some of the Neapolitans had led them to injure the tombs of the heretics, as they consider us. So the king had granted another spot of ground nearer the city, which was safely and reverently walled in.

A little farther on, shaded by trees, and creeping plants, was the tomb of Virgil.

The urn which contained his ashes and the door too are

gone.

"How old is this tomb, papa? said Harry.

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Virgil died nineteen years before the birth of our Lord, so it is more than eighteen hundred years old. He was only fifty when he died, but how much he did in his lifetime! You remember, he wrote the Georgics at Naples, by the desire of the Emperor Augustus, to encourage the taste for agriculture amongst the Romans."

"Yes," replied Mr. Ferguson, " and how well he was respected amongst them, so that whenever he entered the theatre, however crowded, all the audience rose up to him as to an emperor. I think, boys, you will feel a double interest in learning your Æneid now that you have seen Virgil's tomb."

O yes, we shall," added Harry ; "I should like, Donald, to bring our lessons here to learn sometimes."

G

"Very well," he replied, "we can try it for once."

They then scrambled up the hill, hoping to enjoy a pleasant walk and fine view along the top of it; but to their surprise and disappointment, the road they entered had a high wall on each side of it. On they went hoping it would soon end; but they found it did not for more than a mile. A steep rough road then led them down into the bustling, dirty streets of Naples.

CHAPTER V.

THE 19th of December came at last; and, strange to say, four different children in Naples jumped out of bed before sunrise, to see if the day were fine!

Edith was queen of the day, and as she dressed, a gentle tap came at the door. She opened it, but nothing was to be seen excepting a basket of beautiful flowers. They covered, as she soon found, several parcels done up in white paper; first came a beautiful Prayer-book from her papa and mamma, with a gold clasp, then a box full of beads, arranged in different colours, with needles, and silk, &c., from Rose.

Donald, too, had sent his gift, the figure of a sailor asleep in his fishing-basket, all cut out of the different coloured lava of Vesuvius. Mrs. Vernon had given her a doll, with clothes made by herself, all excepting the cap, which was Mary's

present; and Harry had bought her a box very prettily inlaid with different sorts of wood. This, he told her afterwards, he thought would do to hold her shells, and anything else they might bring from Vesuvius. Little Hugh, too, was as anxious as any one to remember Edith's birthday, so he had spent all his money in buying her a fine piece of white coral.

Edith was delighted with her basket full of flowers and presents; but before she had looked at them half long enough, the breakfast bell rang. Many kind wishes were waiting for her in the breakfast-room, and many true, hearty thanks were returned by Edith.

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Now children," said Mr. Ferguson, remember, one rule I lay down to-day, which is not to be broken, you must not think and then act for yourselves, but in everything obey me or Mr. Vernon and the guides."

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You must quite understand this, because the ascent of a mountain like Vesuvius, more than two thousand, nearly three thousand feet high, is dangerous."

They all promised faithful obedience, and with very thick shoes, and thick sticks for the gentlemen of the party, off they all started. They met the Vernons at the railway station; the horn was blown, for the guard uses one at starting instead

of a bell, or whistle as with us, and twenty minutes brought them to the small town of Resina.

Here they all left the train, and went to a house in which the principal guide lives. He had received orders, so eight horses and ponies were in readiness, some guides, and a few ragged boys who went for their own pleasure.

Mary was not of the party, she had a cold ; besides which, being such a coward, Mr. Vernon felt it quite the best plan to leave her at home.

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Edith was amused to find her pony named Macaroni ;" he was rather a frisky little fellow, but she rode well, and soon understood how to manage him. The party trotted on pretty comfortably at first, but then large stones in the road made it necessary to walk the horses. Edith was very fond of taking the lead, so when a smooth piece of road came, she pressed on, passing all the rest.

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Mind, you Queen Edith," said her papa," it needs steady and slow riding here."

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Oh yes, papa, but I so like being first."

Harry felt the same, and asked Mr. Ferguson if he might pass to ride by the side of Edith. So there the two went, leading the procession, the guides of course keeping close to them.

There were vineyards part of the way, growing