was displeasing to many of the corrupt officials of Egypt. He was thwarted and distrusted. His health was broken with hard work, with incessant anxiety and the scorching heats, and accordingly in 1879 he sent in his resignation to the Khedive. 7. Gordon did not enjoy a long rest after his departure from Egypt. In 1880 he was invited to China on an important and highly honourable mission. The statesmen of China, who knew the disinterested character of Gordon, wanted his advice with regard to a war, which was threatening between that country and Russia. Gordon went and gave his voice against war. His counsels were followed, and a conflict was averted. 8. We are now near the final act of Gordon's pure and noble life. A chequered series of events again made his presence necessary in the Soudan. In 1882 the British had occupied Egypt; but they had disclaimed all responsibility for the government of the vast regions of the Soudan; and the long years of Egyptian cruelty and misrule in that country had at last produced their natural consequences. Under a religious leader called the Mahdi, the fierce tribes rose against their oppressors. The Soudan was speedily in a blaze of rebellion, and the Egyptian garrisons were everywhere surrounded. 9. The British government felt that they were, in some measure, responsible for the safety of those garrisons. They had ordered the evacuation of the Soudan; but how was this to be accomplished? There seemed to be only one man whose singular genius and acknowledged influence in those countries might be equal to the task of withdrawing so many soldiers, and of establishing order in the general confusion. 10. Gordon was accordingly sent to the Soudan, and he entered Khartoum in February 1884. He was welcomed as a deliverer. The poorest of the people were admitted to an audience with the new governor; on the streets they pressed about him, kissing his hands and feet, and calling him father. He collected the books containing the record of the debts due by the over-taxed people, and the whips and other instruments of tyranny from which they had suffered so cruelly, and throwing them into one heap, made a bonfire of them in front of the palace. In the prison he found two hundred wretched creatures, young and old, many of whom had been proved innocent, many of them untried, but all pining in one common misery. Scores of these he had set free before the sun went down. Thus did Gordon on the first day of his arrival at Khartoum. 11. It proved, however, that this work of justice and mercy was too late to effect any great change in the Soudan. The influence of the Mahdi was too great; the tribes were everywhere in fierce rebellion. In two months after Gordon's entry into Khartoum, the town was besieged by the army of the Mahdi, and communication with the outer world was cut off. 12. Thus surrounded by savage enemies, Gordon had a terrible task before him. He had only two or three Europeans to assist him; many of his soldiers were not trustworthy; help was far distant. Yet for many long and weary months he kept his enemies at bay, and maintained peace and order in Khartoum. The hot summer passed away; autumn was succeeded by winter. An army of British soldiers was advancing up the Nile to his relief, but its progress was delayed by the cataracts and the sandy deserts. It had already reached Shendy, a point on the river only three days' sail from Khartoum; and vessels with English soldiers on board approached the city so long defended by the skill and courage of Gordon. But it was too late! On the morning of the 26th of January 1885, just two days before the arrival of the English soldiers at Khartoum, a traitor had opened the gates of the city to the wild host of the Mahdi. Gordon was slain; his faithful soldiers were massacred, and the helpless women sold into slavery. 13. During the long siege, Gordon had left no resource untried that skill and endurance and kindness could suggest to enable his followers to hold out against their foes. He felt that he could not desert the poor people whom he had pledged himself to protect, and in the fulfilment of this duty he lost his life. But no man can be said to fail whose life, like that of Gordon, is an unbroken record of well-doing in the cause of justice and mercy; and the circumstances under which he fell will only serve the better to stamp his name on the memory of mankind. 14. The closing months of his career were watched with intense anxiety by every nation of the civilised world. They saw a man who had no fear of death, who was not moved by the paltry ambitions or the mean motives of the world, but was ready to give up everything for his fellow-creatures, one who regarded all men as his brethren, and who gave them his help, without distinction of creed, colour, or nationality. complete that he was To the great men of 15. His faith in God was so unmoved by the fear of man. the world he fearlessly spoke the truth, to the poor he was kind and merciful, to all he was just and sympathetic. Wealth and power he valued only as a means of benefiting his fellow-men; his great pleasure was in doing good. The memory of such a man is a possession for all time; and to the people that know how to prize it aright, it is more precious than all treasures of silver and gold. Vice'-roy, one who rules instead of a king. From Lat. vice, in the Lat. nomen, name. From stall, a place, seat. enemy. Dis-in'-ter-est-ed, unselfish, just. Cheq'-uered, varied like the colours on a checker or chess-board. E-vac-u-a'-tion, a leaving, with- Rec'-ord, story or account. high place. Lat. ambitio, a EXERCISES.-1. Explain the following: (1) A nominal sovereignty; (2) corrupt officials; (3) opening up the country to the influences of civilisation; (4) the disinterested character of Gordon; (5) a chequered series of events; (6) they had disclaimed all responsibility for the government of the Soudan; (7) communication with the outer world; (8) without distinction of creed, colour, or nationality. 2. Analyse and parse the following: 'The student of history,' says Cicero, can read over a sentence a second time, if he does not understand it; whereas, the meaning of a speaker, once lost, is lost for ever.' 3. Name all the derivatives you know from the following Latin roots: (1) Rex, regis, a king; (2) hostis, an enemy; (3) spondeo, I promise, or answer; (4) spondeo, compounded with re-, cor-re-. ENGLAND'S DEAD. [The following poem, describing how the graves of Englishmen are to be found in every part of the world, is by Mrs Hemans (1793-1835).] Son of the ocean isle! Where sleep your mighty dead? Go, stranger! track the deep, Free, free, the white sail spread! On Egypt's burning plains, With fearful power the noon-day reigns, And the palm-trees yield no shade. But let the angry sun From heaven look fiercely red, The hurricane hath might Is heard the tiger's roar. But let the sound roll on! It hath no tone of dread, For those that from their toils are gone;- |