Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: Queen Victoria raising Lord Rolle. p. 102] PICTURES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. A Fireside Amusement WITH ENGRAVINGS. BATH: BINNS AND GOODWIN. LONDON: WHITTAKER & CO., AVE MARIA LANE. EDINBURGH: JOHNSTONE. DUBLIN: CURRY. 1846. BATH: PRINTED BY BINNS AND GOODWIN. PREFACE. While there are so many pleasant ways of instructing the youth of the present day, it may perhaps appear presumption to add this work to the number. But those who have watched the expansion of a child's mind may have seen, that the idea of improvement is too frequently combined with that of a task; and where instruction can be conveyed in a lighter form, it is more pleasantly and permanently impressed. With a little attention from their elders, many branches of education may be made attractive to children; and it is hoped, that this small volume, if it should not succeed in imprinting some few incidents of English History on the memory of the children, may suggest to the parents the possibility of lessening the weariness of study. PICTURES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. A Fireside Amusement. CHAPTER I. Little boys and girls--aye, and their elders also--often feel the hours very long and heavy. The latter have many causes for this feeling; but the former had better take my advice, and directly seek for some employment, which will, I promise, cure their complaint. They may have a kind mama or friend to assist them; and there are many more ways of amusing themselves than they think of. Let them listen to me, and I will tell them of a game which often entertained some young friends of mine, and was one of their plans for passing idle moments. It was early in January that Mrs. Macdonald was quietly sitting with her sister, who had not long arrived from India. It was very cold; the shutters had been shut, the curtains drawn earlier than usual, and the ladies had made a cheerful fire to greet Mr. Macdonald on his return from his daily occupation. After so long a separation they had much to talk of, and preferred the bright blaze to the light of the lamp.