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he too scoff at the gift of his father, and he forgot it.

The youngest, however, did as his father had bidden them; selected the best piece of ground, manured it and dug it up with care, enclosed it with a fence, and strewed the seed on the earth. And the seed sprung up, and grew, and produced sixty-fold. He did the same in the ensuing years; and his fields and his harvests increased, so that he and his children, and his children's children lived in abundance.

In a few years when the two elder brothers were fallen into poverty and want, and heard of the wealth of the younger, they went forth and beheld his fields all around covered with heavy crops and with sheaves, and they heard the joyous acclamations of the reapers in the fields-for it was the time of harvest.

Then were the brothers astonished, and said to one another: We have done wrong to despise the gift of our father.

55. THE ORPHANS.

WHEN the pious Winfried, moved by the spirit, purposed to go forth from his native country and

his kindred, to preach the gospel to the idolatrous Germans, his friends and relations opposed his design, and said: Stay in thine own home: there thou mayst do good enough, if such be thy desire.

But Winfried answered, and said: First listen to the history which I shall relate, and then judge.When, some years since, the fury of war had laid waste the frontiers of our country, a rich man passed through the desolated tract. Here in the mountains he met with a number of children, naked and forlorn, devouring the roots which they grubbed up out of the earth. He pitied the children, and said unto them: Where is your house, and your father and your mother? Our house is burned, answered the children, and we have neither father nor mother. The war hath killed them.

The rich man thereupon took the children into his chariot, and carried them to his magnificent house, and supplied all their wants, and taught them to work, and had them instructed in all the arts and sciences.

After some time the children went to him, and said: Thou art indeed rich and great; but thy riches are far surpassed by the kindness with which thou treatest us-ah! tell us by what name shall we call thee?

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Then said the benevolent man, bending over the children: Call me father; for I will be a father to you, and ye shall be my children.

When the pious Winfried had concluded this narration, they all extolled the bounty of the rich man. He then rose, and said: Yonder, where my heart desires to be, there is a whole orphan people. Gold and silver I have not, but I will give them something better. I will conduct them to their father.

Thereupon he went forth to Germany, and put away the idols, and taught the people the gospel of faith and love. And they called him Bonifacius, that is the well-doer, and said: He hath done a good work for us.

56. THE HERO.

A FURIOUS war broke out, and the army of the king marched to the distant frontiers, to besiege the fortresses of the enemy. The son of the king, and the heir to his throne, accompanied the troops, for the purpose of exciting their courage by his presence. But the counsellors "who were about him had evil designs against him, and strove to

allure him into all sorts of pleasures, that they might rule in his stead.

Accordingly they said to him: It is not fit that the son of the king should expose himself to danger, and sojourn among the troops like a common soldier. For this he hath his captains and his officers. It is sufficient for him to be at hand in case of emergency. In this manner he acquires superior respect.

They conducted him, therefore, to a large city, and provided all sorts of entertainments, and seduced his heart, so that he lived in continual dissipation.

But behold, tidings of all these things reached the ears of an old and faithful servant of the royal house, and he arose and repaired to the son of the king. And when he had found him he spoke freely to him, and said: Hearken unto me! Their intentions are evil towards thee, and their aim is to debauch and to weaken the son of the king, my master, that they may themselves rule according to their pleasure. But consult thou thine honour, and flee the lusts of youth, which are inimical to the mind. Rouse thyself, and be a man!

The voice of truth penetrated the heart of the young prince; and he arose, put on his armour,

girt himself with his sword, proceeded to the camp, and said to the general of the army: Henceforth I will fight along with you, and be the first in battle and in self-denial.

Then the aged general was deeply moved in his heart, and he seized the hand of the youth, and said: O, my lord and prince, whoever conquereth himself is greater than he who taketh cities and fortresses!

57. SELF-EXAMINATION.

A VIRTUOUS father had a wicked son, who, scorning all admonitions, passed his days in the society of vicious youths, and in the gratification of every sensual passion. Thus did his heart become more and more corrupt, and every good disposition was stifled within him.

But his father mourned in

silence over the depravity of the young man.

After some time the father was seized with a

grievous illness, and feeling that he should die, he When the son drew nigh to the

sent for his son.

bed, his father said to him: Fear not, my son, that I shall reprove thee for thy conduct. Behold, I am dying; and to thee I bequeath all that I possess: but thou must, in return, fulfil the last request

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