"BECOS! BECOS! BECOS!"



Thousands of years ago the greatest country, in the world was Egypt.

It was a beautiful land lying on both sides of the wonderful river
Nile. In it were many great cities; and from one end of it to the other
there were broad fields of grain and fine pastures for sheep and
cattle.

The people of Egypt were very proud; for they believed that they were
the first and oldest of all nations.

"It was in our country that the first men and women lived," they said.
"All the people of the world were once Egyptians."

A king of Egypt, whose name was Psammeticus, [Footnote: Psammeticus
(_pro._ sam met'i kus).] wished to make sure whether this was true or
not. How could he find out?

He tried first one plan and then another; but none of them proved
anything at all. Then he called his wisest men together and asked them,
"Is it really true that the first people in the world were Egyptians?"

They answered, "We cannot tell you, O King; for none of our histories
go back so far."