for, a few nights after, the Pomeranian, being again in attendance, received several pieces of gold, and heard, to his great joy and surprise, that one hundred rix dollars had been settled on his mother during her life.

(i) THE HAUGHTY CREDITOR AND HIS POOR DEBTOR'S SON. -A shopkeeper, who resided two or three days' journey from Paris, preserved his good conduct and integrity for many years. At last, by some persons taking undue credit, and keeping him too long out of his money, he was obliged to take a journey to Paris, to desire two things of his creditors: the one was a lengthening out their forbearance; and the other was to be furnished with a fresh assortment of goods, that he might keep open his shop with credit. They were so pleased with the honesty and frankness of the man, that they all agreed to grant his request except one; this was his chief creditor, a proud and haughty merchant, who had never felt any adversity, and knew not how to sympathize with the afflicted. "So," said he," I find, by your asking for a prolongation of credit, and a further indulgence of goods that you are going down hill; and therefore I am resolved to have my money." Accordingly he sent immediately for an officer, who arrested the poor man and carried him to jail. In this distressing situation he wrote home to his wife, who communicated the news to her six children: they were all overwhelmed in sorrow. What could be done? To sit still in despair was the ready way to ruin. After a deliberate conversation with her eldest son, a young man of fine sense and excellent virtue, about nineteen years of age, he resolved to fly to Paris, with a view to soften this cruel creditor. After a short interview with his father, he went to the house of the merchant, sent in his name, and desired an audience. The cruel and haughty man, thinking he had come to pay him, admitted him into his presence; but he soon found that his first request was, that he should release his father from jail, to go home and comfort his mother and keep up the credit of the shop. The merchant, being disappointed in his expectation, flew into a violent passion, and declared he

would have the money or the bones of his father. The young man, finding him inexorable, fell down on his knees. and with uplifted hands and tears rolling down his cheeks, he addressed himself to the merchant in this manner:— "Sir," said he, if I go home without my father, I shall see my mother die with a broken heart, the credit of the shop will be entirely ruined, and we, the poor children, must be turned as vagabonds and beggars into the open street. I have this one, this last request to make let me be sent to gaol in the room of my father, and keep me there until all demands are satisfied." The merchant walked backwards and forwards in the room with great emotion. The young man continued his cries and entreaties on his knees. At last the merchant flew to him with great tenderness and took hold of his hand. "Rise, young man," said he, "I have but one daughter in the world, for whose happiness I am concerned; I'll give thee my daughter-she must be happy with a person of thy virtue; I'll settle upon you all my fortune; I'll release your father out of prison, and make you all happy together." And he was as good as his word.

His

(j) LOVE FOR AN UNNATURAL MOTHER.-The Rev. James Churchill relates in his "Analecta," that a widowed mother lived to see her youngest son, who was a babe at her husband's death, grow up to manhood in the esteem of all but herself. temper was mild, and his manners affable; yet it is said that when he had attained the age of twenty, he had never known what the affection of a mother was towards him; nay, nor had ever received a single kind word from her. Blessed, however, by Providence, he flourished greatly in conducting his late father's business, employing a number of men. He took his mother under his own roof, settled upon her a liberal annuity, and studied to make her happy. It was all in vain. She murmured, reproached him, and on one occasion, rushed into the manufactory and abused him violently before all the men. The people were shocked at her conduct; and the son withdrew, overwhelmed with grief. But worse events

| His daughters feared that those who had only motives entirely mercenary would not pay him that attention which he might expect from those who, from duty and affection united, would feel the greatest pleasure in ministering to his ease and comfort; they therefore, resolved to accompany him. They proved that it was not a spirit of dissipation and gaiety that led them to Spa, for they were not to be seen in any of the gay and fashionable circles; they were never out of their father's company, and never stirred from home except to attend him, either to take the air or drink the waters; in a word, they lived a most recluse life in the midst of a town then the resort of the most illustrious and fashionable personages of Europe.

my amiable girl, you may depend on the promise of your king." On his return to Stockholm, Gustavus settled a pension for life on the mother, with the reversion to her daughter at her death. (1) THE CLERK'S DYING REGRET.-A young man, who was clerk to Mr. Cuthbert, a merchant in the East Indies, being taken very ill, became unusually thoughtful and melancholy. Mr. Cuthbert inquired the cause of his uneasiness. The young man replied, that he was not afraid to die; but he had a mother and two sisters in England, to whom he had been accustomed to send £100 every year; and his only regret at dying was, that they would be left destitute. Mr. Cuthbert begged him to make his mind perfectly easy on that account, as he would take care of his mother and sisters. He was as good as his word, for he instantly went to his attorney and executed a deed, granting an annuity of £100 a year, in favour of the mother and her two daughters, during their joint lives; and with the benefit of survivorship. He then sent the bond to his clerk, who, clasping it in his hands, exclaimed, "Now can die in peace; my mother and sisters are saved;" and almost instantly he expired. (m) THE INSOLVENT NEGRO. -A negro of one of the kingdoms on the African coast, who had become insolvent, surrendered himself to his creditor, who, according to the established custom of the country, sold him to the Danes. This affected his son so much that he came and reproached his father for not selling his children to pay his debts; and after much entreaty, he prevailed on the captain to accept him, and liberate his father. The son was put in chains, and on the point of sailing to the West Indies; when the circumstance coming to the knowledge of the governor, through the means of Mr. Isert, he sent for the owner of the slaves, paid the money that he had given for the old man, and restored the son to his father.

This exemplary attention to their father procured these three amiable sisters the admiration of all the English at Spa, and was the cause of their elevation to that rank in life to which their merits gave them so just a title. They all were married to noblemen: one to the Earl of Beverley; another to the Duke of Hamilton, and afterwards to the Marquis of Exeter; and a third to the Duke of Northumberland. And it is justice to them to say, that they reflected honour on their rank rather than derived any from it.

(0) THE POOR SERVANT AND HER AFFLICTED PARENTS.-A female servant, who was past the prime of life, in an inferior station, but much respected for her piety and integrity, had saved a little money from her wages, which, as her health was evidently on the decline, would probably soon be required for her own relief. Hearing that her aged parents were by unavoidable calamity, reduced to extreme indigence, and having reason to fear they were strangers to the comforts of religion, she obtained leave to visit them; shared with them the little she had; and used her utmost endeavours to make them acquainted with the consolations and supports of the gospel, apparently not without success. Being reminded by an acquaintance that, in all probability, she would soon stand in need of what she had saved, she replied, "that she could not think it her duty to see her aged parents pining in want,

(P) WASHINGTON'S REGARD FOR HIS MOTHER.-General George Washington, when quite young, was about to go to sea as a midshipman; everything was arranged, the vessel lay opposite his father's house, the little boat had come on shore to take him off, and his whole heart was bent on going. After his trunk had been carried down to the boat, he went to bid his mother farewell, and saw the tears bursting from her eyes. However, he said nothing to her; but he saw that his mother would be distressed if he went, and perhaps never be happy again. He just turned round to the servant and said, "Go and tell them to fetch my trunk back; I will not go away to break my mother's heart." His mother was struck with his decision, and she said to him, "George, God has promised to bless the children that honour their parents, and I believe he will bless you."

10. AFFECTION, FRATERNAL. (a) TIMOLEON AND HIS WOUNDED BROTHER.—Timoleon, the Corinthian, was a noble pattern of fraternal love. Being in battle with the Argives, and seeing his brother fall by the wounds he had received, he instantly leaped over his dead body, and with his shield protected it from insult and plunder; and though severely wounded in the generous enterprise, he would not on any account retreat to a place of safety, till he had seen the corpse carried off the field by his friends.

(b) THE WATER-BEARER AND HIS BROTHER. As one of the water-bearers at the fountain of the

at his usual labours in August, 1766, he was taken away by a gentleman in a splendid coach, who proved to be his own brother, and who, at the age of three years, had been carried to India, where he made a considerable fortune. On his return to France, he made inquiry respecting his family; and hearing that he had only one brother alive, and that he was in the humble condition of a water-bearer, he sought him out, embraced him with great affection, and brought him to his house, where he gave him bills for upwards of a thousand crowns per annum.

(c) THE BROTHERS AND THE SNOW-STORM.-In the year 1804, some young men of the Morayshire and Inverness-shire militia, being quartered at Edinburgh, obtained a short furlough. They were seven in number, two of them being brothers, named Forsythe. They had to walk, in the very depth of winter, one hundred and thirty miles. As they proceeded, they were overtaken by one of those sudden snowstorms which are usual in the mountains. And now the night began to close in around them, while the snow and the wind still grew thicker and stronger. At last, being bewildered by the shade of the evening, which was rendered yet more dismal by the incessant snow-drift, they strayed, as might be expected, from the right path, and exhausted their strength. They could just see one another; but the storm was so violent that they could not converse. Thus struggling onward, and scarcely knowing whither they went, one of them sunk into a hollow in the rock and was buried. The others passed on unconscious of his loss. Soon afterwards the younger Forsythe also dropped down, being quite spent. His body lay in the pathway of the rest, but being much weakened themselves, they, without helping him, stepped on; all did so but

onc.

This one was the elder Forsythe, who, knowing that he had a brother amongst the party, stooped when he came up to him, and felt his features. Having in this manner assured himself that it was his own brother, he, without hesitation; took him up and placed him on his back. And now the number

rapidly diminished; one after another perished, being frozen to death. Forsythe yet went on, bearing his burden, which neither his fatigue, nor the difficulties of the way could induce him to cast off. As long as he had any strength, he persevered, holding his brother on his back, until, at length, his powers giving way before his affection, he sank beneath the weight, and immediately expired. Before, however, he thus died, it appeared that he had succeeded in saving his brother, though he lost himself: for the younger Forsythe had been gradually reanimated by the warmth of his brother's body; and, when he dropped was so thoroughly aroused, that he was enabled to reach his home, having escaped death by his brother's generous sacrifice of himself, and had the melancholy duty imposed upon him of attending his kind brother's funeral.

11. AFFECTION, MATERNAL. (a) A MOTHER'S SACRIFICE.— Joanna Martin, the wife of a day-labourer of Huntspill, in the northern part of Somersetshire, England, was left a widow with six young children, and not a shilling in the world to feed them with. The parish-officers had no objection to receive the children into the poor-house; but the good mother would not part with them, determining to depend, under providence, on her activity for their support.

"For many a long month," said she, "have I risen daily at two o'clock in the morning, done what was needful for the children, gone eight or ten miles on foot, to a market, with a large load of pottery-ware on my head, sold it, and returned with the profits before noon." By this hard labour, in the course of a year, she saved a guinea and a half; when, being under the necessity of leaving her cottage, she determined to erect one for herself. She did much of the labour with her own hands; and told some gentlemen, some years afterwards, "Well, with the assistance of a gracious God, I was able to finish ny cottage; which, though I say it myself, is a very tight little place."

She afterwards bought a cart and pony, travelled still to market, brought up her family, and, without either beg

ging, or seeking relief from the parish, obtained a living.

To what labour and privation will parental affection animate the heart! How much may be done by a person under the influence of industry, temperance, and piety.

(b) THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE.— One of the small islands in Boston Bay was inhabited by a single poor family. The father was taken suddenly ill. There was no physician. The wife, on whom every labour for the household devolved, was sleepless in care and tenderness by the bedside of her suffering husband. Every remedy in her power to procure was administered, but the disease was acute, and he died. Seven young children mourned around the lifeless corpse. They were the sole beings upon that desolate spot. Did the mother indulge the grief of her spirit, and sit down in despair? No: she entered upon the arduous and sacred duties of her station; she felt that there was no hand to assist her in burying her dead. Providing, as far as possible, for the comfort of her little ones, she put her babe into the arms of the oldest, and charged the two next in age to watch the corpse of their father. She unmoored her husband's fishing-boat, which, but two days before, he had guided over the seas, to obtain food for his family. She dared not yield to those tender recollections, which might have unnerved her arm. nearest island was at the distance of three miles. Strong winds lashed the waters to foam. Over the loud billows, that wearied and sorrowful woman rowed, and was preserved. She reached the next island, and obtained necessary aid. With such energy did her duty to her desolate babes inspire her, that the voyage, which depended on her individual effort, was performed in a shorter time than the returning one, when the oars were managed by two men, who went to assist in the last offices to the dead.

The

(c)" THESE ARE MY JEWELS."— A Campanian lady, who was very rich and fond of pomp and show, being on a visit to Cornelia, the illustrious mother of the Gracchi, displayed the diamonds and jewels she possessed with some ostentation, and then requested Cornelia