"And I suppose you also understand now, why this caused a civil war?"
said his mamma.

"Of course I do," replied Charles; "some people fought for the king, and
some for Oliver Cromwell."

"Yes," replied Mrs. Barker, "and for a long time the country was in a
very unhappy state. The king was obliged to hide himself, for if he had
been caught he would perhaps have been beheaded, as his poor father was.
But at last he got away in a ship, and went to Holland, where he lived
for some years; but at last his party was victorious, and he came back
to England."

"Then there was a king again," said Charles.

[Illustration: CONVERSATIONS ON HISTORY: CHARLES IInd.]

"Yes, then there was a king again, he was Charles the second; and now
every year on the day that he returned, the bells ring, and the guns are
fired, it is the 29th of May, and is called king Charles's restoration.
When May comes, if you listen on that day, you will hear the bells
ringing very merrily, and then you will know what it is for."

"So I shall," said Charles, "I am glad of that, I like to know things, I
wish I knew the history of every country in the world."

"It is a very good thing to know a great deal of history," said his
mamma; "and the best way of gaining this knowledge, is to read with
attention the books that have been written on purpose to teach little
boys history; they are the best for you to read now; then, when you are