!

directing you to find it, and lodge it with me, has already marked you out as objects of special favour."

The two lovers retired, satisfied with having done their duty, and enlivened by the hope of being happily united. The bag was cried throughout the rector's parish, and advertisements were posted up at Vitré, and all the neighbouring villages. It was claimed by many ava ricious and selfish persons, but none of them could give an accurate account of the sum, the specie, and the bag in which it was contained.

In the mean time, the rector forgot not his promise, to promote Perrin's interest He accordingly took a little farm for him, purchased cattle and implements of husbandry, and two months afterwards married him to Lucetta. The hearts of the fortunate couple, who had now arrived at the summit of their wishes, daily overflowed with gratitude to heaven and to the rector. Perrin was industrious, and Lucetta attentive to domestic affairs. They paid their landlord with the most rigid punctuality, lived moderately on their profits, and were happy.

66

Two years expired, and the money was yet unclaimed by the owner. The rector now thought it superfluous to wait longer, and carried it to the virtuous pair whom he had united. My children (said he) enjoy the bounty of Providence. These twelve thousand livres are with me idle; employ them to your honest advantage. If the lawful owner of them is ever discovered, you ought undoubtedly to restore them to him; dispose of them in such a way, therefore, that, though you change their substance, you may still retain their value."

Perrin pursued this friendly advice, and determined to purchase the farm he had rented. It was then to be sold, and was estimated at more than twelve thousand livres, but for ready money Perrin hoped to purchase it for that sum. The gold which he had found, he only considered as a deposit, which could not, he supposed, be better secured; and the owner, if he should ever meet with him, would be no loser.

The rector approved this plan, and the purchase was soon made. Perrin had always bestowed great pains on the cultivation of his fields; and as they yielded a large produce, he lived in all that ease and abundance, which he had been ambitious to obtain for Lucetta. Two children successively blessed their union; and they rejoiced to see themselves renewed in those tender pledges of their love. Perriu, returning from the field, was usually met by his wife, who presented his children to him; he would embrace them with transport, and then clasp Lucetta in his arms. The little innocents were eagerly officious about their father; one wiped the sweat from his brow, the other endeavoured to ease him of his spade; he smiled at their feeble efforts, again caressed them, and thanked heaven for having given him an affectionate wife, and children who resembled their parents.

In a few years the old rector died: Perrin and Lucetta sincerely lamented his death. Their minds dwelt afresh on what they owed to his benevolence, and the reflection made them contemplate their own mortality. "We too shall die (said they); and we shall leave our farm to our children. Alas! it is not our property; and if he to whom it does belong should return, he would be deprived of it for ever, and we should take the right of another to the grave," This idea they were unable to support; delicate in their integrity, they could not be happy while their consciences accused them of the smallest appearance fraud. They immediately procured an instrument to be drawn,

E

of and

signed by the principal inhabitants of the village, stating the tenure by which they held their farm, and lodged the deed in the hands of the new rector. This precaution, which they deemed necessary to enforce a restitution that justice might exact of their children, set their minds at ease. Perrin had now been settled in his farm about ten years, when one day, after a forenoon's hard labour, as he was going home to dinner, he saw two gentlemen overturned in a chaise, on the high road, at a small distance from his house. He ran to their assistance; offered thei horses to convey their baggage; and entreated them to go with him, and accept such refreshment as his humble roof afforded. The travel lers were not hurt by their fall, but the horses were both lamed. "This is a very unlucky place to me," said one of the travellers; "I cannot pass it, without experiencing some accident. A great misfortune befel me here about twelve years ago: I was returning from the fair of Vitré ; and, near this spot, lost twelve thousand livres in gold."---" But did you neglect," said Perrin, "to make proper enquiry after your money?" ---" It was not in my power," replied the stranger, "to take the usual method of recovering it. I was about to make a voyage to the East-Indies; the vessel in which I was to sail, would not have waited for me; all the expedients I could have fallen upon to regain my money, would probably have been fruitless, and the delay, which they must certainly have occasioned, would have been still more injurious than the loss."

This information made Perrin's heart leap for joy: he repeated his invitation with more earnestness; and entreated the gentlemen to accept of the asylum which he offered them, with assurances that his house was the nearest and most commodious habitation in the place. They complied with his request; and he went on first to shew them the way. He soon met his wife ; who, according to custom, came to meet him. He begged her to hasten home, and prepare a dinner for his guests, On their arrival, he brought them some immediate refreshment, and renewed the conversation on the loss of the twelve thousand livres. By the sequel of the traveller's discourse, he was convinced that he was the very person to whom he owed a restitution. He went therefore to the rector, informed him of what he had learned, and begged the favour of his company to dinner. The rector accepted the invitation, and accompanied him, admiring, as he went, the joy of the peasant, on a discovery, which must prove his ruin.

Dinner is served up. The travellers are charmed with the hospitality of Perrin; they admire his domestic economy, the benevolence of his heart, the frankness of his behaviour, the ingenuous and engaging manners of Lucetta, her assiduities, and her kindness; and they caress the children. After dinner, Perrin shews them his house, his garden, and his cattle. He informs them of the situation, the fertility, and the produce of his fields. "All these" added he, to the traveller, on whose account he had been so particular, "belong to "The money which you lost, fell into my hands. When I found that it was not likely to be reclaimed, I bought this farm, which I always intended to give up to the person who should convince me he had a right to it; and I now resign it to you. If I had died without finding you, the rector has a deed which confirms your property."

The stranger was, for some inoments, lost in amazement. He read the writing which the rector put into his hand; and he looked earnestly on Perrin, on Lucetta, and on their children. "Where am I," at

length he exclaimed, and what have I heard?---What an uncommon manner of proceeding! What virtue, what nobleness of soul! and in what a station of life do I find them!---Have you nothing to depend on but this farm?" added he. "No Sir," replied Perrin, but if you do not sell it, you will have occasion for a farmer, and I hope you will give me the preference." "Your probity deserves a better recompence. It is now twelve years since I lost the sum which you found: during that time, God has continually blessed my trade; it has been greatly extended, and it has prospered. It is long since I ceased to feel the effects of my loss, and your restitution would not now make me richer. You deserve this little fortune; Providence has given it into your hands, and I could not take it from you, without offending my creator. Keep it then, for it belongs to you: or, if I must have a right, I give it you. You might safely have kept it; I should never have reclaimed it. What man would have acted like you?" He then tore the deed which the rector had given him. "The world," said he, "should be acquainted with this your probity. A deed to ratify my resignation in your favour, your right to the farm, and that of your children is unnecessary: however, it shall be executed, to perpetuate the remembrance of your disinterestedness and honour.”

Perrin and Lucetta fell at the feet of the traveller, who raised, and embraced them. A notary was sent for, and he engrossed the deed: never had he drawn one of such noble contents. Perrin shed tears of gratitude and joy. "My children," said he, "kiss the hand of your be nefactor!---Lucetta, by the generosity of this gentleman, the farm is now become our own! Henceforth, we may enjoy it without anxiety, and without remorse."

The happy pair, in their vacant hours, often paid encomiums to the memory of the old rector, the guardian of their innocence, and the first promoter of their happiness. While they dwelt on the mournfully pleasing subject, they felt the best emotions of human nature; tears of gratitude and affection, of joy and of sorrow, rolled from their eyes. His precepts had made an indelible impression on their minds; and by their constant observance of them, they hoped to rejoin him in a better world.

DOR

THE ORACLE.

A TALE, FROM THE GREEK.

ORUS, King of Lydia, had vast dominions, and was greatly beloved by his people; nothing was wanting to complete the felicity of both, but an heir to the empire, whom the instructions and example of his father, might enable to continue its glory and its happiness through another reign.

This blessing, so ardently desired, and so long delayed, was at last bestowed, and the queen was delivered of a son. The joy on this occa sion was universal, but the public diversions at length gave way to a ce remony more splendid and important. The child was to be presented in the temple, and the gods were to be consulted on his destiny.