5. He loosened the earth about it, that the warmth of the sun, and the moisture of the dews, might cherish the roots. His mother had not tended him more carefully in his infancy, than he tended his young apple-tree.

6. His brother, Moses, did not imitate his example. He spent a great deal of time on a mount that was near, throwing stones at the passengers in the road. He went among all the little dirty country boys in the neighborhood, to box with them; so that he was often seen with broken shins and black eyes, from the kicks and blows he received in his quarrels.

7. In short, he neglected his tree so far, that he never thought of it, till, one day in autumn, he, by chance, saw Edmund's tree so full of apples, streaked with purple and gold, that had it not been for the props which supported its branches, the weight of its fruit must have bent it to the ground.

8. Struck with the sight of so fine a tree, he hastened to his own, hoping to find as large a crop upon it: but, to his great surprise, he saw scarcely any thing, except branches covered with moss, and a few yellow withered leaves.

9. Full of passion and jealousy, he ran to his father, and said; "Father, what sort of a tree is that which you have given me? It is as dry as a broom-stick; and I shall not have ten apples on it. My brother you have used better bid him at least share his apples with me."

10. "Share with you!" said his father; so the industrious must lose his labor to feed the idle! Be satisfied with your lot; it is the effect of your negligence: and do not think to accuse me of injustice, when you see your brother's rich crop. Your tree was as fruitful, and in as good order as his: it bore as many blossoms, and grew in the same soil, only it was not fostered with the

same care.

11. "Edmund has kept his tree clear of hurtful insects; but you have suffered them to eat up yours in its blossoms. As I do not choose to let any thing which God has given me, and for which I hold myself accountable to him, go to ruin, I shall take this tree from you, and call it no more by your name.

12. "It must pass through your brother's hands, before it can recover itself; and from this moment, both it

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and the fruit it may bear, are his property. You may, if you will, go into my nursery, and look for another; and rear it, to make amends for your fault; but if you neglect it, that too shall be given to your brother, for assisting me in my labor."

13. Moses felt the justice of his father's sentence, and the wisdom of his design. He therefore went that moment into the nursery, and chose one of the most thriving apple-trees he could find. Edmund assisted him with his advice in rearing it; and Moses embraced every occasion of paying attention to it.

14. He was now never out of humor with his comrades, and still less with himself; for he applied cheerfully to work: and, in autumn, he had the pleasure of seeing his tree fully answer his hopes. Thus he had the double advantage, of enriching himself with a splendid crop of fruit; and, at the same time, of subduing the vicious habits he had contracted. His father was so well pleased with this change, that the following year he divided the produce of a small orchard between him and his brother.

SECTION VIII.

BERQUIN.

The secret of being always satisfied.

1. A CERTAIN Italian bishop was remarkable for his happy and contented disposition. He met with much opposition, and encountered many difficulties in his journey through life but it was observed that he never repined at his condition, or betrayed the least degree of impatience.

2. An intimate friend of his, who highly admired the virtue which he thought it impossible to imitate, one day asked the prelate, if he could communicate the secret of being always satisfied. "Yes," replied the good old man, "I can teach you my secret, and with great facility. It consists in nothing more, than in making a right use of my eyes.

3. His friend begged him to explain himself. "Most willingly," returned the bishop. "In whatever state I am, I first of all look up to heaven; and reflect, that my principal business here is to get to that blessed abode. I then look down upon the earth, and call to mind that, when I am dead, I shall occupy but a small space in it.

4. "I then look abroad into the world, and observe what multitudes there are, who, in every respect, are less fortunate than myself. Thus I learn where true happiness is placed; where all our cares must end; and how very little reason I have to repine, or to complain.”

SECTION IX.

Beneficence its own reward.

1. PIGALLE, the celebrated artist, was a man of great humanity. Intending, on a particular occasion, to make a journey from Lyons to Paris, he laid by twelve louis d'ors to defray his expenses. But a little before the time proposed for his setting out, he observed a man walking with strong marks of deep-felt sorrow in his countenance and deportment.

2. Pigalle, impelled by the feelings of a benevolent heart, accosted him, and inquired with much tenderness, whether it was in his power to afford him any relief. The stranger, impressed with the manner of this friendly address, did not hesitate to lay open his distressed situation.

3. "For want of ten louis d'ors," said he, "I must be dragged this evening to a dungeon; and be separated from a tender wife and a numerous family." "Do you want no more?" exclaimed the humane artist. "Come along with me; I have twelve louis d'ors in my trunk; and they are all at your service."

4. The next day a friend of Pigalle's met him; and inquired whether it was true, that he had, as was publicly reported, very opportunely relieved a poor man and his family from the greatest distress. Ah, my friend!" said Pigalle, "what a delicious supper did I make last night, upon bread and cheese, with a family whose tears of gratitude marked the goodness of their hearts; and who blessed me at every mouthful they eat!"

SECTION X.

The compassionate Judge.

1. THE celebrated Charles Anthony Domat was promoted to the office of a judge of a provincial court, in the south of France, in which he presided, with public

applause, for twenty-four years. One day a poor widow brought a complaint before him, against the baron de Nairac, her landlord, for turning her out of possession of a farm which was her whole dependence.

2. Domat heard the cause; and finding by the clearest evidence that the woman had ignorantly broken a cove nant in the lease which empowered the landlord to take possession of the farm, he recommended mercy to the baron towards a poor honest tenant, who had not willingly transgressed, or done him any material injury. But Nairac being inexorable, the judge was obliged to pronounce a sentence of expulsion from the farm, and to order payment of the damages mentioned in the lease, together with the costs of the suit.

3. In delivering this sentence, Domat wiped his eyes, from which tears of compassion flowed plentifully. When the order of seizure, both of her person and effects, was decreed, the poor woman exclaimed: "O just and righteous God! be thou a father to the widow and her helpless orphans!" and immediately she fainted away.

4. The compassionate judge assisted in raising the dis. tressed woman; and after inquiring into her character, the number of her children, and other circumstances, gene rously presented her with a hundred louis d'ors, the amount of her damages and costs, which he prevailed with the baron to accept as a full recompense; and the widow was restored to her farm.

5. Deeply affected with the generosity of her benefactor, she said to him: "O my lord! when will you demand payment, that I may lay up for that purpose?" I will ask it," replied Domat, "when my conscience shall tell me I have done an improper act.”

SECTION XI.

The generous Negro.

1. JOSEPH RACHEL, a respectable negro, resided in the island of Barbadoes. He was a trader and dealt chiefly in the retail way. In his business, he conducted himself so fairly and complaisantly, that, in a town filled with little peddling shops, his doors were thronged with customers. I have often dealt with him, and always found him remarkably honest and obliging.

2. If any one knew not where to obtain an article, Joseph would endeavor to procure it, without making any advantage for himself. In short, his character was so fair, his manners so generous, that the best people showed him a regard, which they often deny to men of their own color, because they are not blessed with the like goodness of heart.

3. In 1756 a fire happened, which burned down great part of the town, and ruined many of the inhabitants. Joseph lived in a quarter that escaped the destruction; and expressed his thankfulness, by softening the distresses of his neighbors. Among those who had lost their property by this heavy misfortune, was a man to whose family, Joseph, in the early part of his life, owed some obligations.

4. This man, by too great hospitality, an excess very common in the West Indies, had involved himself in difficulties, before the fire happened; and his estate lying in houses, that event entirely ruined him. Amidst the eries of misery and want, which excited Joseph's compassion, this man's unfortunate situation claimed particular notice. The generous, the open temper of the sufferer the obligations that Joseph owed to his family, were special and powerful motives for acting towards him the part of a friend.

5. Joseph had his bond for sixty pounds sterling. "Unfortunate man!" said he, "this debt shall never come against thee. I sincerely wish thou couldst settle all thy other affairs as easily! But how am I sure that I shall keep in this mind? May not the love of gain, especially when, by length of time, thy misfortune shall become familiar to me, return with too strong a current, and bear down my fellow-feeling before it? But for this I have a remedy. Never shalt thou apply for the assistance of any friend against my avarice."

6. He arose, ordered a large account that the man had with him, to be drawn out; and in a whim that might have called up a smile on the face of charity, filled his pipe, sat down again, twisted the bond, and lighted his pipe with it. While the account was drawing out, he continued smoking in a state of mind that a monarch might envy. When it was finished, he went in search of his friend, with the discharged account and the mutilated bond in his hand.