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THE DUKE OF MAINE.

T the time that the fame of the great Condé was

at its height, and all Paris rang with his victories, the Duke of Maine, then quite a child, was one day amusing himself very noisily in an apartment, in which the general also happened to be: the Condé was disturbed, and complained of the noise the Duke made. "I only wish, Sir," said the child, "that I made as much noise as you do."

HENRY PRINCE OF WALES, SON OF JAMES THE FIRST.

HENRY, Prince of Wales, son of James the First,

having, when quite a child, cut his finger, one of his attendants sucked out the blood. "Now," said the Prince, jokingly, "if, which God forbid ! my father, myself, and the rest of our kindred should fail, you might claim the crown, for you have in you the blood royal."

OBSERVING once, as he was travelling, a stack of corn, it struck him as similar in shape to the top he used to play with. "That's a good top," said he.

Why do you not then play with it?" observed one

of his attendants.

"Do you set it up for me, and I

will," smartly answered the prince.

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HE fame of the infant poet, Beauchâteau, having reached the ears of Anne of Austria, mother of Louis the Fourteenth, she sent for him to court, and conversed with him upon many subjects, in French, Italian, and Spanish. Surprised at his intelligence and acquirements, "How is it," said she, "that you can have so much wit and knowledge at your age?" "Oh,” replied the young poet, "when we approach the divinities of the earth, it is natural that we should be inspired."

BEAUCHATEAU had been received by the queenmother without ceremony or parade, and preserved all his presence of mind, and freedom of manner; but Cardinal Mazarine invited him to a brilliant court party, and awed by the persons, and the magnificence that surrounded him, he became timid and silent, An amiable and high-bred lady however, wishing to encourage him, whispered a few kind words in his ear, and he instantly replied by the following impromptu :

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Tant d'éclat, j'en conviens, m'a troublé, m'a surpris.
Je cherche de l'esprit, plaignez mon sort funeste,
Puisqu'ici chacun m'a tout pris,

Comment se peut-il, qu'il m'en reste?

ANOTHER day, when Beauchâteau was reproached with his love of play, which they told him was unworthy of his superior mind, he laughed, and said :

Pour les jeux et les vers mon ardeur est égale,
Car de mon age enfin je dois subir la loi,
Et, poëte à dix ans, je sens bien que pour moi,
Le plus beau des sonnets ne vaut pas une balle.

SIR

SIR FRANCIS BACON.

IR Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, from his early childhood displayed a sprightliness and vigour of intellect beyond the common level. One day when Queen Elizabeth asked him how old he was, he readily and smartly replied, "Just two years younger than your majesty's happy reign." The queen was so well pleased with this sprightly compliment from a child, that she afterwards frequently amused herself with talking to him, and asking him questions, and used jokingly to call him, her young Lord Keeper.

LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND EARLY ACQUIREMENTS.

Never, before

This happy child, did I get any thing;
And, when I am in heaven, I shall desire

To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.

SHAKSPEARE.

NOWLEDGE is the most valuable of all posses

KNOWLEDGE

sions, and the only one of which no outward circumstances can deprive us: but it is not the gift of nature: talents, even, do not always ensure it: it is the fruit of pains: it is the reward of application; and Childhood is the season of instruction. Then is the memory most retentive, the mind most inquisitive; and to Princes, who in after life have weightier duties, and more engrossing occupations and cares, than those which fall to the lot of common men, an early application to study is of great moment.

An early thirst for knowledge has given a presage

of future greatness in many of our celebrated men, and we have very wonderful accounts of the acquirements of some illustrious children at an early age.

CHILDHOOD OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

ALFRED the Great gave very early marks of

those great virtues and shining talents, by which, during the most difficult times, he saved his country from utter ruin and subversion. At a very early age, he accompanied an embassy to Rome, and a report having been spread, during his stay there, of his father, Ethelwolf's death, Pope Leo the Third, gave him the royal unction as future king. On his return home, he became more and more the object of his father's affections, but so injudicious was the fond indulgence of this weak prince, that he suffered a youth of so great promise, to spend his whole time in amusement, neglecting his education entirely, and, it is said, that Alfred attained his twelfth year before he was even able to read.