To Children. Xl

 

were ever in the stirrup, and whose lances were
always in rest, should have descended from
the family of the Hypnotide, who were
remarkably lazy and peaceful. But these
heroes doubtless inherited the spirit of their
great -ancestress, whose story is necessary to
be known. On leaving his native realm
during the Crusades, in search of some
secure asylum, the founder of the Pantouflian
monarchy landed in the island of Cyprus,
where, during the noon-tide heat, he lay down
to sleep in a cave. Now in this cave dwelt
a dragon of enormous size and unamiable
character. What was the horror of the exiled
prince when he was aroused from slumber
by the fiery breath of the dragon, and felt its
scaly coils about him !

‘“‘Oh, hang your practical jokes!” exclaimed
the prince, imagining that some of his courtiers
were playing a prank on him.

“Do you call this a joke?” asked the