THE REWARD OF HOSPITALITY,

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DARK was the night, and dreadful was the storm, when James Corbett was roused from his hammock by the cry "a leak! all hands to the pumps!" Without a moment's delay, he hurried on his clothes, and flew to the assistance of his ship-mates; but, alas! their exertions were unavailing. The lightning which glared through the profound darkness, only served to discern the rocks on which they had already struck; and the terrific thunder which rolled over their heads, added fresh terror to the lamentations of those who considered that, in a few moments, they might be forever swallowed up in the bosom of the ocean.

After laboring at the pumps till his strength was completely exhausted, James went upon deck in the hope of recovering his breath and strength. Here, however, he had the misfortune to behold his beloved father perish before his eyes; and in a few moments, he himself was swept into the sea by a tremendous wave, which broke over the ship with irresistible violence. Providentially, however, the vessel was at a very short distance from the coast; and, as the tide was strongly setting in towards the shore, our young sailor was thrown upon the beach, before he was completely deprived of his senses.

After resting till daybreak, he looked around and perceived a church at a short distance. This suggested the propriety of his returning thanks to the Almighty, for his miraculous preservation; and this duty he performed in the best manner he could, before he attempted to set forward; and then committing himself to the protection of Heaven, he wandered, he knew not whither, having neither a hat upon his head, nor shoes on his feet; destitute of a single penny, and dependent upon the bounty of strangers for the means of subsistence.

After walking several hours, our young mariner arrived at a pleasant spot, between Dover and Sandgate, where Ralph Martin was accustomed to keep his father's sheep. In this place Ralph had passed the greater part of his life, a stranger to the gratifications of luxury, and the wants of ambition. He was alike exposed to the scorching heats of summer, and the pinching frosts of winter; yet if his sheep were healthy, and his lambkins numerous, he was

always perfectly contented. He thought it no toil to lead them up and down the hills, if by the change they obtained better pasture.

The weather on the preceding night having been very tempestuous, and the coast being spread with wrecks, Ralph felt the tear of sympathetic tenderness start into his eyes, as he gazed around, when the shipwrecked sailor approached him, and earnestly solicited a morsel of bread. Ralph's scrip was not very well replenished; but what he had, he freely gave, and sincerely wished it had been more. The poor boy whom he relieved, thanked him with unaffected gratitude, and informed him of the particulars of his shipwreck. His father, he said, was captain of a vessel which traded from one of the Italian cities to London.

They were returning from a prosperous voyage, when they were overtaken in the channel by a gale of wind. It continued three days, and they were at length wrecked on the coast of Kent. He saw his father, in endeavoring to catch hold of a rope, miss his aim, and fall overboard. He himself was then carried into the sea by an overwhelming wave, and only escaped death by being thrown upon the beach.-The youth wept as he gave this recital; and Ralph, whose kind heart felt for every one, wept also. He had two shillings and a few half pence in his pocket, and these constituted his only possessions: but he gave them willingly to relieve a fellow creature in distress.

As the youth had travelled a long way without shoes, he very thankfully accepted Ralph's offer of remaining with him till next day. Accordingly, they continued with the sheep till it was time for them to be taken home, and then Ralph led his guest to his father's cottage. He introduced him to his mother, and she, with great good nature, prepared to broil them a slice of bacon.-This was a most delicious treat to the sailor; and Ralph who had given away his dinner, thought it more than usually good. After supper, they retired to rest; and the next morning when Ralph led out his flock, the poor traveller, being offered a pair of old shoes, and a hat, took his leave with many thanks, and recommenced his weary journey.

Several years passed away, and Ralph had almost forgotten the circumstance. He had indeed had sufficient on his mind to make him forget occurrences even more

important, having for a long time led a life of sorrow. His father, who had always been fond of drinking and bad company, had at length indulged himself in these propensities till every thing was sacrificed for their gratification. It was in vain that Ralph endeavored to stem the torrent; in vain he exerted his industry; all was of no avail. His father's extravagance knew no bounds, whilst any thing remained which could be sold.

The flock, by degrees, was parted with; then the furniture of the little cottage, and at length the cottage itself. Nor was this all; debts accumulated which there was no means of defraying. The man was obliged to abscond, and his wife and her son found themselves in the midst of a severe winter, without shelter or the means of subsistence. Ralph however being well known, and generally respected, soon engaged himself as shepherd to a neighboring farmer, and hired a small hovel which stood at the foot of a hill adjoining the common. Here he lived, penuriously indeed, but contentedly; thankful that he could procure for his mother even this shed.

The poor woman, smitten by misfortune and borne down by advancing years, was incapable of doing anything for herself, and Ralph not only had to support, but to nurse her. He often found this task very difficult; but in proportion to his necessities, he increased his exertions; and heaven, which rewards filial piety and industry, gave a blessing to all his efforts. He was enabled to pay the rent of his cottage, and to discharge some of the debts his father had left; which being due to some of the poorest of the cottagers, they were ill able to lose. For this he was obliged to toil very hard, and almost to starve himself; but be cheerfully endured all privations whilst he saw his mother surrounded by a few comforts, and felt that he was discharging an important duty.

One evening he was sitting reading to his aged parent, when he heard the rattling of the wheels of a carriage. Such a sound was so unusual in that spot, that, after expressing his surprise at it, he arose to see whither it was going. It stopped at the cottage, and from it alighted a man about thirty years of age. Ralph made a respectful bow, and asked whom he was pleased to want? Yourself," replied the stranger with much affability, "if, as I suppose, you are Ralph Martin." Ralph said that he

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was. "And do you indeed not recollect me ?" asked the stranger.

you

"Do you not remember the poor sailor boy whom you sheltered and relieved? I am he; and if will give me another night's lodging and a slice of bacon, I will stay with you, and give you an account of the circumstances which have wrought such a change in my appearance. Ralph, who in the change which more than sixteen years had made, no longer recognised his shipwrecked acquaintance, was, however, extremely glad to see him in so much happier circumstances. He assured him of a hearty welcome, but added, he had only a mattrass of straw and a blanket to offer him.-"So much the better," replied Mr. Corbett, "it will remind me of former times. But now for my history. Give me that box, it will make an excellent chair; and we shall be more at our ease, sitting.

"When I left you I determined if possible to travel to London, and, by the kindness of a wagoner, who seemed to feel deeply for my misfortunes, I arrived there on the third day. I found my mother in the greatest possible affliction; she had just been informed of the melancholy fate of my father, and was almost inconsolable. The sight of me however, whom she had also believed dead, in some degree revived her spirits. I was happy to find she was left in comfortable, though not affluent circumstances; and as there was a small provision for each of the children, I took my share, and embarked with it for the East Indies, where I had a cousin, who had long wished me to assist him in his business.

"I was received by him with the utmost kindness; and my little property turned to the best account. Twelve years of successful industry made me a rich man; and as soon as I could settle my affairs, I returned to England. I found my mother married, and my brothers and sisters fixed in different situations. I have paid every debt I might have contracted with them, and my only account which remains unbalanced is that I have to settle with you." "With me, Sir ?" said Ralph; "you have nothing to settle with me! The trifling assistance you received from me was not worth remembering; it was only what I should gladly have given to any one in your circumstances. Times have altered a good deal since, and I often feel the

greatest grief in witnessing distress which I have not the power to relieve "

"But you shall have the power," answered the gentleman; "independence could never be better placed than in your hands. But we will talk of these things to-morrow. Now give me my supper, as you promised, for I have travelled a good way to day, and am rather tired." Ralph prepared his simple fare, and then showed his guest to his humble bed. Next morning, the little story of the misfortunes with which Ralph had to struggie was recounted.

The stranger, eager to place him in a happier lot, purchased a neat cottage; and having stocked it with every necessary, and added fifty sheep, the happy Ralph was made owner of it, and lived many years in that prosperity which usually follows industry and integrity. His benefactor generally called once or twice in a year to see him; and the peasantry for miles around often amused their children with repeating the good fortune which proved the reward of hospitality.

THE JUST JUDGE.

A GENTLEMAN, who possessed an estate worth about five hundred pounds a year, in the eastern part of England, had two sons. The eldest, being of a rambling disposition, went abroad. After several years, his father died; when the younger son, destroying his will, seized upon the estate. He gave out that his elder brother was dead, and bribed false witnesses to attest the truth of it. In the course of time, the elder brother returned; but came home in miserable circumstances. His younger brother repulsed him with scorn; telling him he was an impostor and a cheat. He asserted that his real brother was dead long ago; and he could bring witnesses to prove it.

The poor fellow, having neither money nor friends, was in a most dismal situation. He went round the parish making complaints, and, at last, to a lawyer, who, when he had heard the poor man's story, replied, "You have nothing to give me. If I undertake your cause and lose it, it will bring me into disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence are on your brother's side. However, I