LESSON XXXIV. THIRTY-FOURTH.

Hospitality of Edwin the Hermit, to a Stranger who had lost his way.

1 HERE to the houseless child of want My door is open still;

And though my portion is but scant,
I give it with good will.

Then turn to-night, and freely share
Whate'er my cell bestows:

My rushy couch and frugal fare,
My blessing and repose.

2 No flocks that range the valleys frce,
To slaughter I condemn;

Taught by that POWER that pities me,
I learn to pity them.

But from the mountain's grassy side,
A guiltless feast I bring;

A scrip with herbs and fruit supplied,
And water from the spring.

3 Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego,
For earth-born cares are wrong;
Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long.

Soft as the dew from heaven descends
His gentle accents fell:

The grateful stranger lowly bends,
And follows to the cell.-

4 And now, when worldly crowds retire
To revels or to rest;

The hermit trin'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his pensive guest.
Then spread his vegetable store,
And gaily press'd and smil'd;
And, skill'd in legendary lore,
The ling'ring hours beguil❜d.

LESSON XXXV. THIRTY-FIFTH.

He that giveth to the Poor, lendeth to the Lord.

1. There was a poor man who was charitable to excess; for he gave away all he had to relieve the necessities of others; choosing rather to throw himself upon Providence, than to deny an alms to any one who asked him, so long as he had any thing to bestow.

2. Being at length, by his constant liberalities, reduced to a very indigent condition, he was forced to betake himself to digging for a livelihood.

3. Yet notwithstanding he gained his own bread by hard labour, he ceased not to show his wonted kindnesses to the poor; giving them whatever he could possibly spare from his own necessities.

4. One day, as he was digging in the field, he found several earthen pots of gold, supposed to be buried there in the times of the wars. The good man carried this huge treasure home to his house, with all imaginable privacy.

5. And having distributed the greatest part of it in charity, he was going with the last reserve to the house of a distressed

widow, to whom he gave a sufficient sum to relieve her wants, being all he had left: When, as he was returning home, he found a jewel in the highway, which being sold, yielded him ten thousand crowns.

6. This was a noble bank for new liberalities, and a convincing argument, that there was something more than mere chance which thus strangely recruited his purse; that it might not lack some thing to give to the poor.

7. Blest is the man whose bowels move,
And melt with pity to the poor;
Whose soul with sympathizing love,
Feels what his fellow saints endure.
His heart contrives for their relief,
More good than his own hands can do:
He in the time of general grief,

Shall find the Lord hath bowels too.

8. His soul shall live secure on earth,
With secret blessings on his head,
When drought, and pestilence, and dearth
Around him multiply their dead.
Or if he languish on his couch,

God will pronounce his sins forgiv'n,
Will save him by a healing touch,
Or take his willing soul to heav'n.

LESSON XXXVI. THIRTY-SIXTH.

THE BIRTH OF MOSES.

1. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

2. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

3. Let us deal wisely with them: lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they join unto our enemies, and fight against us.

4. Therefore they did set over them task-masters, to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and Raamses.

5. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied. And the Egyptians were grieved because of the children of Israel.

6. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their services wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

7. And Pharaoh charged all the people, saying, Every son that is born to the people of the children of Israel, ye shall cast