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Boston. On his journey, he stopped at one of the inns, the landlord of which possessed all the inquisitive curiosity of his countrymen. Franklin had scarcely sat down to supper, when his landlord began to torment him with questions. He, well knowing the disposition of these people, and aware that answering1o one question would only pave the way for twenty more," determined to stop the landlord at once, by 13 requesting to see his wife, children and servants. When they were summoned, Franklin solemnly said: "My good friends, I sent for you here to give you an account of myself: my name is Benjamin Franklin; I am a printer, nineteen years of age; reside at15 Philadelphia, and am now going to Boston. I sent for you all, that if you wished for any further particulars, you might ask, and I inform you: which done," I hope that you will permit18 me to eat my supper in19 peace."

17.

Dean Swift and his Servant.

As the late Dean Swift, attended' by a servant, was once on a journey, they put up at an inn where they lodged all night;3 in the morning3 the dean1 called for his boots; the servant immediately took them to him uncleaned. When the dean saw them, he said: "How is this, Tom?" "As you are going to ride, I thought they would soon be dirty again." "Very well," said the dean, "go and get the horses ready."

In the mean time, the dean ordered the landlord to let his man have no breakfast. When the servant returned, he asked if the horses were ready. "Yes sir," answered the servant. "Go, bring them out then," said the dean. "I have not had my breakfast yet, sir," replied Tom. "Oh no matter for that," 10 said the dean, "if you had, you would soon be hungry again." They mounted and rode off. As they rode, the dean pulled a book out of his pocket, and began to read.

A gentleman met them," and seeing the Doctor read ing," was not willing to disturb him, but passed by, till he met the servant. "Who is that gentleman?" said he to the man. "My master." "I know that, you blockhead," said the gentleman; "but where are you going?" "We are going to heaven, sir," replied Tom. "How do you know that?" asked the gentleman. "Because I am14 fasting, and my master is praying."

18. Honesty.

As1 Marshal Turenne was going along on the ramparts one night, he was assailed by a gang of robbers, who took everything from him except3 a valuable diamond, which they left him on his promise to give them the next day a hundred louis d'or. In the course of the day one of the robbers had the audacity to come to him in his residence, and, in the midst of a large company, to demand of him the fulfillment of his promise. Turenne had9 the money paid out to him, and gave him time to get1o off, before he related the adventure. Everybody seemed surprised at11 such procedure. "An honest man," said he, "should never forfeit his word, when he has given it even to scoundrels

19. Ignorance.

19

Korsakof, a favorite of the Empress Catherine, had a handsome face and an extremely elegant1 figure, but as for the rest was entirely without knowledge. As soon as he was called to3 the court, he conceived that a man like' him must of course have also a library. Accordingly he sent without delay to the most celebrated book-seller in St. Petersburg, and notified him that he wanted some books for his house, of which the empress had just made

him a present. books he would

The book-seller asked him what sort of have. "That you understand better than I," he answered, "that is indeed your business; but there" must be large books below and small ones12 above, as they are at13 the empress's."

20.

The Place by1 the Fire.

A traveler' arrived a very cold evening at an inn. All3 the places around the fire were occupied, and no one of the guests showed as if he would resign his place to him. The traveler therefore called the hostler, and ordered him to give his horse six dozen oysters. "Oysters!" said the hostler, "but surely a horse does not eat oysters." "Do what I tell you,” replied the traveler; "you will no doubt The hostler went to the stable to" give the horse the oysters, and all the guests now left their places to11 see the horse eat oysters. Meanwhile the traveler took possession of the best place by the fire. Presently the hostler came in again, and said the horse would not eat any oysters. "That's true,13 no doubt," 13 said the traveler; "then" bring me the oysters, and give the horse a peck3 of oats."

Bee.

"

21.

Arrogance Punished.

Immanuel Kant, the celebrated Königsberg' philosopher, was eating one day3 at the public table in an inn; a young nobleman of the neighborhood, who was-in-the-habit of making-his-appearance everywhere with great pretension, was sitting opposite him. The dishes were served, among them, too, one which especially enticed the appetite of the guests. The young nobleman seemed to think that upon such a delicacy only his palate had a claim; for he seized without more ado9 a pepper-box and shook1 it over the

dish, adding dryly: "I like this dish with pepper." All the rest13 of the guests were as11 much amazed as1 shocked at this presumption; but Kant, with the most perfect calmness, seized his snuff-box, shook it also over the dich, and said quite as dryly: "And I like it with snuff.”

22.

The Treasure-Diggers.

"Hear,' children!" said a sick man, who gained much by the cultivation of the vine; "in our vineyard lies a treasure; only dig for it." "In3 what spot?" thus all asked; "tell the place." "Dig, dig!" He died at this word.

Hardly was the old man carried to the tomb, when' there was digging day and night; with mattock, hoe and spade, the vineyard was scratched around and about." Not a clod was left undisturbed; the earth was even thrown through the sieve; rakes were dragged this1o way and that1o after every pebble. But no treasure11 was discovered, and every one considered himself deceived.

Yet scarcely did the next year appear, when it was perceived with surprise that every vine bore threefold. Not" till then12 did the sons learn wisdom; and now, year in, year out, they dug out more13 and more13 treasure.14

23.

The Emperor as1 Attorney.

An old soldier, who had long served under the Emperor Augustus, and especially had fought for him in the decisive battle of Actium, was involved in a lawsuit3 that threatened to be interminable. When he was to appear before the court-of-justice, he applied on the public street to the emperor, and begged him for assistance. Augustus called one of his retinue,' and transferred to him the cause of the defendant. But the old soldier was not content with this,

and cried with a loud voice: "O emperor, when thou ir the battle of Actium wast9 in danger, I sought out no substitute, but fought for thee in my own person." At the same time he bared his scarred breast to point to the wounds he had received for the emperor. The latter was touched at this. Not to appear ungrateful, he went with the defendant before the tribunal, defended him with warmth and zeal, and thereby helped him to his rights.10

24.

Cross Questions.

Frederick the Great paid so much' attention to his regiments of guards, that he knew personally every one of the soldiers. Whenever he saw a fresh one,3 he used to put the three following questions to him: "1st," How old are you? 2d, How long have you been in my service? 3d, Are you satisfied with your pay and treatment?" It happened that a young Frenchman, who did not understand three words of German, enlisted' into the Prussian service, and Frederick, on seeing him, put the usual questions. The soldier had learned the answers, but in the same order as the king generally interrogated.

Unfortunately, on10 this occasion Frederick began with the second question: "How long have you been in my service?" "Twenty-one years," replied the Frenchman. "What!" said the king, "how old are you then?" "One year," was the reply. "Upon my word," said Frederick, "you or I must be mad." "Both,” replied the soldier, according to what he had been taught. "Well," said the astonished monarch, "this is the first time that I was ever called a madman by one of my guards: what do you mean by it, sir?" The poor fellow, seeing the king enraged, told him, in13 French, that he did not understand a word of German. "Oh! is it so?" said Frederick; "well, learn it as soon as possible, and I have no doubt that you will make a very good soldier,"

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