6. Finding he still remained firm, they took other grounds, and plausibly argued that the troops and other officials needed aid as well as the poor; and, as by the words of his vow, he had bound himself to distribute the contents of the treasury to those who had claim to relief, the public servants certainly came within the required limits. 7. Bewildered by their false logic, and sincerely desirous of doing right, he appealed to a certain sage who dwelt near the royal palace, and determined to abide by his decision. 8. The sage, after hearing the case, only asked the following simple question: "Of whom were you thinking when you made the vow, the poor, or the public servants?" The monarch replied, "Of the poor." 66 Then," answered the sage, "it is to the poor you are bound to distribute these funds; for you are not really fulfilling your vow, unless you do that which you intended to do when it was made.” The king was satisfied that this was the right decision, and did as the sage advised. 9. Let the young bear in mind that God is a being of truth, requiring truth in the inward heart; and, if they would have His approval, and that of their own consciences, they must avoid not only the outward appearance of falsehood, but the slightest evasion or deceit; and when promises have been made, fulfill not only the letter, but the spirit of that which they agreed to perform. 10. Beware of the first and slightest departure from truth, of the least endeavor to deceive, and even of the desire to have others believe what is not so. Let your motto be, "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." QUESTIONS.-1. What happened to a certain Persian king? 2. What vow did he then make? 3. What objection did his officers make to this? 4. What did the king then do? 5. What was the sage's decision? 6. What motto ought you to adopt? 7. What rule for spelling the word traveling with one l? See SANDERS & MCELLIGOTT'S ANALYSIS, page 13, Rule 10. LESSON XXV. EN TIC' E$, allures; leads astray. DE CLÂRE$, says; asserts. MAL' ICE, hatred; malevolence. FORE GO', give up; renounce. EM PRISE', enterprise; undertaking. O VER THROW', subvert; destroy. AV' A RICE, excessive love of money.) SOR' CER ESS, enchantress. EX PEL', (EX, out; PEL, to drive,) drive out; banish. RE $IST', (RE, again; SIST, to stand,) stand again; hence, to withstand. See SANDERS and MCELLIGOTT's Analysis, page 90, Ex. 113; also, page 110, Ex. 142. WHEN SHALL I ANSWER NO? J. N. MCELLIGOTT. 1. WHEN FALSEHOOD fair entices thee No matter what the pretext be, Be thy firm answer,-No! 2. When RASHNESS would thy tongue profane O, make the gross temptation vain, 3. When PRIDE the silly wish declares, 4. When ENVY would thy spirit chafe, On calm contentment resting safe, 5. When MALICE foul, or deadly HATE, And dark, revengeful thirst create, 6. When sluggish SLEEP, with folded arms, (") Rise up at once, resist her charms; 7. When AVARICE would, with heartless speed, And whisper joy from Mammon's greed, 8. When filthy LUCRE lifts her hand, Though she should promise all the land, 9. When greedy GAIN, or rash EMPRISE, Keep Wisdom's words before thine eyes, 10. When mad AMBITION would seduce, And turn the selfish passions loose, 11. When foul CONTEMPT of Holy Writ The wish to be where scorners sit,† Let Conscience answer, -No! * Prov., 11th Chap., 15th verse. 1st Psalm, 1st verse. 12. When SIN, indeed, whate 'er her style, Stay not to hear the Sorceress vile, PE RUSE', read; study. AL LOT TED, assigned. LESSON XXVI. ME RID' I AN, noon; mid-day. RU' BY, precious stone. PUP PET, little image. DE TER MINE, decide; find out. MYS' TIC, secret; mysterious. We have seldom seen any thing so full of wit, truth, and practical wisdom, as this poem inscribed TO MASTERS ROBERT AND JOHN. 1. TAKE this book, my boys, Earnestly peruse it; Much of after lies In the way ye use it: For, remember, in it, Marks a thoughtless minute. 2. Life is like a book, Time is like a printer, Darting now his look Where has gloomed no winter. DAVIS. Thus he'll look, and on, Till each page allotted, Robert, thee and John, Printed be or blotted. 3. Youth's a sunny beam, With a flashing gleam, Not in childish mourning,— Not in childish play, But in useful learning. 4. As your years attain Life's meridian brightness, Hourly seek and gain Genuine politeness : As too many teach us, Not in open arms, Not in silken speeches, 5. Not in haughty eye, Not in artful dealing, Not within the sigh Of a mimicked feeling: Rich in nature's splendor, Gentleness and candor. |