"I hope," answered her mother, "they will soon pay us another visit, and we can then resume it, with, I trust, a better acquaintance with past events." 1. Death of Buckingham. A.D. 1628. 2. Charles I. taking leave of his children. A.D. 1649. 3. Oliver Cromwell seized by a tame monkey. A.D. 1593. 4. The death of Mrs. Claypole. 5. Solomon Eagle preaching during the Plague. A.D. 1665. 6. Landing of the Duke of Monmouth. A.D. 1685. CHAPTER X. William asked leave to commence the historical entertainment this evening, and the whole party begged for something very amusing, as the cold snow without, gave a cheerless look to all within, and poor Alfred complained of chilblains. "I am going to describe a battle," said Willie; "the two contending armies are drawn up on opposite sides of a river; the surrounding scene bears marks of great poverty, nevertheless the inhabitants are a fine, generous-looking people. The principal figure in the group is standing on the bank, taking a survey of the enemy; he is of the middle height, with a high forehead, aquiline nose, fine eyes, and a very grave countenance. His thin form would give an idea of feebleness, were it not for the energy of the mind within. Two persons are lying dead by his side, and he himself appears to be wounded in the shoulder, but with the greatest composure is continuing to give his orders." "That was a hero," said Edward; "I like to hear of mind overcoming bodily pain. Was it Edward III.?" "No." "The Duke of Marlborough?" "You are getting nearer the time." "Prince Eugene," said another. "Prince Eugene was a cotemporary of the Duke of Marlborough." "The person you mention was associated with some one else in the government of England, was he not?" said Edward. "Yes, my dear boy." "Was he not very much attached to his wife?" "Yes; and all historians agree in giving her an amiable character, and in describing her person as pleasing." "Did not William III. give Greenwich Hospital to disabled seamen?" asked Willie. "Yes, my dear; it was formerly a royal palace. Queen Elizabeth was nursed there when a child. You young ladies can, perhaps, tell me what Queen Mary introduced into England." "You must give us a clue, mama." "It is something which tended to make women more industrious; but the revival of it in the present day, has, I fear, caused a great deal of time to be employed on it which might have been devoted to more useful objects." "We know what you mean, mama; tent-stitch and cross-stitch; your last remark has told us."