day, you will hear the bells
ringing very merrily, and then you will know what it is for."

"So I shall," said Charles, "I am glad of that, I like to know things, I
wish I knew the history of every country in the world."

"It is a very good thing to know a great deal of history," said his
mamma; "and the best way of gaining this knowledge, is to read with
attention the books that have been written on purpose to teach little
boys history; they are the best for you to read now; then, when you are
older, you will be able to understand the large books that are in your
papa's book-case, and you may become acquainted with the history of the
whole world, if you like."

CHAP. V.

MISSIONARIES.

"Papa," said Charles, "I should like to know what a missionary is."

"Your desire can very easily be gratified," replied his papa; "but what
has made you think of missionaries just now?"

"Because I read in the newspaper, this morning, that the day before
yesterday there was a great crowd at St. Katharine's docks to take leave
of a missionary who was going to one of the South Sea islands; and it
said that a great deal of money had been given to him, and that when the
ship began to sail, all the people waved their hats, and wished him
success. Now I want to know what he was going for, and why every body
was so glad?"

[Illustration: THE GOOD MISSIONARY GOING ABROAD.]

"Then I will tell you, Charles. Missionaries are good and religious men,
who go out to different parts of the world, on purpose to benefit those
poor ignorant creatures whom we call savages, by teaching them religion,
and also such arts as they are capable of learning."

"That is very kind of them," said Charles; "for it cannot be very
pleasant to live among savages."

"No, my dear; but these good men do not consider what is pleasant, they
only consider what is right; and that is the proper way to think, is it
not?"

"Oh yes, papa, I know that we ought all to do what is right, whether it
is pleasant or not."

"Certainly, Charles, and in the end it is sure to be the most pleasant,
because it is a great pleasure to know that we have done what is right.
But we were talking of missionaries. For several hundred years the
people of England and Germany, and other Christian countries, have
considered it a part of their duty to teach the Christian religion in
all parts of the world; for in many nations, Charles, they are so
ignorant that instead of praying t