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!"

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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. "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

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 fōrd 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.

and its channel such as a boy might leap across.

nevertheless, the knave began to tremble, and falteringly he

Its waters were small,

Yet,

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!

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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."

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. "This, then, is the doom of liars," said the knave; and he looked earnestly 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."

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

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."

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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.

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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.

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