one. He founded schools; he patiently heard
causes himself in his court of Justice; and the
great desires of his heart were, to do right to
all his subjects, and to leave England better,
wiser, happier in all ways, than he found it.
His industry in these efforts was quite
astonishing. Every day he divided into certain
portions, and in each portion devoted himself
to a certain pursuit. That he might divide
his time exactly, he had wax torches or
candles made, which were all of the same
size, were notched across at regular distances,
and were always kept burning. Thus, as the
candles burnt down, he divided the day into
notches, almost as accurately as we now
divide it into hours upon the clock. But,
when the candles were first invented, it was
found that the wind and draughts of air,
blowing into the palace through the doors
and windows, and through the chinks in the
walls, caused them to gutter and burn
unequally. To prevent this, the king had them
put into cases formed of wood and white
horn. And these were the first lanthorns ever
made in England.

All this time, he was afflicted with a
terrible unknown disease, which caused him
violent and frequent pain that nothing could
relieve. He bore it, as he had borne all the
troubles of his life, like a brave, good man,
until he was fifty-three years old; and then,
having reigned thirty years, he died. He
died in the year nine hundred and one; but,
long ago as that is, his fame, and the love and
gratitude with which his subjects regarded
him, are freshly remembered to the present
hour.

In the next reign, which was the reign of
EDWARD, surnamed THE ELDER, who was
chosen in council to succeed, a nephew of
KING ALFRED troubled the country by trying
to obtain the throne. The Danes in the East
of England, took part with this usurper
(perhaps because they had honored his uncle
so much, and honored him for his uncle's
sake), and there was hard fighting; but,
the king, with the assistance of his sister,
gained the day, and reigned in peace for
four and twenty years. He gradually
extended his power over the whole of England,
and so the Seven Kingdoms were united into
one.

When England thus became one kingdom,
ruled over by one Saxon sovereign, the Saxons
had been settled in the country more than
four hundred and fifty years. Great changes
had taken place in its customs during that
time. The Saxons were still greedy eaters and
great drinkers, and their feasts were often
of a noisy and drunken kind; but, many new
comforts and even elegancies of life had
become known, and were fast increasing.
Hangings for the walls of rooms, where, in
these modern days, we paste up paper, are
known to have been sometimes made of silk,
ornamented with birds and flowers in needle-
work. Tables and chairs were curiously
carved in different woods: were sometimes
decorated with gold or silver—sometimes
even made of those precious metals. Knives
and spoons were used at table; golden
ornaments were worn, with silk and cloth, and
golden tissues and embroideries; dishes were
made of gold and silver, brass and bone.
There were varieties of drinking-horns,
bedsteads, musical instruments. A harp was
passed round, at a feast, like the drinking-
bowl, from guest to guest, and each one
usually sang or played when his turn came.
The weapons of the Saxons were stoutly made,
and among them was a terrible iron hammer
that gave deadly blows, and was long
remembered. The Saxons themselves were
a handsome people. The men were proud of
their long fair hair, parted on the forehead:
their ample beards, their fresh complexions,
and clear eyes. The beauty of the Saxon
women filled all England with a new delight
and grace.

I have more to tell of the Saxons yet, but I
stop to say this, now, because, under the GREAT
ALFRED, all the best points of the English-Saxon
character were first encouraged, and in him
first shown. It is the greatest character
among the nations of the earth. Wherever
the descendants of the Saxon race have gone,
have sailed, or otherwise made their way,
even to the remotest regions of the world, they
have been patient, persevering, never to be
broken in spirit, never to be turned aside
from enterprises on which they have resolved.
In Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the whole
world over; in the desert, in the forest, on the
sea; scorched by a burning sun, or frozen by ice
that never melts; the Saxon blood remains
unchanged. Wheresoever that race goes, there,
law, and industry, and safety for life and
property, and all the great results of steady
perseverance, are certain to arise.

I pause to think, with admiration of the
noble king who, in his single person, possessed
all the Saxon virtues. Whom misfortune
could not subdue, whom prosperity could not
spoil, whose perseverance nothing could shake.
Who was hopeful in defeat, and generous in
success. Who loved justice, freedom, truth, and
knowledge. Who, in his care to instruct his
people, probably did more to preserve the
beautiful old Saxon language, than I can imagine.
Without whom, the English tongue, in which
I tell his story, might have wanted half its
meaning. As it is said that his spirit still
inspires some of our best English laws, so, let
you and I pray that it may animate our
English hearts, at least to this—to resolve,
when we see any of our fellow-creatures left
in ignorance, that we will do our best, while
life is in us, to have them taught; and to tell
those rulers whose duty it is to teach them,
and who neglect their duty, that they have
profited very little by all the years that have
rolled away since the year nine hundred and
one, and are far behind the bright example of
KING ALFRED THE GREAT.