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LESSON XLI.

SOCRATES AND DEMETRIUS.

Brethren should dwell together in harmony.

1. Two brothers, named Timon and Demetrius, having quarrelled with each other, Socrates, their common friend, was solicitous to restore amity between them. Meeting, therefore, with Demetrius, he thus accosted him: "Is not friendship the sweetest solace in adversity, and the greatest enhancement of the blessings of prosperity?" "Certainly it is," replied Demetrius; "because our sorrows are diminished, and our joys increased by sympathetic participation."

2. "Amongst whom, then, must we look for a friend?" said Socrates. "Would you search among strangers? They cannot be interested about you. Amongst your rivals? They have an interest in opposition to yours. Amongst those who are much older, or younger than yourself? Their feelings and pursuits will be widely different from yours. Are there not, then, some circumstances favorable, and others essential, to the formation of friendship?"

3. "Undoubtedly there are," answered Demetrius. "May we not enumerate," continued Socrates, "amongst the circumstances favorable to friendship, long acquaintance, common connexions, similitude of age, and union of interest?" "I acknowledge," said Demetrius, "the powerful influence of these circumstances: but they may subsist, and yet others be wanting, that are essential to mutual amity.'

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4. "And what," said Socrates, are those essentials which are wanting in Timon?” "He has forfeited my esteem and attachment," answered Demetrius, "And has he also forfeited the esteem and attachment of the rest of mankind?" continued Socrates. "Is he devoid of benevolence, generosity, gratitude, and other social affections ?" "Far be it from me," cried Demetrius, to lay so heavy a charge upon him: his conduct to others is, I believe, irreproachable; and it wounds me the more, that he should single me out as the object of his unkindness."

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5. "Suppose you have a very valuable horse," resumed Socrates, "gentle under the treatment of others, but ungovernable, when you attempt to use him; would you not endeavor by all means, to conciliate his affection, and to treat him in the way most likely to render him tractable? Or, if you have a dog, highly prized for his fidelity, watchfulness, and care of your flocks, who is fond of your shepherds, and playful with them,

and yet snarls whenever you come in his way; would you attempt to cure him of this fault by angry looks or words, or by any other marks of resentment? You would surely pursue an opposite course with him.

6. "And is not the friendship of a brother of far more worth, than the services of a horse, or the attachment of a dog? Why then do you delay to put in practice those means, which may reconcile you to Timon ?" Acquaint me with those means, answered Demetrius, "for I am a stranger to them." "Answer me a few questions," said Socrates.

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7. "If you desire that one of your neighbors should invite you to his feast, when he offers a sacrifice, what course would you take ?"-"I would first invite him to mine."-" And how would you induce him to take the charge of your affairs, when you are on a journey?"-"I should be forward to do the same good office to him, in his absence."

8. "If you be solicitous to remove a prejudice, which he may have received against you, how would you then behave towards him?""I should endeavor to convince him, by my looks, words, and actions, that such prejudice was ill founded.""And if he appeared inclined to reconciliation, would you reproach him with the injustice he had done you?" "No," answered Demetrius; "I would repeat no grievances."

9. "Go," said Socrates, "and pursue that conduct towards your brother, which you would practise to a neighbor. His friendship is of inestimable worth; and nothing is more lovely in the sight of Heaven, than for brethren to dwell together in unity."

LESSON XLII.

The Dead Horse.-STERNE.*

1. AND this, said he, putting the remains of a crust into his wallet and this should have been thy portion, said he, hadst thou been alive to have shared it with me. I thought by the accent it had been an apostrophe to his child; but it was to his horse, and to the very horse we had seen dead in the road, which had occasioned La Fleur's misadventure. The man seemed to lament it much; and it instantly brought into my mind Sancho's lamentation for his; but he did it with more true touches of nature.

* Laurence Sterne, an eminent writer, was born at Clomwell, in Ireland, 1713. He died 1768, in London.

2. The mourner was sitting upon a stone bench at the door, with the horse's pannel and its bridle on one side, which he took up from time to time-then laid them down-looked at them, and shook his head. He then took his crust of bread out of his wallet again, as if to eat it; held it some time in his hand -then laid it upon the bit of his horse's bridle-looked wistfully at the little arrangement he had made-and then gave a sigh.

3. The simplicity of his grief drew numbers about him, and La Fleur among the rest, while the horses were getting ready; as I continued sitting in the post chaise, I could see and hear over their heads.

4. He said he had come last from Spain, where he had been from the farthest borders of Franconia:* and had got so far on his return home, when his horse died. Every one seemed desirous to know what business could have taken so old and poor a man so far a journey from his own home.

5. "It had pleased Heaven," he said, "to bless him with three sons, the finest lads in all Germany; but having in one week lost two of them by the small pox, and the youngest falling ill of the same distemper, he was afraid of being bereft of them all, and made a vow, if Heaven would not take him from him also, he would go in gratitude to St. Jago in Spain."

6. When the mourner got thus far in his story, he stopped to pay nature her tribute-and wept bitterly. He said, "Heaven had accepted the conditions; and that he had set out from his cottage with this poor creature, who had been a patient partner of his journey that it had eaten the same bread with him all the way, and was unto him as a friend."

7. Every body who stood about heard the poor fellow with concern. La Fleur offered him money-The mourner said he did not want it-it was not the value of the horse-but the loss of him-The horse, he said, he was assured loved him—and upon this told them a long story of a mischance upon their passage over the Pyrenean mountains,† which had separated them from each other three days; during which time the horse had sought him as much as he had sought the horse, and that neither had scarce eat or drank till they met."

8. "Thou hast one comfort, friend," said I, "at least, in the loss of thy poor beast; I am sure thou hast been a merciful master to him."-"Alas!" said the mourner, "I thought so, when he was alive-but now he is dead, I think otherwise-1

* Formerly a province, or circle of Germany.

+ Py-re'-ne-an mountains, between France and Spain.

fear the weight of myself and my afflictions together have been too much for him-they have shortened the poor creature's days, and I fear I have them to answer for."- "Shame on the world!" said I to myself" Did we love each other, as this poor soul but loved his horse-'twould be something."

LESSON XLIII.

Biographical Anecdotes.

1. AN amiable youth lamented, in terms of deep and moving grief, the recent death of a most affectionate parent. His companions made an effort to console him by the reflection, that he had always behaved towards the deceased with duty, tenderness, and respect. "So I thought," replied the youth, "while my parent was living, but now recollect with pain and sorrow, many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas! it is too late to make atonement."

2. Sir Isaac Newton* possessed a remarkable mild and even temper. This great man, on a particular occasion, was called out of his study to an adjoining apartment. A little dog named Diamond, the constant, but incurious attendant of his master's researches, happened to be left among the papers; he threw down a lighted candle, which consumed, in a moment, the almost finished labors of many years. Sir Isaac soon returned, and had the mortification to behold his irreparable loss. But, with his usual self-possession, he only exclaimed, O Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done.

3. Queen Caroline having observed that her daughter,. the princess, had made one of the ladies about her stand a long time, while the princess was talking to her on some trifling subject, was resolved to give a suitable reprimand. Therefore, when the princess came in the evening to read to her, as was usual, and was drawing a chair to sit down, the queen said to -her, no, my dear, at present you must not sit; for I intend to make you stand this evening as long as you suffered lady B to remain in the same position.

4. The benevolent and immortal John Howard,† having settled his accounts at the close of a particular year, and found a balance in his favor, proposed to his lady to employ it in defraying the expense of a journey to London, or any other * An English philosopher, born in 1642, and died in 1727.

† A celebrated English philanthropist, born in 1726, and died 1790. His. life was devoted to the work of discovering and reforming the evils of prisons.

amusement which she might think preferable. "What a pretty little cottage," she replied, "would this build for a poor family. This charitable hint met his cordial approbation, and the money was laid out accordingly.

5. Horace, a celebrated Roman poet, relates that a countryman, who wanted to pass a river, stood loitering on the banks of it, in the foolish expectation, that a current so rapid would soon discharge its waters. But the stream still flowed, (increased perhaps by fresh torrents from the mountains,) and it must for ever flow; because the source from which it is derived, is inexhaustible. Thus the idle and irresolute youth trifles over his books, or squanders, in childish pursuits, his precious moments, deferring the business of improvement, (which at first might be rendered easy and agreeable, but which, by delay, becomes more and more difficult,) until the golden sands of opportunity have all run, and he is called to action without possessing the requisite ability.

6. Philip III. king of Spain, when he drew near the end of his days, (seriously reflecting on his past life, and being greatly affected by the remembrance of his misspent time,) expressed his deep regret in the following terms: "Ah, how happy would it have been for me, had I spent, in retirement, and the improvement of my mind, these twenty-three years that I possessed my kingdom."

LESSON XLIV.

The Revenge of a Great Soul.

1. DEMETRIUS Poliorcetes,* who had done singular services for the people of the city of Athens, on setting out for a war in which he was engaged, left his wife and children to their protection. He lost the battle, and was obliged to seek sccurity for his person in flight.

2. He doubted not, at first, but that he should find a safe asylum among his good friends, the Athenians; but those ungrateful people refused to receive him, and even sent back to him his wife and children, under pretence, that they probably might not be safe in Athens, where the enemy might come and take them.

3. This conduct pierced the heart of Demetrius; for nothing is so affecting to an honest mind, as the ingratitude of those we love, and to whom we have done singular services. Some time

* Pronounced De-me'-tri-us Po-li-or'-ce-tees, a king of Macedon. He died 286 B. C.

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