it waked Giant Despair, who, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway again, and so were safe. --John Bunyan

Words: fellow-companion; adventured-tried; diffidence-distrust of one's self; cudgel-a short, heavy stick; rating scolding; condole-lament, regret.

Questions: Why did the pilgrims leave the King's highway for By-path Meadow? Why should Giant Despair live in Doubting Castle? Does the loss of faith in God often lead to despair? Do you see the significance of the fact that Christian was near Doubting Castle when he was captured by Giant Despair? What key finally enabled the pilgrims to escape? What do you think this key is? What is the meaning of the King's highway? If you would like to read the entire story in a simple form, see the book listed below.

Pleasure Reading:

Baldwin's John Bunyan's Dream Story

A

WHO ARE BLESSED

ND seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:

and when he was set, his disciples came unto him.

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute

you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before

you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of

men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. * *

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

-The Bible

THE FATE OF BALBOA

(The completion of the Panama Canal brings to mind the gallant Spaniard who crossed the Isthmus and discovered the Pacific Ocean. Balboa's untimely death is an illustration of envy, cruelty, and ingratitude.)

ROM the heights overlooking the bay of Panama, on the 25th of September, 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa first beheld the Pacific Ocean. There it lay spread out before him, far as the eye could reach, in calm, majestic beauty, glittering like liquid crystal in the morning sun. Casting himself upon the ground, he poured forth praise and thanksgiving to the Creator of that boundless unknown sea, for the honor of its discovery. Then, with his faithful comrades, he descended to the shore, and drawing his sword, marched into the water and took possession for the king of Spain.

Returning to Darien* he made known his wonderful discovery. Throughout Christendom his name became famous. King Ferdinand praised him for his brilliant achievement. and made him governor of the Southern Sea which he had found; Pedrarias Davila,* governor of Darien, betrothed to him his daughter. Flushed with his success and loaded with honors, Balboa attempted yet greater things. Desirous of extending his discoveries, he built ships upon the northern seaboard, and with great difficulty, conveyed them in pieces across the mountains to the new South Sea.

Meanwhile Pedrarias, now old and petulant, grew jealous of his young, adventurous rival. "This upstart," thought he, "whom all men honor, will soon displace me in my government if I do not clip his wings." So he induced the king to make the government of the South Sea subordinate to his own; then he set afloat rumors that Balboa, upon his broad new sea, cared little for the sovereign of Spain or for any of his governors. About this time, one Andres Garabito*-as treacherous a villain as ever betrayed friend-under many obligations to Balboa, and professing for him devoted attachment, told

Pedrarias that the young governor was faithless to the old man's daughter and faithless to him. At this, Pedrarias's jealous fears took fire; but smothering his wrath he wrote smooth letters, beseeching his dear son-in-law to come to him. that they might confer upon some projected enterprise. When the messengers had gone the old man sat down, and brooded over fancied wrongs until his hate was unto death, murderous. Then he rose up and laughed as he thought upon the sweet revenge which should so soon obliterate them all. "Once within my grasp," meditated Pedrarias, "and he shall never escape me.

Leaving his ships at the Pearl Islands in the bay of Panama, Balboa hastened to answer the summons of Pedrarias. He returned with the messengers to Acla* on the northern seaboard, where the old man awaited them. Won by his courtesy and noble bearing, when about half the journey was accomplished, the messengers of Pedrarias told Balboa that their master premeditated° harm to him. Conscious of no wrong, frank and unsuspicious, Balboa could not credit their assertions. "There must be some mistake," said he, "at all events, I have nothing to fear; I will go forward."

As the little party descended the mountains which separate the two great oceans, and approached Acla, they were met by an armed force sent out by Pedrarias. The leader of the band, who had often served under Balboa, stepped forward and placed his former leader under arrest. Casting upon him a reproachful look, Balboa exclaimed, "How is this, Francisco Pizarro ?* You were not wont to come out in this fashion to receive me!" No attempt, however, was made to escape; no remonstrance, no complaint. He suffered himself to be placed in chains, to be conveyed to Acla and cast into prison.

The old man Pedrarias could scarce conceal his exultation° in having thus outwitted, as he imagined, his enemy; could scarce refrain from feasting his eyes on him; nay, he would not, so he visited him in prison, and with hypocritical face

and kindly voice said to him, "Be not cast down, my son, with grief, neither give way to fear; for the more clearly your past actions are brought to light, the brighter will shine out your eminent and loyal services.'

Pedrarias now put forth his utmost endeavor to heap together charges which should criminate the prisoner; and in this he was so far successful as to force from the unwilling judge a sentence of death. The old man's happiness, however, was incomplete without a fiendish triumph.

Once more he enters the prison. Dropping the mask of hypocrisy, relentless rage gleaming from his eyes, his voice. tremulous with passion: "You thought to escape me," he cries; "your governor has become your tool, your plaything; his daughter an idle jest. Know that your days are numbered, and that revenge, grown ripe with age, is none the less sweet for being long delayed." The prisoner manifested no surprise at this outburst. During the progress of the trial he had become convinced that he was prejudged and foredoomed. Calmly he answered the vindictive° old man: "I am here at your bidding. Since last we pledged our friendship, I have toiled unceasingly in your behalf and mine. I have suffered many hardships, have overcome obstacles deemed insurmountable by most men. Never in my heart have I entertained one. thought disloyal to my king, treasonable to you, or unfaithful to my betrothed."

"And, that what I say is true," continued Balboa, "my actions are my witnesses. Think you with four good ships, and three hundred brave, devoted men at my command; with bright fortune beckoning me across the sea from every direction, that had I harbored treason in my breast I should not have spread my sails and sought a land unknown, beyond all fear of capture? But unconscious of any wrong intent, unsuspicious of this black iniquitous perfidy, forgetting that my lord Pedrarias deals out chains and death as the rewards of honest purpose and faithful service, I am here powerless, and