uledi lifted the short cable and threw it over to him and struck his arm. He had just time to grasp it before he was carried over into the chasm below. For thirty seconds we saw nothing of him, and thought him lost, when his head rose above the edge of the falling waters. Instantly the word was given to haul away,' but at the first pull the bow and side cables parted, and the canoe began to glide down the left branch with my two boatboys on board! The stern cable next parted, and, horrified at the result, we stood muttering La il Allah, il Allah,' watching the canoe severed from us drifting to certain destruction, when we suddenly observed it halted. Zaidi in kedge-anchor, which swept the canoe against the chasm clinging to his cable was acting as a the rocky islet. Uledi and Marzouk sprang But of the canoe, and leaning over assisted Zaidi out of the falls, and the three, working with desperate energy, succeeded in securing the canoe on the islet.

"When called to the scene by his weeping friends from my labours up-river, I could scarcely believe my eyes, or realise the strange chance which placed him there, and certainly a more critical position than the poor fellow was in cannot be imagined. The words, 'There is only a step between me and the grave,' would have been very appropriate coming from him. the solitary man on that narrow-pointed rock; whose knees were sometimes washed by rising waves, was apparently calmer than any of us; though we could approach him within fifty yards he could not hear a word we said; he could see us, and feel assured that we sympathised with him in his terrible position.

"We then, after collecting our faculties, began to prepare means to save him. After sending men to collect rattans, we formed a cable, by which we attempted to lower a small canoe, but the instant it seemed to reach him the force of the current hurrying to the fall was so great that the cable snapped like a packthread, and the canoe swept by him like an arrow, and was engulfed, shattered, split, and pounded into fragments. Then we endeavoured to toss towards him poles tied to creepers, but the vagaries of the current and its convulsive heaving made it impossible to reach him with them, while the man dared not move a hand, but sat silent, watching our furile efforts, while the conviction gradually settled on our minds that his doom, though protracted, was certain.

"Then, after anxious deliberation with myself, I called for another canoe, and lashed to the bow of it a cable consisting of three one-inch rattans, twisted together and strengthened by all the tent ropes. A similar cable was lashed to the side, and a third was fastened to the stern, each of these cables being ninety yards in length. A shorter cable, thirty yards long, was lashed to the stern of the canoe, which was to be guided within reach of him by a man in the canoe.

"Two volunteers were called for. No one would step forward. I offered rewards. Still no one would respond. But when I began to speak to them, asking them how they would like to be in such a position without a single friend offering to assist in saving them, Uledi, the coxswain, came forward and said, 'Enough, master, I will go. Mambu Kwa Mungu' ('My fate is in the hands of God'), and immediately bezan preparing himself by binding his loineloth firmly about his waist. Then Marzouk, a boat-boy, said, 'Since Uledi goes, I will go too.' Other boat-boys (young Shumari and Saywa) offered their services, but I checked them, and said, 'You surely are not tired of me, are you, that you all wish to die? If all my brave boatboys are lost, what shall we do?'

"Uledi and his friend Marzouk stepped into the canoe with the air of gladiators, and we applauded them heartily, but enjoined on them to be careful. Then I turned to the crowd on the shore who were manning the cables, and bade them beware of the least carelessness, as the lives of the three young men depended on their attention to the orders that would be given.

"The two young volunteers were requested to paddle across river, so that the stern might be guided by those on shore. The bow and side cables were slackened until the canoe was within twenty yards of the roaring falls, and Uledi endeavoured to guide the cable to Zaidi, but the convulsive heaving of the river swept the canoe instantly to one side, where it hovered over the steep slope and brown waves of the left branch,

out

"But though we hurrahed and were exceedingly rejoiced, their position was still but a short reprieve from death. There were fifty yards of wild waves, and a resistless rush of water, between them and safety, and to the right of them was a fall 300 yards in width, and below was a mile of falls and rapids, and great whirlpools, and waves rising like little hills in the middle of the terrible stream, and below these were the fell cannibals of Wane-Mukwa and Asama.

"How to reach the islet was a question which now perplexed me. We tied a stone to about a hundred yards of whipcord, and after the twentieth attempt they managed to catch it. To the end of the whipcord they tied the tent rope which had parted before, and drawing it to our side we tied the stout rattan creeper, which they drew across taut, and fastened to a rock, by which we thought we had begun to bridge the stream. But night drawing nigh we said to them that we would defer further experiment until morning.

All

"Meantime the ninth canoe, whose steersman was a supernumerary of the boat, had likewise got upset, and he out of six men was drowned, to our great regret, but the canoe was saved. the other vessels were brought down safely, but so long as my poor faithful Uledi and his friends are on the islet, and still in the arms of death, the night finds us gloomy, sorrowing, and

anxious.

"January 15.-My first duty this morning was to send greetings to the three brave lads on the islet, and to assure them that they should be saved before they were many hours older. Thirty men with guns were sent to protect thirty other men searching for rattans in the forest, and by nine o'clock we possessed over sixty strong canes, besides other long climbers, and as fast as we were able to twist them together they were drawn across by Uledi and his friends. Besides, we sent light cables to be lashed round the waist of each man, after which we felt trebly assured that all accidents were guarded against. Then hailing them I motioned to Uledi to begin, while ten men seized the cable, one end of which he had fastened round his waist. Uledi was seen to lift his hands up to heaven, and waving his hand to us he leaped into the wild flood, seizing the bridge cable as he fell into the depths. Soon he rose, hauling himself hand over hand, the waves brushing his face, and sometimes rising over his head, until it seemed by jerking his body occasionally upward with a as if he scarcely would be able to breathe; but desperate effort, he so managed to survive the waves and to approach us, where a dozen willing hands were stretched out to snatch the halfsmothered man. Zaidi next followed, but after the tremendous proofs he had given of his courage and tenacious hold we did not much fear for his safety, and he also landed, to be warmly congratulated for his double escape from death. Marzouk, the youngest, was the last, and we held our breaths while the gallant boy

was struggling out of the fieree grasp of death. While yet midway the pressure of water was so great that he lost his hold of two cables, at which the men screamed in terror lest he should relax his hold altogether from despair, but I shouted harshly to him, Pull away, you fool. Be a man!' at which with three hauls he approached within reach of our willing hands, to be embraced and applauded by all. The cheers we gave were so loud and hearty that the cannibal Wane-Mukwa must have known, despite the roar of the waters, that we had passed through a great and thrilling scene."

Space will not admit of our quoting more from Mr. Stanley's volumes, but, as our extracts show, they abound with adventures of the most thrilling kind. Upon more than one occasion his boats had a narrow escape from the bippoposhort work of them. Thus, while busily engaged tami, whose powerful teeth would have made

in exploring Speke Gulf, he and his party attempted to land in a small cove, but were driven away by a multitude of audacious hippopotami, who rushed towards them open-mouthed.

The hippopotami of Lake Victoria too are an excessively belligerent species, and the unwary voyager, on approaching their haunts, exposes himself to danger. chased," says Stanley, "by them; and as the "We were frequently boat was not adapted for a combat with such pachyderms, a collision would have been fatal to us."

caprice.

"Alas," said some one, "that he is but a boy !

The sight which presented itself within the walls of that gloomy fortress, the Tower of London, on the day of Edward VI.'s coronation, was an impressive one. Amidst a crowd of bishops and nobles, who bowed low as he advanced, the pale boy-king came forward to receive the hoinage of his new subjects.

Surely, thought some, as they looked, that little head is not fitted to the wearing of an irksome crown. But, for the most part, the crowd cheered, and shouted, "God save the king," and not one was there who found it in his heart to wish young Edward Tudor ill.

those who listened discovered that the boy, thinking himself alone, was praying. One has recorded those closing words of that strange, sad life: "Lord, deliver me out of this wretched and miserable life, and take me among Thy chosen; howbeit not my will but Thine be done. Lord, I commit my spirit to Thee. O Lord, thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with Thee, yet for the sake of Thy chosen, send me life and health, that I may truly serve Thee. Oh, my Lord God, bless Thy people, and save Thine inheritance. Oh, Lord God, save Thy chosen people of England. Oh, my Lord God, defend this realm from papistry, and maintain Thy true religion, that I and my people may praise Thy holy name, for Thy Son, Jesus Christ's sake."

Still, as we have said, many in the midst of their joy sighed as they looked at the frail boy, and wondered how so young a head would bear up amid all the perils and dangers of kingship; and well they might pity him.

The reign of Edward VI. is chiefly a history of the acts of his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, the Protector, and of the dissensions which embit tered the government of that nobleman, leading finally to his death on the scaffold. Of Edward himself we do not hear much. We have occasional glimpses of him at his studies under tutors chosen and superintended by Cranmer; but he does not seem to have taken much part -how could a boy of his age be expected to do so?-in the active duty of governing.

We know that such acts as the removal of Popish restrictions from the clergy and people, the publication of the book of Common Prayer, and the discouragement of all idolatrous and superstitious practices, had his hearty sympathy. In these and in such-like useful nieasures he interested himself, but as for the troubles and commotions of his reign, he had nothing to do with them.

His nobles, on the other hand, were by no means so passive. They made war in the king's name on Scotland, to capture a baby wife for the poor boy, who was scarcely in his teens; they accused and impeached one another; they brought their death warrants to Edward to sign whether he liked or no (and he never did like); they persecuted those who disagreed with them; they goaded the common people into rebellion; they schemed how they should make their own fortunes after the young invalid was dead, and to that end worked upon his weakness and his timidity actually to disinherit his own sisters.

In the midst of all this disturbance and scheming and distress, we can picture the poor, confused, sickly boy seeking refuge in his books, shrinking from the angry bustle of the court, and spending his days with his grave tutors in quiet study. Reluctantly, once and again, he was forced to come out from his retreat to give the sanction of his authority to some act of his ambitious nobles. With what trembling hand would he sign the death warrants they presented; with what weariness would he listen to their wrangles and accusations; with what distress would he hear discussions as to who was to wear that crown of his when he himself should be in the grave.

That time was not long in coming. He was not fifteen when an attack of smallpox laid him on his deathbed; and while all the court was busy plotting and counter-plotting as to the disposal of the crown, the poor boy-king lay there almost neglected, or watched only by those who waited the moment of his death with impatience. As the disease took deeper and fatal hold of him, all forsook him save an incompetent quack nurse; and how far she may have helped on the end no one can tell.

But for him death was only a happy release from a world of suffering. A few hours before his end he was heard to speak something; and

prayers he may not have brought more blessing to his country than many a battle and many a law of less God-fearing monarchs?

What he would have done for England had he been spared to manhood it is not possible to say. A diary which he kept during his life affords abundant proof that even at his tender age he possessed not a little of the sagacity and knowledge necessary to good kingship; and a manhood of matured piety and wisdom might have materially altered the course of events in the history of England of that time.

One boon at least he has left behind him, besides his unsullied name and example. Scattered about among the counties of England are not a few schools which bear his name. It is possible that a good many of the readers of the Boy's OWN PAPER are to be found among the scholars of the Bluecoat School, and of the King Edward Grammar Schools in various parts of the country. They, at least, will understand the gratitude which this generation owes to the good young king who so materially advanced the learning of which he himself was so fond, by the establishment of these schools. He was one of the few of his day who saw that the glory of a country consists not in its armies and exchequers, but in the religious and moral enlightenment of its people; and to that glory his own life was, and remains still, a noble contribution.

'What, sir?" demanded the young merchant, firing up.

We all expected a scene. The young gentleman was evidently quite ready for retort, and would have been pleased at having an opportunity for showing his smartness.

The

The old gentleman looked at him benignly, and said, Sir, you are very young!" laughter that followed was more than the poor lad could stand. He left us at the next station!

This circumstance recurred to me as I sat down to write about the great engineering triumphs which are associated with the names of the boys who built new London Bridge. Really we do well to remember that we are as an advanced nation very young. The triumphs of steam, of telegraphy, and of all mechanical science, in fact, are barely a century old. When John Rennie the elder was playing in Andrew Meikle's workshop, making miniature watermills, and a small fleet of ships, in the year 1771, we were a very slow-going nation. Railways and telegraphy of course were unknown; canals were few, roads were bad, bridges vile!

There was only one other bridge across the Thames besides old London Bridge, which dated back to the reign of King John That other was Westminster Bridge, which was only finished in 1750, and was therefore quite new. People were content to go a long way round because there was no shorter cut home; and all things jogged easily along. Watt bad not yet succeeded with his new steam-engines, although two years later he commenced to manufacture them in conjunction with his friend Matthew Boulton, of Birmingham. There were engineers in England, strictly speaking, and what work was done was the result of the genius of self-educated men like Watt, Smeaton, Edwards, and Rennie.

John Rennie the elder was born at his father's farmstead in Phantassie, East Lothian, on the 7th June, 1761. He was a born mechanic. At six he could use his knife, chisel, and saw with astonishing skill. If the old adage, “Let children and fools beware of edged tools," be true, then John Rennie never was a child; but the exception proves the rule, and I still hold by the truth of the wise saw ! At school he thought more of models than he did of his books, and often played the truant to work at Andrew Meikle's shop, where he had every opportunity of satisfying his longings. He was a boy after Andrew's heart, and the old man proved, in the long run, his best teacher. Still he made some progress at his books. It is true he only attended a parish school, but the old parish schools of Scotland did noble work, as history can testify.

At twelve he was taken from the parish school, with the intention of putting him to some business, but in the meanwhile he was making models of engines and windmills, choosing his own business, in fact, as most boys of decided tastes have done at all times. He pleaded hard to be sent to Andrew Meikle's to learn the trade of a millwright, and at length he was allowed to do so. He worked with such a will that he astonished even his master, who was himself a man of genius. John worked with both hands and head. He thought for himself. If certain mechanism brought about results that puzzled him to understand, he was not satisfied until he had grasped the reason of it. This made him see that his educa

tion had only just begun. He needed more book learning. So he went to school again with a thirst for knowledge, and with a clear idea of what that knowledge would do for him. I remember a little fellow who had just entered upon Euclid; his brain was already bewildered with his many studies, but after stumbling mechanically through a few propositions he fairly broke down, and went to his father in despair. He could see no use in Euclid; he did not want to learn it!

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But, my boy, Euclid is of great use,” said his father. "What use?" was the wondering question. "To teach you to think."

In after years he learned the value of that and many other studies, but it was all hidden then! John Rennie went back to school with a man's experience, and he soon distanced all his schoolfellows. It is enough to say that after two years of close application he was offered the post of mathematical master, which then became vacant at the school, and he was not yet quite seventeen! He declined the tempting offer because he had other ambitions. He was already beginning to feel his power. He had the wide world before him, in which so much was yet to be done, and he thought that with God's help there was a work for him to do in it! So he went back to his home at Phantassie, and assisted Andrew Meikle in the business of a millwright.

He was now deep in mathematics, mechanics, natural philosophy, and other kindred studies, and at nineteen he was building mills himself. Work flowed in upon him, and he began to make money, but, strange to say, he thought that he wanted more schooling! He determined to matriculate at the Edinburgh University, and to support himself during the winter sessions with the money he would make during the summer