standing over me. My blood ran cold. She had examined the wallet, and been disappointed on finding it so empty.

I begged hard for my life; and protested that I had no more money. But the old woman, without replying, searched my dress, and made me take off my boots, that she might look also into them. The old man held a light while the search was going on. Finding that all was in vain, they

left me.

Emp. Did you not at once try to make your escape? How did you know that they might not attempt some serious violence angry at not finding anything worth stealing

upon your person?

Pras. At first I thought of trying to make my escape. But then, dear lady, I remembered that God had protected me thus far, and I fully believed he would continue to care for me. I prayed to him fervently. I prayed for my parents for the wicked old man and woman - and, at last, I sank into a sweet

for myself in whose hut I was

sleep.

When I awoke in the morning, the sun was shining brightly in at the frosty window, gilding the icicles and gleaming on the snow. The old man and woman were bustling about to get breakfast. Expecting cruel treatment, I descended fearfully to the floor.

What was my surprise on being kindly greeted by the old woman with, “Well, dear, have you had a nice sleep?" I told them I had slept well, and now wished to go. But they begged me to sit down and take some soup.

Emp. It was a trick to poison you, I fear; and their good-humor was feigned, most like. I hope you did not eat anything.

Pras. Indeed, but I did, dear lady; I ate heartily, for I was very hungry. The old people questioned me, and I told them my whole story; how I had left Ischim without money, and was begging my way to St. Petersburg, to entreat the emperor to release my father from exile.

Will you believe it, dear lady? I saw the tears come into the eyes of these old people, as they listened to my story. The old woman drew me aside, and begged me to forget what had happened. "Think it was a dream," she said. "Your goodness and pitiable condition softened our hearts; and you will find, when you next count your money, that we are not the people you take us for."

They both kissed me, and I både them good-by. After I had walked a few miles I had the curiosity to open my wallet, and found, to my astonishment, that they had added forty ko-pecks' to my little stock. And yet, this wretched old couple, as I afterwards learned, had the character of being robbers.

ΕΙ

Emp. Your artless manner and affecting errand melted even their sinful, stubborn hearts; or, it may have been that your prayer for them was not unheard in heaven; and that a seed of redeeming goodness was planted in their souls, and watered by those tears which you made them shed. Pras. I will hope it. But tell me, dear lady, is there any hope for my father? When will his case have a hearing? O how encouraged he will be when he learns that I have been admitted here,― into the imperial palace,— and treated kindly by the empress herself!

Emp. I have delightful news for you, my child. This paper, which I hold in my hand, is an order from the emperor for your father's release, and for the payment to him of a sum of money sufficient to defray the expense of his journey to the interior of Russia. There! Take a glass of water, dear. Do not faint with joy. Bear up! bear up!

39

Osborne

LXVII. THE LYING SERVANT.

PART I.

1. THERE lived in Suabia a certain lord, pious, just and wise; to whose lot it fell to have a serving-man, a great rogue, and above all much addicted to the vice of lying.

The name of the lord is not in the story; therefore the reader need not trouble himself about it.

2. The knave was given to boast of his wondrous travels. He had visited countries which are no'where to be found in the map, and seen things which mortal eyes never beheld. He would lie through the twenty-four hours of the clock,— for he dreamed falsehoods in his sleep, to the truth of which he swore when he was awake.

3. When any one said, "How can that be?" he would answer, with fierce oaths and protestations, that so it was. Yet was the knave useful in the household, quick and handy; therefore he was not disliked of his lord, though verily he was a great liar.

4. It chanced, one pleasant day in spring, after the rains had fallen heavily, and swollen much the floods, that the lord and the knave rode out together, and their way passed through a shady and silent forest. Suddenly appeared an old and well-grown fox. "Look!" exclaimed the master of the knave; "look what a huge beast! Never before have I seen a reynard so large!"

5. "Doth this beast surprise thee by its hugeness?" repliëth straight the serving-groom, casting his eye slightingly on the animal, as it fled for fear away into the cover of the brakes.EI "I have been in a kingdom where the foxes are big as are the oxen in this." Whereupon, hearing so vast a lie, the lord answered, calmly, but with mockery in his heart, "In that kingdom there must be excellent lining for the cloaks, if furriers can there be found well to dress skins so large."

6. And so they rode on; the lord in silence, but soon he began to sigh heavily. Still he seemed to wax more and more sad in spirit, and his sighs grew deeper and more quick. Then inquired the knave of the lord what sudden affliction, or cause of sorrow, had happened. "Alas!" replied the wily master, "I trust in Heaven's goodness that neither of us two hath to-day, by any fro'wardness"

EI

of fortune, chanced to say the thing which is not; for assuredly, if the tradition of the country people hereabout is true, he that hath so done must this day perish."

7. The knave, on hearing these doleful words, and fancying real sorrow to be depicted on his master's countenance, instantly felt as if his ears grew more wide, that not a word or syllable of so strange a discovery might escape his troubled sense. And so, with eager exclamations, he demanded of the lord to ease his suspense, and to explain why so cruel a doom was now about to fall upon companionable liars.

8. "Hear, then, dear knave," answered the lord to the earnestness of his servant; "since thou must needs know, hearken! and may no trouble come to thee from what I shall say. To-day we ride far, and in our course is a vast and heavy-rolling flood, of which the förd is narrow and the pool is deep.

9. "There is a tradition, that Heaven has given to this flood the power of sweeping down into its dark holes all dealers in falsehood, who may rashly venture to put themselves within its truth-loving current. But to him who hath told no lie there is no fear of this river. Spur we our horses, knave; for to-day our journey must be long."

10. Then the knave thought, "Long, indeed, must the journey be for some who are now here!" And, as he spurred, he sighed heavier and deeper than his master had done before him, who now went gayly on; nor ceased he to cry, "Spur we our horses, knave; for to-day our journey must be long."

1. THEN came they to a brook. Its waters were small, and its channel such as a boy might leap across. Yet, nevertheless, the knave began to tremble, and falteringly he

asked, "Is this now the river where harmless liars must perish?""This! ah, no," replied the lord; this is but

a brook; no liar need tremble here."

2. Yet was the knave not wholly assured; and, stammering, he said, "My gracious lord, thy servant now bethinks him that he to-day hath made a fox too huge; that of which he spake was verily not so large as is an ox; but, upon my honor, he was as big as is a good-sized roe!

EI

3. The lord replied, with wonder in his tone, "What of this fox concerneth me? If large or small I care not. Spur we our horses, knave; for to-day our journey must be long."

4. "Long, indeed!" still thought the serving-groom; and in sadness he crossed the brook. Then they came to a stream running quickly through a green meadow, the stones showing themselves in many places above its frothy water. The varlet started, and cried aloud, "Another river! surely of rivers there is to-day no end! Was it of this thou talkedst heretofore?"

5. "No," replied the lord, "not of this ;" and more he said not, yet marked he, with inward gladness, his servant's fear."Because in good truth," rejoined the knave, "it is on my conscience to give thee note that the fox of which I spake was not larger than a calf!"—" Large or small, let me not be troubled with thy fox. The beast concerneth not me at all."

"This, then, is the he looked earnestly

6. As they quitted the woody country, they perceived a river in the way, which gave sign of having been swollen by the rains; and on it was a boat. doom of liars," said the knave; and towards the ferry-boat. "Be informed, my good lord," he said, "that that reynard was not larger than a fat sheep!" 7. The lord seemed angry, and answered, "This is not yet the grave of falsehood. Why torment me about this fox? Rather spur we our horses; for we have far to go."