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" I was

the seven branches on the candlestick of the altar." astonished, but the man of God motioned to me, and commanded me to be silent, and to attend. Behold, said he, new creations will soon make their

appearance."

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5. "He thereupon brought water in the hollow of his hand from the stream which flowed past; and lo! all the branches were covered with green leaves, so that a cooling shade was thrown around us, together with a delicious odor.- Whence," exclaimed I," is this perfume amid the refreshing shade?""Seest thou not," said the man of God, "the scarlet blossom, as, shooting forth from among the green leaves, it hangs down in clusters?"

6. "I was about to answer, when a gentle breeze agitated the leaves, and strewed the blossoms around us, as the autumnal blast scatters the withered foliage. No sooner had the blossoms fallen, than the red pomegranates appeared suspended among the leaves, like the almonds on the staves of Aaron. The man of God then left me in profound amazement."

7. Nathan ceased speaking. "What is the name of the god-like man?" asked Solomon, hastily. "Doth he yet live? Where doth he dwell?" "Son of David," replied Nathan, "I have related to thee a vision." When Solomon heard these words, he was troubled in his heart, and said, "How canst thou deceive me thus ?" "I have not deceived thee, son of David," rejoined Nathan. "Behold, in thy father's garden thou mayest see all that I have related to thee. Doth not the same thing take place with every pomegranate, and with the other trees?" 8. "Yes," said Solomon, "but imperceptibly, and in a long time." Then Nathan answered-"Is it therefore the less a divine work, because it takes place silently and insensibly? Study nature and her operations; then wilt thou easily believe those of a higher power, and not long for miracles wrought by a human hand."

LESSON XXXI.

The Compassionate Judge.

1. THE celebrated Charles Anthony Domat was promoted to the office of a Judge of a provincial court, in the south of France, in which he presided, with public applause, for twentyfour years. One day a poor widow brought a complaint before him, against the Baron de Nairac,* her landlord, for turning her out of possession of a farm which was her whole dependence. *Pronounced Bar'-on de Na-rak.

2. Domat heard the cause; and finding by the clearest evidence, that the woman had ignorantly broken a covenant in the lease, which empowered the landlord to take possession of her farm, he recommended mercy to the baron towards a poor honest tenant, who had not willingly transgressed, nor done him any material injury. But Nairac being inexorable,* the judge was obliged to pronounce a sentence of expulsion from the farm, and to order payment of the damages mentioned in the lease, together with the costs of the suit.

3. In delivering this sentence, Domat wiped his eyes, from which tears of compassion flowed plentifully. When the order of seizure, both of her person and effects, was decreed, the poor woman exclaimed: "O just and righteous God! be thou a father to the widow and her helpless orphans!" and immediately she fainted away.

4. The compassionate judge assisted in raising the distressed woman; and after enquiring into her character, the number of her children, and other circumstances, generously presented her with a hundred louis d'ors,† the amount of her damages and costs, which he prevailed with the baron to accept as a full recompense; and the widow was restored to her farm.

5. Deeply affected with the generosity of her benefactor, she said to him: 66 O, my lord! when will you demand payment, that I may lay up for that purpose?" "I will ask it," replied Domat, "when my conscience shall tell me I have done an improper act."

LESSON XXXII.

The Prudent Judge-an Eastern Tale.-MASS. MAGAZINE.

1. A MERCHANT, who, on account of business, was obliged to visit foreign countries, intrusted to a dervis, whom he considcred as his friend, a purse, containing a thousand sequins, and begged him to keep it until he should return. At the end of one year, the merchant returned, and asked for his money; but the deceitful dervis affirmed, that he had never received any.

2. The merchant, fired with indignation at this perfidious behaviour, applied to the cadi. "You have had more honesty than prudence," said the judge: "you ought not to have placed

* Pronounced In-ex'-o-ra-ble.

+ Pronounced lu ́-e-dores, a gold coin of France, valued at $4 44 cents, œ 11. sterling.

Cadi, a Turkish magistrate.

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 deposit which he received when no witnesses were present. Go to him again," added he, "address him in a friendly manner, without informing him that I am acquainted with the affair, and return to me to-morrow at this hour."

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 dervis to pay a visit to his master. The dervis accepted the invitation.

4. He was introduced into a grand apartment, received with friendship, and treated with the same respect as if he had been a man of the most distinguished rank. The cadi discoursed with him upon different subjects, among which he occasionally introduced, as an opportunity presented, the highest encomiums on the wisdom and knowledge of the dervis.

5. 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. "An affair of the greatest importance," says he, "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 the most unspotted reputation.

6. "If you can take the 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 faithfulest of my slaves to deliver them to you as a present which I make you."

7. At these words, an agreeable smile was diffused over the countenance of the treacherous dervis. He made a thousand reverences to the cadi; thanked him for the confidence which he reposed in him; swore, in the strongest terms, that he would preserve his treasure as the apple of his eye; and retired, hugging himself with joy at the thoughts of being able to overreach the judge.

8. Next morning, the merchant returned to the cadi, and informed him of the obstinacy of the dervis. "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."

9. The merchant immediately hastened to the house of his debtor, and no sooner had he mentioned the name of the cadi, than the dervis, who was afraid of losing the treasure that was about to be entrusted to his care, restored the purse, and said,

smiling, "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."

10. The merchant, however, was 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.

11. Night approached, and the dervis prepared to receive the expected treasure; but the night passed, and no slaves appeared. As soon as it was morning, the dervis repaired to the judge's house. "I am come to know, Mr. Cadi," said he, why you have not sent your slaves, according to promise."

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12. 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 nature is brought against thee." The dervis, struck with this reproof, made a profound reverence, and retired with precipi ́ation, without offering a single word in his own vindication.

LESSON XXXIII.

The Fox and the Cat.

1. The Fox and the Cat, as they travelled one day, With moral discourses cut shorter the way.

""Tis great (says the Fox) to make justice our guide !"
"How godlike is mercy!"—Grimalkin* replied.

2. Whilst thus they proceeded, a Wolf from the wood,
Impatient of hunger, and thirsting for blood,
Rush'd forth, as he saw the dull shepherd asleep,
And seized for his supper an innocent Sheep.
"In vain, wretched victim, for mercy you bleat,
When mutton's at hand, (says the Wolf,) I must eat.”

3. Grimalkin's astonished-The Fox stood aghast,
To see the fell beast at his bloody repast;

"What a wretch (sings the Cat)-'tis the vilest of brutes; Does he feed upon flesh, when there's herbage and roots?" Cries the Fox, "while our oaks give us acorns so good, What a tyrant is this to spill innocent blood!"

4. Well, onward they march'd, and they moralized still, Till they came where some poultry pick'd chaff by a mill;

* Grimalkin, an old cat.

Sly Renard surveyed them with gluttonous eyes, And made (spite of morals) a Chicken his prize. A Mouse too, that chanc'd from her cover to stray, The greedy Grimalkin secured as her prey. 5. A Spider that sat in her web on the wall, Perceiv'd the poor victims, and pitied their fall; She cried-" of such murders how guiltless am I !" So ran to regale on a new taken Fly.

MORAL.

The faults of our neighbors with freedom we blame, But tax not ourselves, though we practise the same.

LESSON XXXIV.

Might makes Right.

1. A SPARROW perched upon a bough,
Spied a poor beetle creep below,"

And picked it up. "Ah, spare me, spare!—"
The insect prayed: but vain its prayer.

"Wretch !" cries the murderer, "hold thy tongue,

For thou art weak, and I am strong."

2. A hawk beheld him, and in haste, Sharpens his beak for a repast,

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And pounces plump upon him. "O,"

Exclaims the

sparrow,

"let me go."

"Wretch !" cries the murderer, "hold thy tongue,
For thou art weak, and I am strong."

3. The hawk was munching up his prey,
When a stout eagle steer'd that way,
And seized upon him. "Sure, comrade,
You'll spare my life-we're both a trade!"

"Wretch !" cries the murderer, "hold thy tongue,

For thou art weak, and I am strong."

4. A sportsman saw the eagle fly,

He shot, and brought him from the sky :

The dying bird could only groan,

"Tyrant! what evil have I done?"

"Wretch !" cries the murderer, "hold thy tongue, For thou art weak, and I am strong."

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