Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

17. "Live, live, ye incomparable pair!" he cried; "Ye have borne unquestionable testimony to the existence of virtue; and that virtue equally evinces the existence of a God to reward ite Live happy; live renowned; and, O, form me by your precepts, as ye have instructed me by your example, to be worthy the participation of so sacred a friendship."

LESSON L.

Test of Goodness.

1. REAL goodness consists in doing good to our enemies.— Of this truth the following apologue* may serve for an illustra tion. A certain father of a family, advanced in years, being desirous of settling his worldly matters, divided his property

between his three sons.

2. "Nothing now remains," said he to them, "but a diamond of great value; this I have determined to appropriate to whichever of you shall, within three months, perform the best action."

3. His three sons accordingly departed different ways, and returned by the limited time. On presenting themselves before their judge, the eldest thus began..

4. "Father," said he, "during my absence, I found a stranger so circumstanced, that he was under a necessity of entrusting me with the whole of his fortune. He had no written se

curity from me, nor could he possibly bring any proof, any evidence whatever of the deposit. Yet I faithfully returned to him every shilling. Was there not something commendable

in this action?"

5. "Thou hast done what was incumbent upon thee to do, my son," replied the old man. "The man who could have acted otherwise were unworthy to live: for honesty is a duty; thy action is an action of justice, not of goodness."

6. On this, the second son advanced. In the course of my travels," said he, "I came to a lake in which I beheld a child struggling with death; I plunged into it and saved his life in the presence of a number of the neighboring villagers, all of whom, can attest the truth of what I assert."

66

7. "It was well done, "interrupted the old man; you have only obeyed the dictates of humanity." At length the youngest of the three came forward.

*Pronounced ap-o-log, a moral story or fable, intended to convey useful

truths.

8. "I happened," said he, "to meet my mortal enemy, who, having bewildered himself in the dead of night, had imperceptibly fallen asleep upon the brink of a frightful precipice. The least motion would infallibly have plunged him headlong into the abyss; and though his life was in my hands, yet with every necessary precaution, I awaked him, and removed him from his danger."

9. "Ah, my son!" exclaimed the venerable good man with transport, while he pressed him to his heart; "to thee belongs the diamond; well hast thou deserved it."

LESSON LI.

The mysterious Stranger.-JANE TAYLOR.

[ocr errors]

1

1. In a remote period of antiquity, when the supernatural and the marvellous obtained a readier credence than now, it was fabled that a stranger of extraordinary appearance was observed passing the streets of one of the magnificent cities of the east, remarking with an eye of intelligent curiosity every surrounding object.

2. Several individuals gathering around him, questioned him concerning his country and his business; but they presently perceived that he was unacquainted with their language, and he soon discovered himself to be equally ignorant of the most common usages of society. At the same time, the dignity and intelligence of his air and demeanor forbade the idea of his being either a barbarian or a lunatic.

3. When at length he understood by their signs, that they wished to be informed whence he came, he pointed with great significance to the sky; upon which the crowd, concluding him to be one of their deities, were proceeding to pay him divine honors; but he no sooner comprehended their design, than he rejected it with horror; and, bending his knees and raising his hand toward heaven, in the attitude of prayer, gave them to understand that he also was a worshipper of the powers above.

4. After a time, it is said, the mysterious stranger accepted the hospitalities of one of the nobles of the city; under whose roof he applied himself with great diligence to the acquirement of the language, in which he made such surprising proficiency, that, in a few days, he was able to hold intelligent intercourse with those around him.

5. The noble host now resolved to take an early opportunity of satisfying his curiosity respecting the country and quality of

his guest; and, upon his expressing this desire, the stranger assured him that he would answer his enquiries that evening after sun-set. Accordingly, as night approached, he led him forth upon the balconies of the palace, which overlooked the wealthy and populous city

6. Innumerable lights from its busy streets and splendid palaces were now reflected in the dark bosom of its noble river; where stately vessels, laden with rich merchandise from all parts of the known world, lay anchored in the port. This was a city in which the voice of the harp and the viol, and the sound of the mill-stone, were continually heard and craftsmen of all kinds of craft were there-and the light of a candle was seen in every dwelling and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride were heard there.

7. The stranger mused awhile upon the glittering scene; and listened to the confused murmur of mingling sounds. Then suddenly raising his eyes to the starry firmament, he fixed them with an expressive gaze on the beautiful evening star which was just sinking behind a dark grove that surrounded one of the principal temples of the city. "Marvel not," said he to his host," that I am wont to gaze with fond affection on yon silvery star.

8. "That was my home-yes, I was lately an inhabitant of that tranquil planet; from whence a vain curiosity has tempted me to wander. Often had I beheld, with wondering admiration, this brilliant world of yours, even one of the brightest gems of our firmament-and the ardent desire I had long felt to know something of its condition, was at length unexpectedly gratified. I received permission and power from above to traverse the mighty void, and to direct my course to this distant sphere.

9. "To that permission, however, one condition was annexed, to which my eagerness for the enterprise induced me hastily to consent-namely, that I must thenceforth remain an inhabitant of this strange earth, and undergo all the vicissitudes to which its natives are subject. Tell me, therefore, I pray you, what is the lot of man-and explain to me more fully than I yet understand, all that I hear and see around me."

10. "Truly, sir," replied the astonished noble, "although I am altogether unacquainted with the manners and customs, products and privileges of your country, yet, methinks, I cannot but congratulate you on your arrival in our world; especially since it has been your good fortune to alight on a part of it affording such various sources of enjoyment as this our opulent

and luxuriant city. And be assured it will be my pride and pleasure to introduce you to all that is most worthy the attention of such a distinguished foreigner."

11. Our adventurer, accordingly, was presently initiated into those arts of luxury and pleasure which were there well understood. He was introduced by his obliging host to their public games and festivals to their theatrical diversions and convivial assemblies; and in a short time he began to feel some relish for amusements, the meaning of which, at first, he could scarcely comprehend.

12. The next lesson which it became desirable to impart to him, was the necessity of acquiring wealth, as the only means of obtaining pleasure. A fact which was no sooner understood by the stranger, than he gratefully accepted the offer of his friendly host to place him in a situation in which he might amass riches.

13. To this object he began to apply himself with diligence; and was becoming in some measure reconciled to the manners and customs of our planet, strangely as they differed from those of his own, when an incident occurred which gave an entirely new direction to his energies. It was but a few weeks after his arrival on our earth, when, walking in the cool of the day with his friend, in the outskirts of the city, his attention was arrested by the appearance of a spacious enclosure near which they passed. He inquired the use to which it was appropriated.

66

14. "It is," replied the nobleman, "a place of public interment." "I do not understand you," said the stranger. "It is the place,” repeated his friend," where we bury our dead." "Excuse me, sir," replied his companion, with some embarrassment. "I must trouble you to explain yourself yet further." The nobleman repeated the information in still plainer terms. I am still at a loss to comprehend you perfectly," said the stranger, turning deadly pale. "This must relate to something of which I was not only totally ignorant in my own world, but of which I have, as yet, had no intimation in yours.

$6

15. "I pray you, therefore, to satisfy my curiosity for if I have any clue to your meaning, this, surely, is a matter of more mighty concernment than any to which you have hitherto directed me." 66 My good friend," replied the nobleman, “you must be indeed a novice among us, if you have yet to learn that we must all, sooner or later, submit to take our place in these dismal abodes.

16." Nor will I deny that it is one of the least desirable of the circumstances which appertain to our condition; for which

reason it is a matter rarely referred to in polished society and this accounts for your being hitherto uninformed on the subject. But truly, sir, if the inhabitants of the place from whence you came are not liable to any similar misfortune, I advise you to betake yourself back again with all speed; for be assured there is no escape here—nor could I guaranty your safety even for a single hour!"

17. "Alas!" replied the adventurer, "I must submit to the conditions of my enterprise, of which, till now, I little understood the import. But explain to me, I beseech you, something more of the nature and consequence of this wondrous change, and tell me at what period it commonly happens to man.' While he thus spoke, his voice faltered, and his whole frame shook violently; his countenance was as pale as death.

18. By this time his companion, finding the discourse becoming more serious than was agreeable, declared he must refer him to the priests for further information, this subject being very much out of his province. "How!" exclaimed the stranger, "then I cannot have understood you. Do the priests only die? are not you to die also ?"

19. His friend, evading these questions, hastily conducted his importunate companion to one of their magnificent temples, where he gladly consigned him to the instructions of the priesthood. The emotion which the stranger had betrayed, when he received the first idea of death, was yet slight in comparison with that which he experienced as soon as he gathered, from the discourses of the priests, some notions of immortality, and of the alternative of happiness or misery in a future state.

20. But this agony of mind was exchanged for transport, when he learned that, by the performance of certain conditions before death, the state of happiness might be secured. His eagerness to learn the nature of these terms, excited the surprise and even the contempt of his sacred teachers. They advised him to remain satisfied for the present with the instructions he had received, and defer the remainder of the discussion till to-morrow.

21. "How!" exclaimed the novice, "say ye not that death may come at any hour? may it not come this hour? and what if it should come before I have performed these conditions? O! withhold not the excellent knowledge from me a single moment!" The priests, suppressing a smile at this simplicity, then proceeded to explain their theology to their attentive auditor

22. But who can describe the ecstasy of his happiness, when he was given to understand the required conditions were, gene

« AnteriorContinuar »