quibbling; but it being proved, that they were carried away neither by the tide of flood, nor by the tide of ebb but exactly upon the top of high water, they were nonsuited; but such was the lenity of the court, upon their paying all costs, they were allowed to begin again de novo.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

HONESTY AND GENEROSITY.

1. A POOR man, who was door-keeper to a house in Milan, found a purse which contained two hundred crowns. The man who had lost it, informed by a public advertisement, came to the house, and giving sufficient proof that the purse belonged to him, the door-keeper restored it.

2. Full of joy and gratitude, the owner offered his benefactor twenty crowns, which he absolutely refused. Ten were then proposed, and afterwards five; but the door-keeper still refusing to accept them, the man threw his purse upon the ground, and in an angry tone cried, "I have lost nothing, nothing at all, if you thus refuse to accept a gift." The door-keeper then consented to receive five crowns, which he immediately distributed amongst the poor.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

THE UNGRATEFUL GUEST.

1. A CERTAIN soldier in the Macedonian army, had in many instances, distinguished himself by extraor dinary cts of valor, and had received many marks of Philip's favor and approbation. On some occasion, he embarked on board a vessel, which was wrecked by a violent storm, and he himself cast on shore, helpless, naked, and scarcely with the appearance of life.

2. A Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, came opportunely to be witness of his distress, and with all humane and charitable tenderness flew to the relief of the unhappy stranger. He bore him to his house, laid him on his own bed, revived, cherished, comforted, and for forty days supplied him freely with all the necessaries and conveniences which his languishing condition could require.

3. The soldier, thus happily rescued from death, was incessant in the warmest expressions of gratitude to his benefactor, assured him of his interest with the king, and of his power and resolution of obtaining for him, from the royal bounty, the noble returns which such extraordinary benevolence had merited. He was now completely recovered, and his kind host supplied him with money to pursue his journey.

4. Some time after he presented himself before the king; he recounted his misfortunes, and magnified his services; and this inhuman wretch, who had looked with an eye of envy on the possessions of the man who had preserved his life, was now so abandoned to all sense of gratitude, as to request that the king would bestow upon him, the house and lands where he had been so kindly and tenderly entertained.

5. Unhappily, Philip, without examination, inconsiderately and precipitately granted his infamous request; and this soldier now returned to his preserver, and repaid his goodness, by turning him from his little settlement, and taking immediate possession of the fruits of his honest industry. The poor man, stung with this instance of unparalleled ingratitude and insensibility, boldly determined, instead of submit ng to his wrongs, to seek relief. In a letter addressed to Philip, he represented his own and the soldier's conduct in a lively and affecting manner.

6. The king was instantly fired with indignation; he ordered that justice should be done without delay; that the possessions should immediately be restored to the man, whose charitable offices had been thus horribly repaid; and having ordered the soldier to be seized, caused these words to be branded on his forehead, the ungrateful guest; a character infamous in every age, among all nations; but particularly among the Greeks, who, from the earliest times, were most scrupulously observant of the laws of hospitality.

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

THE PRUDENT JUDGE.-An Eastern Tale.

1. A MERCHANT, who on account of business, was obliged to visit foreign countries, entrusted to a Dervise, whom he considered as his friend, a purse containing a

thousand sequins, and begged him to keep it till his re turn. At the end of a year the merchant returned, and asked for his money; but the deceitful Dervise affirmed that he had never received any.

2. The merchant fired with indignation at his perfidious conduct applied to the Cadi. "You have had more honesty than prudence," said the judge; "You ought not to have placed so much confidence in a man of whose fidelity you were not sufficiently assured. It will be difficult to compel this cheat to restore a deposite which he received when no witnesses were present. Go to him again, address him in a friendly manner, without informing him that I am acquainted with the affair, and return to me to-morrow at the same hour."

The

3. The merchant obeyed, but instead of getting his money he received only abuse. While the debtor and creditor were disputing, a slave arrived from the Cadi, who invited the Dervise to pay a visit to his master. Dervise accepted the invitation. He was introduced into a grand apartment, received with friendship, treated with the same respect as if he had been a man of the most distinguished rank.

4. The Cadi discoursed with him upon different subjects, among which he occasionally introduced, as opportunity presented, the highest encomiums on the wisdom and knowledge of the Dervise. When he thought he had gained his confidence by praises and flattery, he informed him that he had sent for him in order to give him the most convincing proof of his respect and esteem.

5. "An affair," says the Cadi, "obliges me to be absent for a few months; I cannot trust my slaves, and I am desirous of putting my treasures into the hands of a man, who, like you, enjoys an unspotted reputation. If you can take charge of them, without impeding your own Occupations, I shall send you to-morrow night my most valuable effects; but as this affair requires great secrecy, I shall order the faithfullest of my slaves to deliver them to you as a present which I make you."

6. On these words an agreeable smile was diffused over the countenance of the treacherous Dervise. He made a thousand reverences to the Cadi, thanked him for the

confidence reposed in him, assured him in the strongest terms that he would preserve his treasures as the apple of his eye, and returned, hugging himself with joy at the thoughts of being able to over reach the judge.

7. Next morning the merchant returned to the Cadi, and informed him of the obstinacy of the Dervise. "Go back," said the judge, "and if he persist in his refusal, threaten that you will complain to me. I think you will not have occasion to repeat your menace."

8. The merchant immediately hastened to the house of his debtor, and no sooner had he mentioned the name of the Cadi, than the Dervise, who was afraid of losing the treasure that was about to be entrusted to his care, restored the purse, and smiling, said, "my dear friend, why should you trouble the Cadi? Your money was perfectly secure in my hands; my refusal was only a piece of pleasantry. I was desirous of seeing how you would bear disappointment."

9. The merchant was, however, prudent enough not to believe what he had heard, and returned to the Cadi, to thank him for the generous assistance which he had given him. Night approached, and the Dervise prepared to receive the expected treasure; but the night passed and no slaves appeared. As soon as it was morning the Dervise repaired to the judge's house. "I am come to know, Mr. Cadi," said he, "why you have not sent the slaves according to promise."

10. "Because I have learned from a merchant," said the judge, "that thou art a perfidious wretch, whom justice will punish as thou deservest if a second complaint of the same pature is brought against thee!" The Dervise, struck with this reproof, made a profound reverence, and retired with precipitation, without offering a single word in his own vindication.

CHAPTER LXXXVII.

OF THE SCRIPTURES, * AS THE RULE OF LIFE..

Addressed to the Young

1. AS you advance in years and understanding, you will be able to examine for yourselves the evidences of

Christianity being the only true and perfect religion, and as in proportion as mankind adopt its principles, and obey its precepts,

the Christian Religion; and you will be convinced on rational grounds, of its divine authority. At present, such inquiries would demand more study and greater powers of reasoning, than your age admits. It is your duty, therefore, till you are capable of understanding the proofs, to believe your parents and teachers, that the holy scriptures are writings inspired by Gon, containing a true history of facts, in which we are deeply concerned.

2. They contain a true recital of the laws given by GoD to Moses, and of the precepts of our blessed Saviour, delivered from his own mouth to his disciples, and repeated and enlarged upon in the edifying epistles of his apostles, who were men chosen from amongst those who had the advantage of conversing with our Lord, to bear witness of his miracles and resurrection; and who, after his ascension, were assisted and inspired by the Holy Ghost.

3. This sacred volume must be the rule of your life. In it you will find all truths necessary to be believed; and plain and easy directions for the practice of every duty. Your bible, then, must be your chief study and delight; but as it contains many various kinds of writings; some parts obscure and difficult of interpretation, others plain and intelligible to the meanest capacity, I would recommend chiefly to your frequent perusal such parts of the sacred writings, as are most adapted to your understanding, and most necessary for your instruction.

4. Our Saviour's precepts were spoken to the common people amongst the Jews, and were, therefore, given in a manner easy to be understood, and equally striking and instructive to the learned and unlearned; for the most ignorant may comprehend them, whilst the wisest must be charmed and awed by the beautiful and majestic simplicity with which they are expressed.

5. Of the same kind are the ten commandments, delivered by God to Moses; which, as they were designed for universal laws, are worded in the most concise and

they will be wise and happy; and as the bible contains the knowledge of this religion, the following thirteen chapters are designed to assist the scholar in the attainment of that most important knowledge, to be drawn from the scriptures May heaven direct you in studying this sacred volume, and render it the means of making you wise unto salvation.