, and tell
him what Macbeth had done; for they did not doubt that when he heard of
it, he would render them some assistance; and they were not mistaken.
The English king declared that he would revenge the death of Duncan,
and place Malcolm on the throne; so he sent a large army into Scotland,
to fight for the young prince, and Macbeth was killed in a battle, which
gave great joy to the people, who were very glad to have Malcolm for
their king. All this happened nearly eight hundred years ago, and
Malcolm, who is called in the history of Scotland, Malcolm Canmore, was
one of the best kings that ever reigned over that country."

By the time Mr. Barker had finished this story they had arrived at the
theatre, and were just seated in the front row of a box, as the curtain
drew up. The two boys liked the play very much, although it made them
rather dull; but they were merry enough when the pantomime began, for it
was full of fun, from beginning to end, and Charles could not help
exclaiming every now and then, "Oh, what capital fun!"

He was very much astonished at the wonderful tricks performed by
harlequin with his magic sword, for to those who have never seen a
pantomime before, it must be rather surprising to see a wheelbarrow
turned into a steam carriage, and an umbrella into an arm chair. But
what amused Charles and Peter more than all the rest, was a large pie
which was brought in and placed on a table, where the king and queen,
with several lords and ladies were sitting at dinner, all seemingly very
anxious to taste of this pie. But the moment it was cut, a whistling
noise was heard, and a number of little birds hopped out of the pie, and
flew away, leaving the dish quite empty, to the great amusement of all
the boys and girls in the theatre, who laughed very loud indeed.

But pleasure cannot last for ever. The pantomime was soon over, and as
Charles went home, he said he should like to go to the play every night,
all the rest of his life--"Ah, Charles,"--said his papa, "we are all apt
to like what is new to us, but you will find out, my boy, that people
get tired even of pleasure, if they have too much of it."

CHAP. IV.

CONVERSATION ON HISTORY.

On the morning after the play, Charles was thinking about the king of
Scotland, and he asked his mamma why there was no king of Scotland now,
as there used to be, and she told him that England and Scotland were now
considered only as one kingdom, and called Gre