the most lovable as well as admirable
characters in all our English history. He came to the throne at a time
when his wise leadership was greatly needed, and he fought long and
valiantly for his country. When he burnt the cakes, John, it was
merely because his thoughts were so busy with the plans for England's
future. Alfred made Winchester the capital of his whole realm, and
here he lived with all the court, when there was peace in the land.
Part of Alfred's boyhood had been spent here, too, when he was the
pupil of the wise St. Swithin; and, at Winchester, he made the good
and just laws for which he will always be remembered. Within the walls
of old Wolvesley Castle, the famous 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' was
commenced, at the command of the King. But besides all these useful
deeds, Alfred had such a beautiful personality that his family and
all the people of his kingdom loved him, and called him 'the perfect
King.' I have long admired this little tribute which one historian has
given Alfred the Great. He says this; I think these are the very
words: 'He was loved by his father and mother, and even by all the
people, above all by his brothers. As he advanced through the years of
infancy and youth, his form appeared more comely than that of his
brothers; in look, in speech, and in manners, he was more graceful
than they. His noble nature implanted in him from his cradle a love of
wisdom above all things.' And so, through all the centuries between
his time and ours, King Alfred's name has stood for all that is just,
kind, wise, and beautiful."

"Where was King Alfred buried, Mother?" asked Barbara.

"I'll show you his grave--or what is supposed to be his. But here we
are at Winchester now!" cried Mrs. Pitt; "and the sun has come out
just for our special benefit, too!"

In a "cathedral town," one is usually drawn first of all to the
cathedral itself, it being the central point about which the whole
town seems to cluster; and so it was that Mrs. Pitt led the way down
the shaded walk between the broad stretches of lawn surrounding the
great structure. To her great disappointment, an ugly net-work of
staging entirely spoiled the effect of the exterior of the building.

"I once read a book which an American wrote about his trip abroad,"
related Mrs. Pitt. "It amused me very much! After visiting a really
remarkable number of churches and important buildings which were
undergoing reconstruction or strengthening, this gentleman