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-"O, mercy upon me!" said the knave to himself; "the end of my journey approacheth!

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8. Now the day declined, and the shadows of the travellers lengthened on the ground; but darker than the twilight was the sadness on the face of the knave. And, as the wind rustled the trees, he ever and anon turned pale, and inquired of his master if the noise were of a torrent or stream of water.

9. Still, as the evening fell, his eyes strove to discover the course of a winding river. But nothing of the sort could he discern, so that his spirits began to revive, and he was fain to join in discourse with the lord. But the lord held his peace, and looked as one who expects an evil thing.

10. Suddenly the way became steep, and they descended into a low and woody valley, in which was a broad and black river, creeping fearfully along, without bridge or bark to be seen near. "Alas! alas!" cried the knave, "this, then, is the river in which liars must perish!"—"Even so," said the lord; "this is the stream of which I spake; but the ford is sound and good for true men. Spur we our horses, knave; for night approacheth, and we have yet far to go."

11. "My life is dear to me," said the trembling servingman; "and thou knowest that, were it lost, my wife would be disconsolate. In sincerity, then, I declare that the fox which I saw in the distant country was not larger than he who fled from us in the wood this morning!

12. Then laughed the lord aloud, and said, "Ho, knave, wast thou afraid of thy life, and will nothing cure thy lying? Is not falsehood, which kills the soul, worse than death, which has mastery only over the body? This river is no more than any other; nor hath it a power such as the tradition of the superstitious country people hereabout has given to it.

13. "The ford is safe, and the waters gentle as those we have already passed. But who shall pass thee over the

shame of this day? In it thou must needs sink, unless penitence come to help thee over, and cause thee to look back on the gulf of thy lies, as on a danger from which thou hast been delivered by Heaven's grace."

14. And, as he railed against his servant, the lord rode on into the water, and bōth in safety reached the opposite shore. Then vowed the knave that, from that time forward, he would duly measure his words; and glad was he so to escape. Such is the story of the lying servant and the merry lord; by which let the reader profit.

LXIX.

SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES THIRD EXTRACT.

1. COME, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil," and thy lips from speaking guile." Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

2. Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies, who satisfiëth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

3. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee!

4. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

5. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not

thyself because of him who prospereth in his way; because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.

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6. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree; yet he passed away, and, lo! he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.

7. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He lead

eth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

8. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

9. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

LXX. ONE SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE.

1. WERE I to live my life over again," I should make it a point to do a kindness to a fellow-being whenever I had the opportunity. I regret very much that my habit has been so different. It has been too much my way to le others take care of themselves, while I took care ‹f my

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2. If some little trespass was committed on my rights, or if I suffered some light inconvenience from the thoughtlessness or selfishness of others, I was greatly annoyed, and sometimes used harsh and reproachful language towards the offender. I am now satisfied that my own happiness was greatly impaired by this course, and that my conduct and

example contributed to the irritation and unhappiness or others.

3. It was but the other day that I was passing along the street, and a coachman was attempting to draw a light carriage into the coach-house. He tried once or twice without success, and, just as I came up, the carriage occupied the whole of the side-walk, and prevented my passing.

4. The fellow looked as if it ought not to be so, and there was something like a faint apology in his smile. It was on my tongue to say, "In with your carriage, man, and do not let it stand here blocking up the passage!" But a better spirit prevailed. I went to the rear of the carriage, and said,

5. "Now, try again, my good fellow!" while I gave a little push; and in the carriage went, and out came the pleasant "Thank you; sir,- much obliged." I would not have taken a twenty-dollar bank-note for the streak of sunshine that this one little act of kindness threw over the rest of my walk, to say nothing of the lighting up of the coachman's face.

6. And when I look back upon my intercourse with my fellow-men all the way long, I can confidently say that I never did a kindness to any human being without being happier for it. So that, if I were governed" by merely selfish motives, and wanted to live the happiest life I could, I would just simply obey the Bible precepts, to do good unto all men as I had opportunity."

"I did a kind act

7. Is there a boy or girl who can say, once to my brother, or sister, or playmate, and I was afterwards sorry for it? I should have been happier if it had been an unkind one?" It is very likely that a kind act has been ill-requited, perhaps mis-con'strued; but if it was performed with proper feelings, it is as certain to produce happiness as sunshine is to produce warmth.

8. Seize, then, every opportunity of contributing to the good of others. Sometimes a smile will do it. Oftener a

kind word, a look of sympathy, or an acknowledgment of obligation. Sometimes a little help to a burdened shoulder, or to a heavy wheel, will be in place.

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9. Sometimes a word or two of good counsel," a seasonable and gentle admonition, and at others a suggestion of advantage to be gained, and a little interest to secure it, will be received with lasting gratitude. And thus every instance of kindness done, whether acknowledged or not, opens a well-spring of happiness in the doer's own breast, the flow of which may be made permanent by habit.

Anon.

LXXI. BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING

1. GIVE to the winds thy fears;

Hope, and be undismayed;

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;

God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves, through clouds and storms.

He gently clears thy way:

Wait thou his time; so shall the night
Soon end in joyous day.

2. He everywhere hath rule,

And all things serve his might;
His every act pure blessing is,

His paths unsullied light.
When he makes bare his arm,

What shall his work withstand?
When he his people's cause defends,

Who, who shall stay his hand?

3 Leave to his sovereign sway

To choose and to command;

With wonder filled, thou then shalt own
How wise, how strong, his hand.

Thou comprehend'st him not;

Yet earth and heaven shall tell,

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