THE TWO SOLDIERS.

AN APOLOGUE.

To his son, Wilhelm, fresh from college, and proud of his learning, obtained from Greek and Roman writers, the merchant Singelhart related the following story:

'Two soldiers, who had been taken prisoners in battle, contrived, after a long slavery, to escape. The elder of the two, whose name was Platow, had a mild and thoughtful nature. In the younger, Ulric, appeared a mixture of boldness and vivacity, such as may be seen in garrison towns, and such as (ladies say) should belong to soldiers.

'There was nothing in common between the two men, save their common danger. This produced a partial alliance of offence and defence, between them; and on this subject they held occasional conferences. But for the most part, they travelled silently by each other's side, or shared the fruit and berries and chance ears of rice or wild corn which they discovered on their way.

'They had to pass through strange countries, as yet scarcely guessed at by geographers. They beheld.

extensive prairies which the buffalo haunts, and trackless savannas where the wild horse and the zebra enjoy boundless liberty. They penetrated savage regions, where even man preys upon his fellow, and lands debateable and arid deserts, where shepherds, armed to the teeth, overlook their flocks, or where roving bands settle for a time, but have no permanent home. At last, after many days' toil, they left a rich alluvial flat, where they for some time had been travelling, and began to ascend a bleak and mountainous country which appeared never to have been subjected to the hand of man. The snow (though it was almost summer) lay upon the higher peaks, whilst through the passes, where their road lay, fierce rain and howling winds kept up incessant clamor. It was nearly night when they arrived at a spot somewhat sheltered. Yet even there it was wild and gloomy, without fruits and without flowers; the black pine-trees, together with scanty grasses and a few ears of shrunken corn, being all that redeemed it from utter barrenness. Fatigue was stronger than hunger, and they slept.

In the morning, just as the sun began to throw a cold light over the eastern mountains, the travellers awoke.

"Ha! what is this?" inquired Ulric. It was too plain. They were each bound fast to a rugged tree, "We are in the toils," continued the speaker.

"Yes," answered Platow,

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our strength of mind which we discoursed upon so long yesterday has now an opportunity of showing itself."

"Ah!" replied Ulric, "if I were not so hungry you would soon see

'At this moment a young girl, six or seven years of age, of a rough but pleasant aspect, came smiling towards them; she bore in her hands a large bowl of milk, and under her arm was a wrapper composed of strips of bark or tough grass, which being opened displayed some large pieces of barley bread.

"Eat! drink!"-said she; and her orders were obeyed with alacrity. She waited till they had finished their meal, and then said, "My father will come and judge you presently; but don't be afraid, he is not so terrible as he looks;" and with these words she left them.

'It was an anxious moment. Platow summoned up his resolution to bear the worst with calmness; and Ulric was inventing some ingenious falsehood to excuse himself for intruding within their host's very uninviting territory, when a loud rough voice was heard at a distance, and presently a giant of vast size walked sturdily towards them, carrying in his hand a young pine, plucked up by the roots.

"What have you come here for?" quoth he, when he was close to them. His voice sounded like thunder. "Speak! you are spies from the plains. What is it you want? Is not your land fat enough, that you must come here and spy out the poverty of my home? Will you steal the few goats that give food to me and my children? Will you rob me of my little hoard of dry corn? This is the second time that you have come to pilfer from me; and now, villains, you shall die !” "Ah, sir!" exclaimed Ulric - he could utter no

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more.

"We are poor travellers," said Platow; "and

were passing, by accident, through your country. Our only wish is to reach once more the land where we were born."

"We will give you gold," interrupted Ulric; and he tendered some coins for the giant's acceptance, who looked contemptuously upon them.

"“What stuff is here?" quoth he; and whirled the useless metal over a mountain summit some hundreds

of feet high. "Do you think to bribe me with dirt Of what use is it to me? Will it give me

like this?

“We will teach you wisdom," joyfully cried Ulric. “Ha!" said the giant, "that, indeed, is something. Come, let us begin."

'Ulric, who belonged to several societies for diffusing useful (and a little useless) knowledge, and who outtalked every member at the annual meetings of the philosophers, eagerly commenced. "I shall first explain to you the latest theories respecting meteorolites, or stones thrown from the moon."

"The what?" cried the other angrily; but recollecting himself, he muttered aside, "I perceive that this is a jackass, or talking idiot."

Well," pursued Ulric, "if you have no interest in that subject, I will show you how to unroll a mummy." Platow smiled, and explained the nature of mummies, when the giant observed, "but we have no mummies here!"

Ulric admitted that this was an objection, and said, "Then I will unfold to you the mysteries of storms." "That sounds well," said his host; you can tell

me when a storm is coming?"

"No, not that," answered Ulric.

"Nor how to avert it?"

"No."

"Well then, you know, by certain signs, how long it will last!"

""No."

"What is it you are about to disclose, then?" inquired the other, impatiently.

"I will show you how storms are generated and impelled through the atmosphere, and how they sometimes revolve or proceed in circles, and how—"

""Bah!" exclaimed the giant; "all this is for the people of the air.”

"It is really difficult to hit on a subject," said Ulric, now a little perplexed. At last a bright thought suddenly illumined his countenance, and he said—"I will explain to you the theory of rent, and show you how to hold a just balance between the manufacturing and the agricultural interests."

"Hark ye, fellow!" said the giant, now thoroughly incensed, "you are laughing at my ignorance. You wish me to nail you against that rock, to furnish dinner for the eagles!"

'Ulric protested quickly that, although self was generally below his thoughts, yet that such a mode of proceeding would be particularly disagreeable to him.

'His host now assumed the interrogator. "You " but I appear to be a silly fellow," said he; may be mistaken. I will, therefore, put a question or two to ascertain the value of your accomplishments. Can you wrestle with a bear?"