when I was tempted to buy some13 unnecessary thing,13] said to myself, Don't give too much for the whistle; and so I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.

When I saw any one fond15 of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect; He pays, indeed, say I, too much for his whistle.

61.

The Same Subject Continued.

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind' of comfortable living, all the pleasures of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth; Poor man, say I, you do indeed pay too much for your whistle.

When I meet a man-of-pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations,5 Mistaken man, say I, you are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure: you give too much for your whistle.

If I see one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in prison; Alas, say I, he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.

When I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl, married to an ill-natured brute of a husband: What a pity it is, say I, that she has paid so much for a whistle!

In short, I conceived that a great part of the miseries of mankind were brought upon them by the false estimates they had made of the value of things, and by their giving9 too much for their whistles,

62. Benevolence.

The following anecdote of the Duke of Montagu is very remarkable and laudable. During a walk in Saint-James's Park, the duke observed a middle-aged man continually walking to and fro or sitting in a melancholy attitude on one of the benches. Wishing to know something more of him, the duke approached him several times, and endeavored to draw him into conversation,1 but without success; his only answers were: "Yes, sir; No, sir; I don't know; I believe so," etc.

Determined to obtain some information concerning him, the duke ordered one of his servants to follow him home, and to make all the inquiries2 he could.2 The servant, on his return, informed his master that he had learned that the gentleman was a [military] officer with a numerous family; and having nothing but half-pay to support them, he had sent them to a distant part of England, where they could live more cheaply than in London; that he transmitted them the greater part of his pay, and lived as he could himself at London, in order to be near the war-office, where he was soliciting promotion.

The duke, after having obtained further information concerning the residence of the family, determined to do something for the officer, and to procure him an agreeable surprise.

63.

The Same Subject Continued.

In a few days, the preparations being complete, he sent one of his servants into the park to tell him that his master had something of importance to communicate, and requested' that he would' call on him. The astonished officer followed the servant, and was introduced to the duke, who then told him that a lady of his acquaintance, and who

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knew his circumstances and was greatly interested in his welfare, wished very much to see him; that the lady was3 to dine that day at his house, and that he would introduce him to her. The officer had scarcely recovered from his surprise when dinner was announced; the duke conducted him to the dining-room, where, to his great astonishment, he found his wife and family, who were equally amazed and delighted at meeting him so unexpectedly.

It appears that the duke had sent a messenger to bring the family to London, without permitting any communication with the husband; and that they had but just arrived. After the mutual embraces and felicitations, the duke interrupted them, and presenting a paper to the officer, said to him: "Sir, I have discovered that you are a worthy man, and that your present means are not sufficient to support your amiable family; promotion in the army is slow in time of peace; I have a snug little country-house and farm at your service; accept it, go and take possession, and may you live happily." At the same time he presented him a paper in which he acknowledged that he gave the house and grounds to Mr. and his heirs forever.

64.

Respect for the Bible.

A little boy, a Sunday scholar, was one day sent by his mother to1 a shop for some soap. The shop-woman, having weighed it, took a leaf from the Bible that was 3placed on the counter for waste paper; at which the boy was greatly astonished, and vehemently exclaimed: "Why, mistress, that is the Bible!" "Well, what if it be?" replied the woman. "It is the Bible," repeated the boy, "and what are you going to do with it?" "To wrap up the soap." “But mistress, you should not tear up that book, for it is the Bible!" cried the boy with peculiar emphasis. "What does that signify? I bought it for waste paper, to use in the shop."

The little boy with still increasing energy exclaimed "What, the Bible! I wish it were mine! I would not tear it up like that."10 "Well," said the woman, "if you will pay me what I gave for it, you shall have it." "Thank you,” replied the boy, "I will go home and ask my mother for some money."

Away he went and said: "Mother, mother, please give me some money!" "What for?" said his mother. "To buy a Bible," he replied, "for the woman at the shop was tearing up the Bible, and I told her she should not do it; then she said she would sell it to me. O mother, do12 give me some money to buy it, that it may not be torn up!"

65.

The Same Subject Continued.

His mother said: "I am very sorry, I cannot, my dear boy, I have none." The child cried, still1 begged for2 some money, but in vain. Then, sobbing, he went back to the shop and said: "My mother is poor, and cannot3 give me any money; but, O mistress, don't tear up the Bible, for my teachers have told me that it is the Word of God!" The woman, perceiving the boy to be greatly concerned, said: "Well, don't cry, for you shall have the Bible, if you will go and get its weight in waste paper." At this unexpected, but joyful proposal, the boy dried up his tears, saying: "That I will, mistress, and thank you too."

Away he ran to his mother and asked her for some paper: she gave him all she had; and then he went to all his neighbors' houses and begged more: and having, as he hoped, collected enough, he hastened with the bundle under his arm to the shop, and on entering exclaimed: " Now, mistress, I have got the paper.” "Very well," said the woman, "let me weigh it." The paper was put into one scale, and the Bible into the other. The scale turned in the boy's favor, and he cried out, with tears of joy in his

eyes: "The Bible is mine!" and seizing it, he exclaimed: "I have got it! I have got it!" and away he ran home to his mother, crying as he went: "I have got the Bible! I have got the Bible!"

66.

The British Empire.

The British Empire, exclusive of its foreign depend encies, consists of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the smaller islands contiguous and subordinate to them. Great Britain, the largest and by far the most important of the British Islands, is divided into the kingdoms of England and Scotland. The former occupies1 its southern, most fruitful and extensive, and the latter its northern, more barren and smaller, portion. After the withdrawal of the Romans from Great Britain, these two divisions became separate and independent states, between which the most violent animosities frequently subsisted.

In consequence of the marriage of Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. of England, to James IV. king of Scotland in 1502, James VI., king of Scotland, ascended the English throne upon the demise of queen Elizabeth in 1604. But notwithstanding this union of the crowns, the two kingdoms had distinct and independent legislatures till 1706, when, under the auspices of queen Anne, a legislative union of England and Scotland was completed. In many respects, however, the institutions of the two countries still continue peculiar. The common-law9 and the judicial establishments of England differ much from those of Scotland; the prevailing religion and the church-establishment of the former are also materially different from those of the latter; and the manners and customs of the two countries, though gradually assimilating," still preserve many distinguishing features.

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