who call myself a Christian, do what I should abhor even in heathens? No, I will not do it—But I will buy the right of the proper owners, even of the Indians themselves. By doing this shall imitate God himself, in his justice and mercy, and thereby insure his blessing on my colony, if I should ever live to plant one in North America."

LESSON XIV.

The Ungrateful Guest.-GOLDSMITH.

1. PHILIP, king of Macedon,† is celebrated for an act of private justice, which does great honor to his memory. A certain soldier, in the Macedonian army, had, in various instances, distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valor; and had received many marks of Philip's approbation and favor.

2. On a particular occasion, this soldier embarked on board a vessel, which was wrecked by a violent storm; and he was cast on the shore, helpless and naked, with scarcely any appearance of life. A Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, came opportunely to be witness of his distress; and, with the most humane and charitable tenderness, flew to the relief of the unhappy stranger.

3. He bore him to his house, laid him on his own bed, revived-cherished-and comforted him; and for forty days, supplied him freely with all the necessaries and conveniences which his languishing condition could require.

4. 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 determination to obtain for him, from the royal bounty, the noble returns which such extraordinary benevolence had merited. He was at length completely recovered; and was supplied by his kind host with money to pursue his journey.

5. After some time, the soldier presented himself before the king; he recounted his misfortunes; he magnified his services; and this inhuman wretch, who had looked with an eye of envy on the possessions of the man by whom his life had been pre

* Philip became king of Macedon, 360 B. C. He was a brave, artful and ambitious man. He aspired to the sovereignty of Greece, but was assassinated by Pausanias, 336 B. C., while meditating the conquest of Persia, at the head of the Grecian forces. He was succeeded by his son, Alexander the Great.

+ Macedon, an ancient kingdom in the northern part of Greece, now embraced in Turkey in Europe.

served was so devoid of gratitude, and of every humane sentiment, as to request that the king would bestow upon him the house and lands, where he had been so tenderly and kindly entertained.

6. Unhappily, Philip, without examination, precipitately granted his infamous request. The soldier then returned to his preserver; and repaid his goodness by driving him from his settlement, and taking immediate possession of all the fruits of his honest industry.

7. The poor man, stung with such an instance of unparalleled ingratitude and insensibility, boldly determined, instead of submitting to his wrongs, to seek relief: and in a letter addressed to Philip, represented his own and the soldier's conduct in a lively and affecting manner.

8. The king was instantly fired with indignation. He ordered that ample justice should be done without delay; that the possessions should be immediately restored to the man whose charitable offices had been thus horribly repaid; and, to show his abhorrence of the deed, he caused the soldier to be seized, and to have these words branded on his forehead-" The Ungrateful Guest."

LESSON XV.

Parental Tenderness.

1. DURING the Indian wars which preceded the American revolution, a young English officer was closely pursued by two savages, who were on the point of killing him, when an aged chief interfered, took the officer by the hand, encouraged him by his caresses, conducted him to his hut, and treated him with all the kindness in his power.

2. The officer remained during the winter with the old chief, who taught him their language, and the simple arts with which they were acquainted. But when spring returned, the savages again took up arms, and prepared for a more vigorous campaign. The old chief followed the young warriors until they approached the English camp, when, turning to the young officer, he thus addressed him:

3. "You see your brethren preparing to give us battle; I have saved thy life-I have taught thee to make a canoe, a bow and arrows-to surprise the beasts of the forest-and to scalp your enemy; wilt thou now be so ungrateful as to join thy

countrymen, and take up the hatchet against us?" The Englishman declared that he would sooner perish himself than shed the blood of an Indian.

4. The old savage covered his face with both his hands, and bowed down his head. After remaining some time in this attitude, he looked at the young officer, and said in a tone of mingled tenderness and grief, "Hast thou a father?" "He was fiving," said the young man, "when I left my native country." "O how unhappy must he be," said the savage.

5. After a moment's silence, he added, "I have been a father, but I am one no longer; I saw my son fall by my side in battles But I have avenged him; yes, I have avenged him," said he with emphasis, while he endeavored to suppress the groans which escaped in spite of him. He calmed his emotions, and turning towards the east, where the sun was rising, he said, "dost thou behold the heavens with pleasure?" "I do," responded the young man. "I do no longer," said the savage, bursting into

tears.

6. A moment after, he added, "do you look with delight upon yonder beautiful flower?" "I do," answered the young man. "I do no longer," said the savage; and immediately added, "Depart to thine own country, that thy father may still view the rising sun with pleasure, and take delight in the flowers of spring."

LESSON XVI.

No Rank or Possessions can make the guilty mind happy.CICERO.

1. DIONYSIUS,* the tyrant of Sicily, † was far from being happy, though he possessed great riches, and all the pleasures which wealth and power could procure. Damocles, one of his flatterers, deceived by those specious appearances of happiness, took occasion to compliment him on the extent of his power, his treasures, and royal magnificence: and declared that no monarch had ever been greater or happier than Dionysius. 2. "Hast thou a mind, Damocles," says the king, "to taste this happiness; and to know, by experience, what the enjoyments are, of which thou hast so high an idea?" Damocles,

* Pronounced Di-on-ish'-e-us. He raised himself from obscurity to the throne-reigned forty years-and died 366 B. C., and was succeeded by his son, Dionysius II.

+ Sicily, an island in the Mediterranean, south of Italy.

Pronounced Dam'-o-cles.

with joy, accepted the offer. The King ordered that a royal banquet should be prepared, and a gilded sofa, covered with rich embroidery, placed for his favorite. Side-boards, loaded with gold and silver-plate of immense value, were arranged in the apartment.

3. Pages of extraordinary beauty were ordered to attend his table, and to obey his commands with the utmost readiness and the most profound submission. Fragrant ointments, chaplets of flowers, and rich perfumes, were added to the entertainment. The table was loaded with the most exquisite delicacies of every kind. Damocles, intoxicated with pleasure, fancied himself amongst superior beings.

4. But in the midst of all this happiness, as he lay indulging himself in state, he sees let down from the ceiling, exactly over his head, a glittering sword hung by a single hair. The sight of impending destruction put a speedy end to his joy and revelling. The pomp of his attendance, the glitter of the carved plate, and the delicacy of the viands, cease to afford him any pleasure.

5. He dreads to stretch forth his hand to the table.-He throws off the garland‡ of roses. He hastens to remove from his dangerous situation; and earnestly entreats the king to restore him to his former humble condition, having no desire to enjoy any longer a happiness so terrible.

6. By this device, Dionysius intimated to Damocles, how miserable he was in the midst of all his treasures; and in possession of all the honors and enjoyments which royalty could bestow.

LESSON XVII.

Beauty and Deformity. PERCIVAL'S TALES.

1. A YOUTH, who lived in the country, and who had not acquired, either by reading or conversation, any knowledge of the animals which inhabit foreign regions, came to Manchester, to see an exhibition of wild beasts. The size and figure of the elephant struck him with awe; and he viewed the rhinoceros with astonishment.

2. But his attention was soon drawn from these animals, and directed to another, of the most elegant and beautiful form; * Page, a boy attending on a person of distinction, rather for formality, or show, than for servitude.

+ Pronounced sord.

+ Garland, a wreath, or band of flowers.

and he stood contemplating with silent admiration the glossy smoothness of his hair, the blackness and regularity of the streaks with which he was marked, the symmetry of his limbs, and above all, the placid sweetness of his countenance.

3. "What is the name of this lovely animal," said he to the keeper, "which you have placed near one of the ugliest beasts in your collection; as if you meant to contrast beauty with deformity?" "Beware, young man," replied the intelligent keeper, "of being so easily captivated with external appearance.

4. "The animal which you admire is called a tiger; and notwithstanding the meekness of his looks, he is fierce and savage beyond description: I can neither terrify him by correction, nor tame him by indulgence. But the other beast, which you despise, is in the highest degree docile, affectionate, and useful.

5. "For the benefit of man, he traverses the sandy deserts of Arabia,* where drink and pasture are seldom to be found; and will continue six or seven days without sustenance, yet still patient of labor. His hair is manufactured into clothing; his flesh is deemed wholesome nourishment; and the milk of the female is much valued by the Arabs.

6. "The camel, therefore, for such is the name given to this animal, is more worthy of your admiration than the tiger; notwithstanding the inelegance of his make, and the two bunches upon his back. For mere external beauty is of little estimation; and deformity, when associated with amiable dispositions and useful qualities, does not preclude our respect and approbation."

LESSON XVIII.

The Discontented Pendulum.-JANE TAYLOR.

1. An old clock that had stood for fifty years in a farmer's kitchen, without giving its owner any cause of complaint, early one summer's morning, before the family was stirring, suddenly stopped.

2. Upon this, the dial-plate (if we may credit the fable) changed countenance with alarm; the hands made a vain effort to continue their course; the wheels remained motionless with surprise; the weights hung speechless; each member felt disposed to lay the blame on the others.

* Arabia, an extensive country in the south-west of Asia; the inhabitants are a wandering people, called Arabs.