ing to make their escape. There were some found in deep vaults, as if they had gone thither for security. There were some found in lofty chambers. But where did they find the Roman sentinel? They found him standing at the city gate, with his hand still grasp been placed by his captain. And there-while the heavens threatened him-there, while the earth shook beneath him-there, while the lava-stream rolled-he had stood at his post, and there, after a thousand years, was he found. He was faithful to his trust. Rev. Dr. Waugh having been called upon, in the earlier part of his ministry in London, to visit a gentleman of property, not one of his own congregation, after praying with him, on taking his leave, two guineas were placed in his hand. He asked, "For what is this, my dear sir ?" "A small acknowledgment ing the war weapon, where he had of your kind services." He instantly returned the money, remarking, with great solemnity, "My prayers are not to be bought, sir." He was again solicited to call on the same person, and on leaving the house, the servant put a sealed letter in his hand, and closed the door. After walking a few steps, he opened it, and found it contained a five- Oliver Millard, a popular and ener308. Unsparing Boldness. pound bank-note. His family was getic preacher of the reign of Louis large, and his means limited, but XI., attacked the vices of the Court he returned to the house, and in his sermons, and did not spare placing the money on the table, even the King himself, who, taking entreated the gentleman never again offence at it, sent the priest word to acknowledge in such a manner that if he did not change his tone, any services which, by the blessing he would have him thrown into the of God, he might render. It deserves Seine. "The King," replied Oliver, to be mentioned that this gentle-is the master to do what he man afterwards proved a kind friend to the Doctor. 307. Unshaken Faithfulness.When Pompeii was destroyed there were many buried in the ruins of it who were afterwards found in very different situations. There were some found who were in the streets, as if they had been attempt pleases; but tell him that I shall reach Paradise by water sooner than he will with his post-horses." (The establishment of travelling post was instituted by Louis XI.) This bold answer at once amused and intimidated the King, for he let the priest continue to preach as he pleased, and what he pleased. FILIAL AFFECTION. Exod. xx. 12; Prov. i. 8; Jer. iii. 4; Luke ii. 51; Ephes. vi. 1; Col. iii. 20. 309. Bravery in a Son.-When the son of Sir George Staunton was at twelve years old page to the embassy to China, he was much noticed by the old Emperor of that country for his knowledge of the Chinese language, and was presented by him with a yellow silken purse, a mark of great distinction. On his return to England, he was on the deck of the Lion ship with his father, who, believing that a French man-of-war was going to make an attack upon them, desired his son to go below. "My father, I will never forsake you," was the spirited and affectionate reply of the youth. 310. Contest of Love.-Cambalus, a young gentleman of high rank who lived in classic times, being out coursing, was waylaid and in great danger of being robbed and murdered by banditti who infested his country. Gorgus, his father, happened at that instant to be passing the spot, to whom the son related his danger. The father dis and assure her that I will take care of both her and you.' the Reign of Terror in France, a 312. Loving Family. During family at Marseilles became involved in the revolutionary troubles. The eldest son fell under proscription, but his family were fortunate enough to avoid the vigilance of the police, and conceal him for seven months, at the end of which time he escaped in a vessel to Leghorn. The youngest son saved himself by escaping to Paris, where he remained unknown until the death of Robespierre enabled him to return home. Very soon after the departure of the eldest was menaced two 311. Frederick the Great and the Page. Frederick, King of Prussia, one day rung his bell, and, nobody answering, he opened his door and found his page fast asleep in an elbow-chair. He advanced towards him, and was going to awaken him, when he perceived son, the father part of a letter hanging out of his with imprisonment, as having pocket. His curiosity prompting sons in emigration; on him to know what it was, he took it which the youngest daughter preout and read it. It was a letter sented herself before the Munifrom this young man's mother, in cipality, entreating that her father which she thanked him for having might be suffered to remain at sent her a part of his wages to re- liberty, and offering herself as a lieve her misery, and finished with hostage that he would not commit telling him that God would reward any act contrary to the interests of him for his dutiful affection. The the Republic. Her offer of becomKing, after reading it, went back ing a prisoner was accepted, and softly into his chamber, took a bag she was conveyed to the convent of full of ducats, and slipped it with Ignorantius, which was set apart the letter into the page's pocket. for confining the women who were Returning to the chamber he rang arrested, and where eight hundred the bell so loudly that it awakened were then immured. But though the page, who instantly made his she was detained, her father was appearance. "You have had a sound not left at large; he was arrested a sleep," said the King. The page was few days after, and sent with a at a loss how to excuse himself; number of the proscribed to conand putting his hand into his pocket finement in another convent. The by chance, to his utter astonishment prison of the father was at a he there found a purse of ducats. different end of the town. During He took it out, turned pale, and, eight months that elapsed from this looking at the King, shed a torrent period to the conclusion of the Reign of tears without being able to utter of Terror, the eldest daughter's a single word. "What is that ?" said daily occupation was to visit her the King. "What is the matter?" father and sister in their respective "Ah! sire," said the young man, prisons, which she was permitted throwing himself on his knees, to do, being always searched at "somebody seeks my ruin! I know her entrance, lest she should connothing of this money which I have vey anything to them which might just found in my pocket." My assist their escape. The anxiety young friend," replied Frederick, for her sister's life was not very "God often does great things for us, great, as few women were led to even in our sleep. Send that to the scaffold; but she daily entered your mother; salute her on my part, the prison of her father uncertain 66 whether she still might find him, or whether he might not have been among the number who were daily immolated. While at home, her sole occupation was to endeavour to soothe and console her mother. How miserable, how painful, was such a state of existence! and yet, painful as it was, this family was ultimately among the number of the fortunate, since no member of it fell a victim to revolutionary vengeance. means in our power, to collect the sum necessary for his ransom; and for such a purpose we are not ashamed to employ ourselves in this occupation of watermen." Montesquieu was struck with this account, and on his departure made them a handsome present. Some months afterwards, the two brothers, being at work in their shop, were greatly surprised at seeing their father enter: he threw himself into their arms, exclaiming 313. Memory of a Mother. that he was fearful they had taken Dr. Wilson, Bishop of Calcutta, mentions in his account of his interviews with Bellingham, the famous assassin, that nothing he could say appeared to make any impression until he spoke of his mother, and then the prisoner burst into a flood of tears. some unjust method to raise the money that procured his ransom. They professed their ignorance of the whole affair, and could only that stranger to whose generosity attribute their father's release to they had been before so much in debted. 314. Montesquieu and the Young 315. Noble Sacrifices.-In the Silversmiths.-Montesquieu, be- sanguinary scenes which took place ing at Marseilles, hired a boat in Paris on the 2nd and 3rd of with the intention of sailing for September, 1792, there was an alpleasure. He entered into con- most general massacre of all the versation with the two young boat-persons confined in the capital. men, and learned, to his surprise, Cazotte was in the prison of the that they were silversmiths by Abbaye. When the assassins were trade, and had agreed to employ approaching him, his daughter themselves thus as watermen only placed herself before him, and, that they might increase their earnings. On expressing his surprise and his fears that this must arise only from an avaricious disposition, "Oh, sir," said one of them, "if you knew our reasons you would not think so. Our father, anxious to assist his family, scraped together all he was worth, and purchased a vessel for the purpose of trading to the coast of Barbary; but was unfortunately taken by a pirate, carried to Tripoli, and sold for a slave. He writes that he has happily fallen into the hands of a master who uses him well, but that the sum demanded for his ransom is so exorbitant, that it will be impossible for him ever to raise it, and says we must therefore relinquish all hope of ever seeing him, and be contented. With the hope of restoring to his family a beloved father, we are striving, by every to despatch him, when a young shielding him with her body, ex- woman darted forward into the prison, and throwing herself into midst of them, crying out, "Stop, the arms of her father, announced barbarians; this is my father!" to him the happy intelligence. ReShe then fell on her knees, kissed leased from his chains,she conducted the bloody hand of the premedi- him back in triumph towards tated assassin of her parent, prayed, Lyons, but did not live to witness entreated, and offered herself a the joy of his arrival in the midst sacrifice for her father; at length of his family. The mental and she rose, and shielding him in her bodily fatigue she had undergone, arms, thought she perceived that which had been kept under while the rage of the assassins was sub- her father's life was in jeopardy, dued, and that her prayers had were now found to have made fatal disarmed them. The monsters inroads on her constitution; and agreed to save her father's life if notwithstanding the aid of medical she would drink a glass of blood. skill, she died on their route to At such a proposal the heroine Lyons, leaving a father inconsolable shuddered with horror; she drew for the loss of so virtuous and back and turned pale; but recol-affectionate a daughter. lecting that it was the only means 316. Precious Gift.-The three of saving a father's life, she submitted to the sacrifice, and pre-vited to furnish her with the proof sons of an Eastern lady were inserved the life of her father; though of their love before she went a long it nearly cost her own, for she was seized with convulsions, from which journey from home. One brought her a marble tablet, with the inshe was with difficulty recovered. scription of her name; another -M. Dellegran was arrested at Lyons, but an order arriving to brought a garland of sweet, fratransfer him to the prison of the grant flowers; while the third entered her presence, and said, Conciergerie in Paris, his daughter asked permission to accompany him in the voiture in which he was conducted. This favour being refused, Mademoiselle Dellegran followed the carriage from Lyons to Paris; and sometimes at the different posts where it rested she was able to interchange a look or a word of affection and consolation with her 66 Mother, I have brought neither but I have a heart, and here your marble nor flowers-I have neither; name is engraved-your memory is precious. This heart, full of affection, will follow you wherever you travel, and remain with you wherever you go." Need it be asked which present was most precious to the mother? much-loved parent. When they arrived in Paris, she was com- 317. Sir Thomas More and his pelled to separate from him, and Daughter Margaret.-When senshe trembled to think that the tence was passed on Sir Thomas separation might be permanent. More for refusing to take the oath During three months she never of supremacy to Henry VIII., his ceased to solicit, from every person daughter, as he was returning toshe thought had the least power or wards the Tower, rushing through influence, an interference in behalf the populace and guards, threw of her father. Day after day she herself upon his neck, and, withattended at the gate of the prison, out speaking, in a stupor of despair, in the hope that the iron-hearted strained him closely in her arms. gaoler might be softened to admit Even the guards, at this affecting her to an interview with her father, scene, melted into compassion, but in vain. At length, after innu- while the fortitude of the illustrious merable solicitations, she had the prisoner nearly yielded. "My good fortune to obtain an order for dear Margaret," said he, "submit her father's liberation. Furnished with patience; grieve no longer with this order, she flew to the for me; it is the will of God, and must be borne." Tenderly em- having remained fourteen days bracing her, he withdrew himself exposed upon London Bridge, in from her arms. He had not pro- conformity to his sentence, was ceeded many paces, when she again rushed towards him, and again, in a paroxysm of sorrow more eloquent than words, threw herself on his bosom. Tears flowed down the venerable cheeks of Sir Thomas, while he gazed on her in tender earnestness. Having entreated her prayers for him, he bade her affectionately farewell. The cares of Margaret extended to the lifeless remains of her beloved parent. By her interest and exertions, his body was after his execution interred in the Chapel of St. Peter's ad Vincula, within the precincts of the Tower, and was afterwards removed, according to the appointment of Sir Thomas during his life, to a chancel of the church at Chelsea. His head about to be cast into the Thames, when it was purchased by his daughter. Being on this occasion inhumanly summoned before the Council, she firmly avowed and justified her conduct. This boldness did not escape the vengeance of the King. She was committed to prison, whence, after a short restraint, and vain attempt to subdue her courage by menaces, she was liberated and restored to her husband and family. She survived her father only nine years, and died in 1544, in her thirty-sixth year. In compliance with her desire, the head of her father was interred with her, in her arms, as related by some, or, according to others, deposited in a leaden box, and placed upon the coffin. FORBEARANCE. Prov. xix. 11; Matt. v. 39, 44; Rom. xii. 17; Ephes. iv. 32; Col. iii. 13. 318. Conqueror's Forbearance. When Alexander encamped before a city, he used to set up a light, to give notice to those within that, if they came forth to him while that light lasted, they should have quarter; if otherwise, no mercy was to be expected. 319. Dean Swift and an Opponent. -When Dr. Swift was arguing one day, with great coolness, with a gentleman who had become exceedingly warm in the dispute, one of the company asked him how he could keep his temper so well. "The reason is," replied the Dean, "I have truth on my side." 320. Instances of Forbearance. -It is said of Julius Cæsar, that upon any provocation he would repeat the Roman alphabet before he suffered himself to speak, that he might be more just and calm in his resentments; and further, that he could forget nothing but wrongs, and remember nothing but benefits. The Emperor Antoninus said, "It becomes a man to love even those that offend him." Epictetus said, "A man hurts himself by injuring me: what, then, shall I therefore hurt myself by injuring him ?" Seneca observed, "In benefits, it is a disgrace to be outdone; in injuries, to get the better." Another heathen, when he was angry with one near him, said, "I would beat thee, were I master of myself." 321. Living down Detraction.When one told Plato that the boys in the streets were laughing at his singing, "Ay," said he, "then I must learn to sing better." Being at another time reminded that he had many aspersers, "It is no matter," said he, "I will live so that none shall believe them." And once again, being told that a friend was speaking detractingly of him, he replied, "I am confident he would not do it if he had not some reason." |