THE first shock of the great earthquake which overthrew Lisbon, in 1755, was caused by the great land-wave. The city was shaken to its foundations. The houses were swung to and fro with such violence that the upper stories were THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON. 57 flung bodily to the ground, crushing thousands of the inhabitants to death beneath the ruins of their own dwellings. Those who escaped rushed to the great square in front of St. Paul's Church, hoping to find in this open space a refuge from the falling edifices of the city. But when they drew near, they were still more terrified by the awful scene of desolation which there presented itself, than they were by the overthrow of their own homes. It was the festival of All Saints; and St. Paul's, like all the other churches, had been crowded with worshippers. The great church had been thrown down, and the immense multitude which had filled it had perished beneath its shattered walls. Those who had escaped from the different churches, were to be seen fleeing in crowds to the banks of the Tagus for safety. Others sought the heights of St. Catherine's Hill, but these were quickly destroyed; for a second land-wave followed soon after the first, and the church which crowned the hill was rocked violently to and fro until it fell, overwhelming the people who crowded around it in the vain hope of finding shelter there. Now the great sea-wave was to work the destruction of thousands who had escaped from the falling streets and churches. The banks of the Tagus were crowded with terrified fugitives, whose cries for mercy sounded like the dirge of the doomed city. Of a sudden, as they prayed, a strange heaving swell was seen to traverse the broad expanse of the river. The waters seemed as though they were being sucked away to meet an enormous wave 58 THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON. which was sweeping in with great rapidity from Another moment and the whole multitude the sea. was engulfed in the surging waters. It is related that, of the vessels anchored in the river, of an extensive quay recently built at great expense, and of the crowds of human beings huddled together upon them, not a single trace was ever afterwards discovered. They had all gone down to a depth deeper than the bottom of the sea. But the end was not yet. A third land-wave rushed in upon the town, the shock it produced being scarcely less violent than the two preceding ones; and immediately after, the river was again traversed by an enormous wave. Then followed other shocks, and other inrushes of the sea, producing effects so disastrous that it was generally believed the city of Lisbon was doomed to be entirely swept from the face of the earth. And now, when the earthquake was over, a new calamity, scarcely less terrible, befell the unfortunate inhabitants. The city was found to be on fire in a hundred places at once, the flames bursting forth with such fury that the whole city presented the appearance of a gigantic conflagration. It is asserted that fires issuing upwards from fissures made by the earthquake in the ground were partly the cause of this calamity. But on this point the evidence is not very clear. It is certain however that flames and smoke issued from several mountains in Portugal during the earthquake; and there are authentic records of their occurrence within the THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON. precincts of the city. 59 On every side there was fire, while few were left to contend against the ravages of the destructive element. Six days elapsed before an end was finally put to the conflagration.-St. Paul's. DICTATION. Thrown, throne; were, ware; seem, seam; meet, meat, mete; quay, key. Supply the words omitted in.-The churches were king's down. The is a fine seat. If you there you would see the hard The girl sews her You to know. Can you me at ten o'clock? He eats his well. You must good measure. The ship is lying at the Give him the QUESTIONS. When did the great earthquake at Lisbon take place? What was the first shock caused by? What parts of the houses were flung to the ground? Beneath what were thousands of the inhabitants crushed to death? What place did those who escaped rush to? What did they hope to find in the open space? When they drew near why were they terrified? What had St. Paul's been crowded with? What had happened to the great church? What happened to the immense multitude which had filled it? Where did those who escaped from the churches flee to? What happened to those who sought the heights of St. Catherine's Hill? to open the door. What was to work the destruction of those who had escaped from the falling streets and churches? What were the banks of the Tagus crowded with? What did their cries for mercy sound like? What was the enormous wave sweeping in from? What happened in another moment? What had the vessels in the river, the quay, and the crowds of human beings gone down to? What did Lisbon seem doomed to be? What calamity next befell the city? What was the city found to be on? What did the fires issue from? How many days elapsed before an end was put to the conflagration? XXV. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LIVE ON Cull, gather. Eb-bing, backward flowing. Foil'ed, baffled. Fond'-ness, love. EARTH. Gauds, toys. Im -pulse, cause. In'-mates, dwellers. Per-pet-u-al, continual. THERE are two ways to live on earth, 60 THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LIVE ON EARTH. Give me the home where kindness seeks To make that sweet which seemeth small; And every mind hath care for all. Whose inmates live in glad exchange Who in a neighbour's fortune find Who dream not of the ebbing tide, The fallen power that shuns the streets. Though fate deny its glittering store, Love's wealth is still the wealth to choose; Some beings, wheresoe'er they go, While others, in the ceaseless round Oh! happy they who happy make, Who blessing, still themselves are blest, |