'T is like the memory left behind And above the dews of night So faith springs in the hearts of those But soon the morning's happier light And eyelids that are sealed in death LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH. Public Duty and Private Friendship. When Cleon came into the administration of public affairs at Athens, he assembled all his friends, and declared to them, that, from that moment, he renounced their friendship, lest it should prove an obstacle to him in the discharge of his duty, and induce him to act with partiality and injustice. As Plutarch, however, very fairly observes, it was not his friends, but his passions, which he ought to have renounced. An anecdote is told of a patriot of modern times, the great Washington, which exhibits, in a much finer light, the distinction between public duty and private friendship. During his administration as president of the United States, a gentleman, the friend and companion of the general throughout the whole course of the revolutionary war, applied for a lucrative and very responsible office. The gentleman was at all times welcome to Washington's table; he had been to a certain degree, necessary to the domestic repose of a man who had for seven years fought the battles of his country, and who had now undertaken the task of wielding her political energies. At all times, and in all places, Washington regarded his revolutionary associate with an eye of evident partiality and kindness. He was a jovial, pleasant, and unobtrusive companion. In applying for the office, it was, accordingly, in the full confidence of success; and his friends already cheered him on the prospect of his arrival at competency and ease. The opponent of this gentleman was known to be decidedly hostile to the politics of Washington; he had even made himself conspicuous among the ranks of the opposition. He had, however, the temerity to stand as candidate for the office to which the friend and the favorite of Washington aspired. He had nothing to urge in favor of his pretensions, but strong integrity, promptitude and fidelity in business, and every quality which, if called into exercise, would render service to the state. Every one considered the application of this man hopeless; no glittering testimonial of merit had he to present to the eye of Washington; he was known to be his political enemy; he was opposed by a favorite of the general's; and yet, with such fearful odds, he dared to stand candidate. What was the result? The enemy of Washington was appointed to the office, and his table companion was left destitute and dejected. 66 A mutual friend, who interested himself in the affair, ventured to remonstrate with the president on the injustice of his appointment. My friend," said he, “I receive with cordial welcome; he is welcome to my house, and welcome to my heart; but, with all his good qualities, he is not a man of business. His opponent is, with all his political hostility to me, a man of business; my private feelings have nothing to do in this case. I am not George Washington, but president of the United States; as George Washington, I would do this man any kindness in my power; as nothing,esident of the United States, I can da LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST. The Fountain of Siloam. By cool Siloam's shady fountain, How sweet the lily grows! How sweet the breath, on yonder mountain, Lo! such the child whose young devotion The path of peace has trod; Whose secret soul's instinctive motion By cool Siloam's shady fountain, The rose that blooms on yonder mountain A little while the bitter morrow Of man's maturer age Will shake the soul with cankering sorrow, O thou! whose every year, untainted, Preserve the flowers thy grace has planted, And keep them still thy own. LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND. Bankrupt Family made Happy. A merchant of Bourdeaux, who had carried on trade, with equal honor and propriety, till he was turned of fifty years of age, was, by a series of unexpected and unavoidable losses, at length unable to comply with his engagements; and his wife and children, in whom he placed his principal happiness, were reduced to a state of destitution, which doubled his distress. He comforted himself and them, however, with the reflection, that, upon the strictest review of his own conduct, no want, either of integrity or prudence, could be imputed to him. He thought it best, therefore, to repair to Paris, in order to lay a true state of his affairs before his creditors, that, being convinced of his honesty, they might be induced to pity his misfortunes, and allow him a reasonable space of time to settle his affairs. He was kindly received by some, and very civilly by all; and wrote immediately to his family, congratulating them on the prospect of a speedy and favorable adjustment of his difficulties. But all his hopes were destroyed by the cruelty of his principal creditor, who caused him to be seized and sent to a gaol. As soon as this melancholy event was known in the country, his eldest son, a youth about nineteen years of age, listening only to the dictates of filial piety, came post to Paris, and threw himself at the feet of his father's obdurate creditor; to whom he painted the distress of the family, in most pathetic terms, but apparently without effect. At length, in the greatest agony of mind, he said, "Sir, since you think nothing can compensate for your loss but a victim, let your resentment fall upon me; let me suffer instead of my father, and the miseries of a prison will seem light in procuring the liberty of a parent, to console the sorrows of the distracted and dejected family that I have left behind me. Thus, sir, you will satisfy your vengeance, without sealing their irretrievable ruin.” And here his tears and sighs stopped his utterance. His father's creditor beheld him upon his knees, in this condition, for a full quarter of an hour. He then sternly desired him to rise and sit down; he obeyed. The gentleman then walked from one corner of the I room to the other, in great agitation of mind, for about the same space of time. At length, throwing his arms about the young man's neck, "I find, "said he, "there is something more valuable than money. have an only daughter, for whose fate I have the utmost anxiety. I am resolved to fix it. In marrying you, she must be happy. Go, carry your father's discharge, ask his consent, bring him instantly hither; let us bury in the joy of this alliance, the remembrance of all that has passed." LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD. The Rising Sun. Knowest thou not, That, when the searching eye of heaven is hid LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH. German Exiles. Michael Roster was one of those unfortunate subjects of Hesse Cassel who were bought by the English government to fight their battles in America. He was taken prisoner at Trenton; and, after various |