1.While the head is sheltered by the hair，the feet are naturally bare and unprotected.Therefore，in the early ages of the world‘s history，people seem to have felt the need of coverings for their feet，long before they ever dreamed of hats，helmets，or bonnets.
2.The feet were first protected by sandals or shoes roughly made of the skins of animals.Sandals aremerely rudely-shaped soles of wood，leather，bark，plaitedgrass，or straw，fastened to the feet by strapsor thongs.This simple kind of protection is still incommon use in Eastern lands.In our climate moreprotection for the feet is necessary，and the Saxons wore shoes made of leather，sometimes with wooden soles.Sandals were，however，worn by the clergy.
3.Besides sandals，shoes covering the whole foot，which were tied above with latchet，lace，or string，were worn by the more wealthy Romans.Those of the women were white，the men’s were black，while red ones were worn only by people of the highest rank.Long boots or buskins，which covered part of the leg，were also worn by hunters.
4.About the year 1100A.D.，a French nobleman，who had badly-shaped feet，ordered his shoemaker to make him long，pointed shoes.Others followed his example，and shoes with long points were worn by the upper classesboth of Franceand of England.Inthe time of Richard the Second of England，the points were made so long that，in order to walk，gentlemen were forced to fasten them to their kneeswith gold or silver chains.Often，too，the peaked toes were twisted like corkscrews.At last a law was passed forbidding any person below the rank of lord to wearshoes with peaks beyond a certainlength.Not long afterwards the fashion changed，andshoes were worn with toes as absurdlyhad before been absurdly long.
5.Boots are merely shoes extended so as to give better protection to the ankle and leg.Two centuries ago，boots were worn much longerthan they are now.One of the longest kinds was the jack-boot，commonly worn by horsemen.It reached above the knee，was wide atthe top，and had high heels.Round the ankle was a flat leather band with a powerful spur.A neater form of thejack-boot is still worn by the Horse Guards .
6.By-and-by a lighter form of the jack-boot wasadopted，suited for walking as well as for riding.
This reached only to the knee，and fitted more closely to the leg.It was known as the Hessian boot.Next，a still lighter and shorter boot was adopted，which was worn inside the trousers，and was named after the Dukeof Wellington，by whom it was brought into use.It isinteresting to notice that an early form of ankle-boot was named after his friend Blücher.It is only during the present century that ankle-boots have come into common use.
7.A kind of shoe，called a sabot，is in commonuse among the peasantry of France and Belgium.Itis made of wood，and is hollowed out of one piece，like the canoes of our savage ancestors.Wood is also used for the soles of a kind of coarse boots or shoes，called clogs，which are in use in some parts of this country.Pattens are worn in various places to raise the foot above the mud.They consist of a wooden sole，supported on high blocks of wood or rings of iron，and，like sandals，they are fastened to the foot by straps.At the present time，india-rubber is much used for making over-shoes for protecting leather boots in snowy or wet weather.Rubber soles are also used for light shoes of various kinds.
8.Boots and shoes are sometimes worn too tight.This injures the health by checking the circulation of the blood，and it also causes much suffering byproducing cornsand bunionsand ingrowing toe-nails.High heels should also be avoided，as they throw the weight of the body too much on the fore part of the foot，thus straining the muscles of the leg，and causing an awkward and ungraceful walk，such as is common in our towns at the present day.
9.The counties of Leicester，Northampton，and Stafford are the centres of the English boot and shoe trade.In the large shoe factories almost all the work is done by machinery.The soles and heels are cut out of thick leather by a machine，at the rate of two pairs per second.Other machines fold and stitch the uppers，sew them to the soles，make button holes，sew on buttons，and even brush and polish the boots when finished.By machinery a pair of boots can be completed，from the hide to the finished article，in a little over an hour.In some of the large factories over ten thousand pairs of boots can be made in a day.
FOLLOWING A STAR
1.Egypt forms part of the dominions of the Sultan of Turkey，but on account of its position on the road to our Indian Empire，it is very important for Britain that the government of Egypt should befriendly to us.After the Suez Canalwas made，Britainhad still more interest in the good government of the country，and we became practically the rulers of Egypt.This was displeasing to the Turks，and to a party of the Egyptians as well，and many plans were tried to get rid of British influence.
2.In 1882，the party hostile to Britain was led by a general called Arabi Pasha，while the Khedive，the ruler of Egypt，remained friendly.A rebellion took place，not so much against the Khedive as against Britain，and British troops had to be sent out to restore the power of the Khedive.The decisive battle wasEgypt，a country in the north-east of Africa.
Dominions，domains；places under one government.
Sultan，the title of the ruler of Turkey.
Turkey，a country in the southeast of Europe.
Suez Canal，a canal made to join the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Hostile，unfriendly.
Pasha，a title given to officers of high rank in the Turkish army.
fought at Tel-el-Kebir，where the rebels had a very strongly-fortified camp.The British army made a swift night march over the desert，with the stars for their only guiding-marks，and almost reached the Egyptian camp before they were seen.The camp was stormed and carried at the point of the bayonet，and in a quarter of an hour the battle was over and the rebellion at an end.
3.In the Portsmouth Garrison Church there is abeautiful tabletwith this inscription：-“Sacred to the Memory of Wyatt Rawson，Commander Royal Navy.
He fell while acting as guide to the Second Division，at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir，13th September 1882.Aged 29.”
This young hero‘s death has been beautifully com-memoratedKebir“：-in the following little poem，“At Tel-el-4.Over the desert at midnight，with a rapid，silent stride，“Were marching the British soldiers and their gallantsailor guide.
God help them all if lie failed to find his way in the gloom aright，For his comrades’lives and his country‘s famo were placed in his hands that night.
5.Never a faltering moment unsteadied the ranks he led；Forward they pressed on their silent way，with the sailor at their head；On while the gloom and the darkness screened them from watchful foes，Till the goalthey sought was safely gained as thesudden morningrose.
6.Quick the alarm was sounded，quick was the onslaught made，Sharp was the fight；but the foe fell back from the British fire and blade.
Many a heart that late beat high was stilled in that hour for aye，And among the first of the British men fell the man who had led the way.
7.Sadly they bore him back to die，and the kindly general came，Bent o’er his friend with grateful thanks，pity，and promised fame；Never a word said the dying man of his pain or hishaplessfate，But the eager words came，”General，didn‘t I guide you straight？-8.“It was a star，you know，a star，a star！”-and he back-ward fell；His young life closed with the service done and the trust fulfilled so well.
And long as an English voice shall speak of the Tel-el-Kebir fightWill be heard the brave young sailor’s name who guided them straight that night.
9.Nor say that his work was ended with the deed that led to death；It may be a nobler mission dying breath.
For shall not the words he uttered like a living watch-word thrillTo the hearts of men enlistedin a higher service still？
10.On through the unknown country，while the goal yet lies afar，Led through the gloom and darkness by the light of a guiding star；God keep us following where it leads till the doubtful path grows straight，And the march shall end and the conflict cease where it shines on the golden gate.