and the low roof lifted itself, and the crevices became fair windows, and the floor of earth was covered with a soft carpet, and the miserable pallet changed to a rich bed with curtains. Ere they could express their astonishment and gratitude he vanished, and they exclaimed,—

"Lo! we have entertained an angel, and knew it not. Saw ye not in his eye a lightning flash when he spake with such power, Your wishes shall be granted?" And kneeling down they gave thanks.

QUESTIONS:-1. What is the name of this lesson? 2. What does that mean? 3. Is the story a real one, or only a parable? 4. What does parable mean? 5. Who is first spoken about in it? 6. Who was he? 7. Was he a real person? 8. What then? 9. Tell the first part of his journey. 10. Describe the two dwellings to which he came. 11. At what one did he call first? 12. What did he ask for? 13. What did the master answer? 14. What reason did he give for not receiving him? 15. What do you think was the right reason? 16. What makes you think so? 17. When the stranger was refused entrance to this house, where then did he go? 18. Relate all that happened here. 19. Tell how kindly this poor man and his wife treated the stranger. 20. What act of kindness did they show their guest next morning? 21. Just as the stranger was leaving, what did he bid the poor man do? 22. What were the three wishes of the old man? 23. What remarkable thing then took place? 24. What did these poor people exclaim? 25. What then did they do?

as-ton'-ish-ment en-ter-tain'-ing Ju'-pi-ter

pro-po'-sal

LESSON XLI.

Hospitality; or, The Three Wishes.

PART II.

as'-pect, look, countenance, ex-per'-i-ment, trial, proof.

view.

beau'-ti-ful, splendid, lovely. case'-ments, windows opening

with hinges.

crouch'-ing, cringing, fawning.

glit'-ter-ed, shone, sparkled.
hov'-el, shed, mean dwelling.
mis-for'-tune, ill-luck.
per-suade', to entreat to yield
to.

ra-pid'-i-ty, haste, speed.

THE rich man now looked from his window, and behold! instead of a rough hovel was a beautiful mansion, on whose clear casements the morning sun glittered like gold. Scarcely believing his eyes, he bade his wife go quickly and find out what it could mean.

She obeyed, and hastily returning, repeated to her husband the whole story, adding earnestly, "Saddle your best horse and pursue the traveller, and persuade him to grant you three wishes, as well as to those poor neighbours."

Riding with great rapidity, he overtook the stranger and, bowing low, said, with crouching aspect, “I hope you will not be displeased that you were not immediately admitted into my house last night.

"I had the misfortune to lose the key of the door, and while I was searching for it you went away. I was very sorry, and when you again come

that way, I trust you will make your home with me."

Then he asked if he might not have three wishes granted him. Jupiter replied that would be easy enough, but it might not be for his benefit, and he should not advise him to make the experiment. But the rich man urged his suit very strongly, and was told to return homeward, and that three things which he desired should be granted him.

So he rode on exultingly, and while he was studying what great things he had better choose, his spirited horse, feeling a slack rein, began to prance and rear. Patting him on the neck, he said, "Be still! be quiet!" but all in vain. Then growing angry, he exclaimed, "I wish your vile neck was broken."

Whereupon the horse plunged, and breaking his neck, fell dead. Thus was the first wish fulfilled. Being naturally very greedy, he cut the thongs of the saddle, and to save it took it on his own back, and proceeded homewards on foot.

He comforted himself in some measure with the memory that two wishes still remained, but what they should be he could by no means decide.

Everything of which he thought seemed too small, and the whole world scarcely able to satisfy his selfishness. As he toiled on laboriously through the deep sands, the noonday sun shone upon his head, and he was heated and weary. He

reflected how comfortably his wife was seated at home in her cool chamber, and, as the saddle pressed more heavily upon him, could not avoid saying to himself, "I wish she had it on her back!"

Instantly the saddle disappeared, and he felt that his second wish was expended. Quite vexed and annoyed, he determined that the only remaining one should be so magnificent as to make up for the loss of the first two, and that in the solitude of his own room he would study out something worthy of this remarkable occasion.

So he began to run, and arriving in a great heat, was met by his wife crying loudly, with the saddle on her shoulders.

"Be quiet," said he, "I'am going to wish for all the kingdoms of the earth.”

"What good will they do while this horrid saddle is on my back. You must wish that off first."

"I tell you I have but one wish left. Be still, and let me wish for our great chamber full of gold."

You are as cruel as a brute. My shoulders ache with this hateful, hot saddle. Wish it off!

Wish it off"

There was no other way. She made such a tumult that he was obliged to spend his last wish on her.

Then they sate down to dinner. There were

I *

good things on the table, but they did not enjoy them.

He was angry, because he had lost his best horse, and wasted his three wishes; and she, because he had spoken cross words to her, and did not care to help her when she was in trouble.

But neither of them were wise enough to learn the lesson that they who are humble and hospitable, and fear God, have a blessing in themselves --that selfishness and greed are like riding a dead horse-and that wealth without love is like carrying the saddle.

QUESTIONS:-1. Who first observed the great change on the poor man's dwelling? 2. What person did he send to get news about the change? 3. When she came back what did she tell him? 4. And what did she order him to do? 5. Did he obey orders? 6. What did he say to the stranger when he overtook him? 7. Do you think this was truth? 8. What did he now want to have? 9. What answer did Jupiter give? 10. Did he at last grant the rich man his request? 11. Growing angry at his horse, on the way home he wished a very cruel wish, what was it? 12. How was it fulfilled? 13. How did he now show his greed? 14. What poor comfort did he take to himself? 15. What was his second wish? 16. Give an account of how he was led to make this absurd wish. 17. Was it fulfilled? 18. What was he now determined to do? 19. After deep thought, what did he resolve upon as his third and last wish? 20. Tell what happened to prevent him making this wish. 21. What three grand lessons might these two foolish people have learned which they did not? 22. Can you now name or state these lessons distinctly?