COSMOGRAPHY. 21 



at that time, all the printers used peculiar signs, by which 

 the works of their press might immediately be recognised. 



HENRIETTA. 



How very much we read that books were prized formerly. 



MRS. F. 



Yes, so long as they remained in manuscript their cost 

 was very great. In 690, Aldfred, King of Northumberland, 

 gave an estate of eight hides of land for a work upon cosmo- 

 graphy. 



MARY. 



Oh, pray stop, mamma, and tell me the meaning of that 

 word. 



FREDERICK. 



Its derivation, Mary, is from two Greek words, kosmos, the 

 world, and grapho, to write. 



MRS. F. 



Therefore, cosmography is a treatise on the general system 

 of the universe its construction, its form, and the relation of 

 each part to the whole. Cosmography divides itself into two 

 branches ; astronomy, which treats of the heavenly bodies, 

 and geography, which has for its object the description of 

 the earth.* 



HENRIETTA. 



Thank you, aunt, for the explanation. I never rightly un- 

 derstood the difference. 



MARY. 

 But what is abide"? 



HENRIETTA. 



A hundred acres. 



i 

 * Guizot, Dictionnaire des Synonymes. 



