﻿14 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



" From the interior of Central America. Two gentlemen, Messrs, 

 Huertis of Baltimore, and Hammond of Canada, having read the 

 great work of Mr. Stephens, about an Indian city, hitherto unvisited 

 by whites, resolved to explore it. In company with a Spanish 

 gentleman, Senor Pedro Velasquez, and after meeting with many 

 difficulties, they reached it, and found it a very ancient and very cu- 

 rious place. In a sumptuous palace, they found a body of priests 

 called Kaanas, of little stature and feeble minds, but almost idolized 

 by the people. Among these priests were Maximo and Bartola, two 

 orphan children of a Kaanan priest. The travellers resolved to 

 carry away these children. But Mr. Hammond died, and Mr. Huer- 

 tis was killed by the Indians. Senor Velasquez, however, made good 

 his escape with the children, and after much and severe suffering, 

 reached Grenada. From thence, under the care of a guardian, they 

 came to the United States." 



Neddie was very much interested in this story of the Aztec chil- 

 dren ; and having asked many more questions, which I have not 

 room to print, he presently grew sleepy. Falling back in his chair, 

 he went to sleep with his mouth open. Seeing this, his uncle, who 

 was a little waggish, held a very little pear by the stem, and gently 

 dropped it into his mouth. Neddie started, rubbed his eyes, spit out 

 the pear, and then cried out, " Who's that ? " 



Uncle Oliver laughed ; Neddie's father and mother laughed too. 

 His grandmother laid down her knitting, lifted up her head, and 

 peered out through her spectacles. Neddie looked foolish a mo- 

 ment, then laughed at his uncle's joke, and after remarking, " It's 

 time I was abed ! " took a lamp and disappeared. 



