embrowned hands, contrasted strongly with the delicately gloved fingers, curling locks, and expensive broadcloth of the former. “Look here, sir, you're jamming that little girl's bonnet all to smash with those elbows of yours."

3. "Can't help that," gruffly replied the individual addressed: "I look to No. One." "You take care of No. One,'do you? Well, that's all fair: so do I," replied the honest countryman ; and with these words, he took the little girl in his arms, and placing his broad shoulders against the slight form of the former, he pushed him through the crowd, down the steps, landing him, with somewhat more haste than dignity, in the street below.

4. The young gentleman picked himself up, but rather intimidated' by the stout fist of the stranger, and rather abashed' by the laughter of the crowd, concluded it was about time for him to go home. In polite society the former would be courted and admired, and the latter overlooked and despised. "Who was the gentleman ?"

5. On a raw and blustering day last winter, a young girl, with a basket on her arm, entered one of our stores. After making a few purchases she turned to leave. Two gentlemen stood in the doorway, whose appearance indicated' that they thought themselves something; whose soft sleek coats and delicate hands were apparently* of about the same quality as their brain.

6. As they made not the slightest movement as she approached, the young girl hesitated a moment, but seeing no other way, she politely requested them to stand aside. They lazily moved a few inches, allowing her barely room to pass, giving her, as she did so, a broad stare, that brought the color to her cheek, and the fire to her eye. In stepping upon the icy pavement her foot slipped, and in endeavoring to save herself, her basket fell, and the wind scattered its con'tents in every direction.

7. At this, the two gentlemen burst into a loud laugh, and seemed to consider it as vastly amusing. "Let me assist you," exclaimed a pleasant voice; and a lad about sixteen, whose hands showed that they were accustomed to labor, and whose

coarse but well-patched coat indicated that he was the child of poverty, sprang forward, and, gathering up the articles, presented the basket with a bow and a smile that would have graced a drawing-room. "Who was the gentleman ?"

8. Boys, you are all ambitious to become gentlemen. It is all věry natural, but remember, that neither your own nor your parʼents' position in life, your tailor, your boot-black, or your barber, can make you one. The true gentleman is the same everywhere; not only at the social' party or ball, but in the noisy mill, the busy shop, the crowded assembly at home, or in the street; never oppressing the weak or ridiculing the unfortunate; respectful and attentive to his superiors; pleasant and affable to his equals; careful and tender of the feelings of those whom he may consider beneath him.

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II.

23. A MODERN CINCINNATUS.

HOSE who have read of the old Roman who left his plow,

Tand ruled the nation, returning again to his humble farm,

must be proud to think how many instances of the same kind our own history furnishes. Washington was a Cincinnatus, and here is an account of another.

2. At the session of the South Carolina Legislature, in 1814, the members were perplexed for a suitable man to elect governor. The difficulty did not arise from any scarcity of candidates,*-for then, as now, men were ambitious, but from a want of the right sort of man. The matter became worse as the time wōre on, and the election of some objectionable candidate seemed inevitable."

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3. One day, however, as several of them were conversing upon the matter, Judge O'Neall, then a young man, and present by invitation, said, "Gentlemen, why not elect Genèral David

1 Social, (so shal), made up of companions; relating to society.

"Af fa ble, easy of conversation; admitting or inviting others to talk freely; courteous.

3 Cin cin na tus, a celebrated Roman who was called from the plow

to direct the affairs of his country and command her armies.

* Căn' di dātes, persons who seek or are proposed for any office. 'In ěv it a ble, that which can not be avoided.

6

• A, (ă), see Rule 2, p. 24.

R. Williams ?" "David R. Williams! he's our man-he's the man!" they all exclaimed, as they began to scatter to tell the news. The day of election came on, and General Williams was elected by a large vote.

4. A messenger was at once dispatched with a carefully prepared letter to inform the general of his election, requesting his acceptance, and hoping he would name the day on which he would take the oath of office. After a long ride, the messenger stopped at the general's residence, in Marlboro' district, we believe, and inquired if he was in. He was told that Mr. Williams was over at his plantation.' The gentleman said he would ride over, as he had a note to deliver to him as soon as possible.

5. When ǎbout half way, he met a fine-looking man, dressed in plain homespun, and driving a team of mules. "Am I on the road to the plantation of General Williams?" asked the messenger. "Yes, sir; it is about a mile further on," was the reply. "Is the general at home?" "No, sir." "Where is he?" "I am General Williams." "You General David R. Williams?" "I am the man. "Don't deceive me. I have an important letter for Gen. Williams. If that is your name," said the doubting messenger, "here it is," handing the letter to the general.

دو

6. Mr. Williams opened the letter, and found, to his utter astonishment, that, without his knowledge or consent, he had been elected governor of South Carolina. He took the messenger home, and entertained him for the night, preparing a note in the mean time accepting the appointment, and naming a time on which he would be in Columbia. The messenger returned. On the appointed day, a few minutes before twelve, a man, dressed in homespun, and on horseback, rode into town. Hitching his animal to a tree, he made his way to the Capitol,' where he found a brilliant concourse of people.

7. But few knew him personally; still there was something commanding about him. He took his seat in a vacant chair; and when the clock in front of the Speaker had struck the hour of twelve, the general rose, and delivered the most masterly speech that had ever been delivered there. The farmer-states

1 Plan ta' tion, a place planted; a large cultivated farm.

'Căp'i tol, the State-house, or house in which the legislature meets.

› Concourse, (kỏng′ kòrs), a moving, flowing, or running together; a collection of people meeting of choice in one place; an assembly.

2

man entirely electrified' the assembly. He made an excellent governor. This incident is a valuable precedent: here was a farmer elected; he accepted, and from the plow went to the governor's office to preside,' in a stormy crisis,* over the destiny of an important State. Long live his memory!

III.

24. LOKMAN.

LOKMAN, surnamed the Wise, lived in very early times

probably in the days of King David and King Solomonand his name is still famous in the East as the inventor of many fables and parables, and vārious stōries are told of his wisdom. It was said that he was a native of Ethiopia,' and either a tailor, a carpenter, or a shepherd; and that afterward he was a slave in various countries, and was at last sold among the Israelites.

2. One day, as he was seated in the midst of a company who were all listening to him with great respect and attention, a Jew of high rank, looking earnestly aù him, asked him whether he was not the same man whom he had seen keeping the sheep of one of his neighbors. Lokman said he was. "And how," said the other, "did you, a poor slave, come to be so famous as a wise man ?"

3. "By exactly observing these rules," replied Lokman: 'Always speak the truth without disguise; strictly keep your promises; and do not meddle with what does not concern you." Another time, he said that he had learned his wisdom from the blind, who will believe nothing but what they hold in their hands-meaning that he always examined things, and took great pains to find out the truth.

1 E lec' tri fied, suddenly shocked or excited; struck with great and pleasant surprise.

2 Prěcí e dent, something said or done that may serve afterwards as an authoritative example.

'Děs' ti ny, fate; that to which any person or thing is appointed, intended, or doomed.

"Păr a ble, a fable, or supposed history, representing something in real life or nature, from which a

'Pre side', to sit above others; to moral is drawn for instruction. direct, control, and govern.

Crisis, time when any thing is at its height, and ripe for a change.

"E`thi o'pi a, the name given by the ancient geographers to the coun tries in Africa, south of Egypt.

4. Being once sent, with some other slaves, to fetch fruit, his companions ate a great deal of it, and then said it was he who had eaten it; on which he drank warm water to make himself sick, and thus proved that he had no fruit in his stomach; and the other slaves, being obliged to do the same, were found out.

5. Another story of him is, that, his master having given him a kind of melon, called the coloquin'tida, which is one of the bitterèst things in the world, Lokman immediately ate it all up, without making faces, or showing the least dislike. His master, quite surprised, said, “How was it possible for you to swallow so nauseous' a fruit ?" Lokman replied, "I have received so many sweets from you, that it is not wonderful that I should have swallowed the only bitter fruit you ever gave me.” His master was so much struck by this generous and grateful answer, that he immediately rewarded him by giving him his liberty.

6. At this day, "to teach Lokman" is a common saying in the East, to express a thing impossible. It is said, too, that he was as good as he was wise; and, indeed, it is the chief part of wisdom to be good. He was particularly remarkable for his love to God, and his reverence of His holy name. He is reported to have lived to a good old age: and, many centuries after, a tomb in the little town of Ramlah, not far from Jerusalem, was pointed out as Lokman's. DR. AIKIN.

IV.

IT

25. ARCHBISHOP SHARPE AND THE ROBBER.

was a custom with Archbishop' Sharpe, in his journeys, generally to have a saddle-horse attending his carriage, that, in case of feeling fatigued with sitting, he might have the refreshment of a ride. In his advanced age, and a few years before his death, as he was going in this manner to his Episcopal' residence, and was a mile or two in advance of his carriage, a decently-dressed, good-looking young man, on horseback, came up to him, and, with a trembling hand and faltering tone

Nauseous, (na'shus), disgusting; causing sickness of the stomach.

2 Arch bishop, a chief bishop; an officer in the church of the first

class; a clergyman of the highest rank in the Episcopal Church.

'E pĭs' co pal, belonging to a bishop, or overseer.