oppressors. During three months, she every morning implored the most influential members of the committee of public safety, and finished by overcoming their refusals. She reconducted her father to Lyons, happy in having rescued him. She fell ill on the road, overcome by the excess of fatigue she had undergone, and, while she had preserved her beloved parent's life, she lost her own. THE BEST PRESENT. The three sons of an eastern lady were invited to furnish her with an expression of their love, before she went a long journey. One brought a marble tablet, with the inscription of her name; another presented her with a rich garland of fragrant flowers; the third entered her presence, and thus accosted her: "Mother, I have neither marble tablet nor fragrant nosegay, but I have a heart: here your name is engraved, here your memory is precious, and this heart full of affection will follow you wherever you travel, and remain with you wherever you repose." THE PRISONER AND HER DAUGHTER. Valerius Maximus relates, that a woman of distinction having been condemned to be strangled, was delivered to the triumvir, who caused her to be carried to prison in order to be put to death. The jailer who was ordered to execute her was struck with compunction, and could not resolve to kill her. He chose, however, to let her die with hunger; but meanwhile suffering her daughter to visit her in prison, taking care that she brought her nothing to eat. Many days passed over in this manner, when the jailer at length, surprised that the prisoner lived so long without food, took means of secretly observing their interviews. He then discovered that the affectionate daughter had all the while been nourishing her mother with her own milk. Amazed at so tender, and at the same time so ingenious an artifice, he related it to the triumvir, and the triumvir to the praetor, who thought the fact merited stating in the assembly of the people. This produced the happiest effects; the criminal was pardoned, and a decree passed that the mother and daughter should be maintained for the remainder of their lives, at the expense of the public; and that a temple, sacred to filial piety, should be erected near the prison. THE JUDGE OFFERING TO DIE WITH THE CRIMINAL. ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON'S AFFECTION. There are some children who are almost ashamed to own their parents, because they are poor, or in a low situation of life. We will, therefore, give an example of the contrary, as displayed by the Dean of Canterbury, afterwards Archbishop Tillotson. His father, who was a plain Yorkshireman, While Octavius was at Samos, after perhaps something like those we now the battle of Actium, which made him callFriends," approached the house master of the universe, he held a counwhere his son resided, and inquired cil to examine the prisoners who had whether "John Tillotson was at home." been engaged in Antony's party. Among The servant, indignant at what he thought his insolence, drove him from the door: but the Dean, who was within, hearing the voice of his father, instead of embracing the opportunity afforded him of going out and bringing in his father in a more private manner, came running out, exclaiming, in the presence of his astonished servants, "It is my beloved father; " and falling down on his knees, asked for his blessing. the rest, there was brought before him an old man, Metellus, oppressed with years and infirmities, disfigured with a long beard, a neglected head of hair, and tattered clothes. The son of this Metellus was one of the judges; but it was with great difficulty he knew his father in the deplorable condition in which he saw him. At last, however, having recollected his features, instead of being ashamed to own him, he ran to embrace him. Then turning towards the tribunal, he said, " Cæsar, my father has been your enemy, and I your officer; he deserves to be punished, and I to be rewarded. One favour I desire of you; it is, either to save him on my account, or order me to be put to death with him." All the judges were touched with compassion at this affecting scene; Octavius himself relented, and granted to old Metellus his life and liberty. FREDERICK AND HIS 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 part of a letter hanging out of his pocket. His curiosity prompting him to know what it was, he took it out and read it. It was a letter from this young man's mother, in which she thanked him for having sent her a part of his wages to relieve her misery; and finished with telling him, that God would reward him for his dutiful affection. The king, after reading it, went back softly into his chamber, took a bag full of ducats, and slipped it with the letter into the page's pocket. Returning to the chamber, he rang the bell so loudly, that it awakened the page, who instantly made his appearance. "You have had a sound sleep," said the king. The page was at a loss how to excuse himself; and putting his hand into his pocket by chance, to his utter astonishment, he there found a purse of ducats. He took it out, turned pale, and looking at the king, shed a torrent of tears without being able to utter a single word. "What is that," said the king. "What is the matter?" "Ah! sire," said the young man, throwing himself on his knees, "somebody seeks my ruin! I know nothing of this money which I have just found in my pocket!" 'My young friend,” replied Frederick, "God often does great things for us, even in our sleep. Send that to your 66 mother; salute her on my part, and assure her that I will take care of both her and you." THE SWEDISH PRISONER'S SON. A gentleman of Sweden was condemned to suffer death, as a punishment for certain offences committed by him in the discharge of an important public office, which he had filled for a number of years with an integrity that had never before undergone either suspicion or impeachment. His son, a youth about eighteen years of age, was no sooner apprised of the affecting situation to which his father was reduced, than he flew to the judge who had pronounced the fatal decree, and, throwing himself at his feet, prayed that he might be allowed to suffer in the room of a father whom he loved, and whose loss he thought it was impossible for him to survive. The magistrate was amazed at this extraordinary procedure in the son, and would hardly be persuaded that he was sincere in it. Being at length satisfied, however, that the young man actually wished to save his father's life at the expense of his own, he wrote an account of the whole affair to the king; and his majesty immediately sent orders to grant a free pardon to the father, and to confer a title of honour on his son. The last mark of royal favour, however, the youth begged leave with all humility to decline; and the motive for the refusal of it was not less noble than the conduct by which he had deserved it was generous and disinterested. "Of what avail," exclaimed he, “could the most exalted title be to me, humbled as my family already is in the dust? Alas! would it not serve but as a monument to perpetuate in the minds of my countrymen the remembrance of an unhappy father's shame!" majesty, the king of Sweden, actually shed tears when this magnanimous speech was reported to him; and, sending for the heroic youth to court, he appointed him to a confidential office. His FREDERICK AND HIS POMERANIAN SERVANT. Frederick the Great of Prussia, during his last illness, endured many restless nights, which he endeavoured to soothe by conversing with the servant who sat up with him. On one of these occasions, he inquired of a young Pomeranian from whence he came. "From a little village in Pomerania." "Are the providence of God has placed me; but, even if I were, I could not for an instant hesitate." "And why?" rejoined the king somewhat surprised. 66 66 99 'Because,' answered the girl, my mother is poor and colouring, sickly, and has no one but me to assist or comfort her under her many afflictions: and no earthly bribe could induce me to leave her, or to neglect the duties your parents living?" "An aged which affection requires from me." mother." "How does she maintain herself?" "Where is your mother?" asked the monarch. "By spinning." "How much does she gain daily by it?" "In that little cabin," replied the "Sixpence." "But she cannot live well on that?" "In Pomerania it is cheap living." "Did you never send her any thing?" "O yes, I have sent her, at different times, a few dollars." "That was bravely done; you are a good boy. You have a deal of trouble with me. Have patience: I shall endeavour to lay something by for you, if you behave well." The monarch kept his word; for, a few nights after, the Pomeranian, being again in attendance, received several pieces of gold; and heard to his great joy and surprise, that one hundred rix dollars had been settled on his mother during her life. GUSTAVUS AND THE PEASANT GIRL. Gustavus III., King of Sweden, passing one morning on horseback through a village in the neighbourhood of his capital, observed a young peasant girl, of interesting appearance, drawing water at a fountain by the wayside. He went up to her, and asked her for a draught. Without delay she lifted up her pitcher, and, with artless simplicity, put it to the lips of the monarch. Having satisfied his thirst, and courteously thanked his benefactress, he said, "My girl, if you would accompany me to Stockholm, I would endeavour to fix you in a more agreeable situation." “Ah! sir,” replied the girl, "I cannot accept your proposal. I am not anxious to rise above the state of life in which girl, pointing to beside her. a wretched hovel The king, whose feelings were interested in favour of his companion, went whose only covering was a little straw, in, and beheld stretched on a bedstead, an aged female, weighed down with Moved at the sight, the monarch years, and sinking under infirmities. addressed her," I am sorry, my poor woman, to find you in so destitute and afflicted a condition." "Alas! sir," answered the venerable sufferer, "I should be indeed to be pitied, had I not that kind and attentive girl, who labours to support me, and omits nothing she thinks can afford me relief. May a gracious God remember it to her for good," she added, wiping away a tear. Never, perhaps, was Gustavus more sensible than at that moment, of the pleasure of occupying an exalted station. The gratification arising from the consciousness of having it in his power to assist a suffering fellow-creature, almost overpowered him; and putting a purse into the hand of the young villager, he could only say, "Continue to take care of your mother; I shall soon enable you to do so more effectually. Good-by, my amiable girl, you may depend on the promise of your king." On his return to Stockholm, Gustavus settled a pension for life on the mother, with the reversion to her daughter at her death. THE INVALID AND HIS DAUGHTERS. her eyes. However, he said nothing to I and I believe he will bless you.” In the year 1773, Peter Burrell, Esq. of Beckenham, in Kent, whose health was rapidly declining, was advised by his physicians to go to Spa for the recovery of his health. His daughters feared that those who had only motives heart." His mother was struck with entirely mercenary, would not pay him that attention which he might expect George, God has promised to bless his decision, and she said to him, from those who, from duty and affection united, would feel the greatest pleasure in ministering to his ease and comfort; they, therefore, resolved to accompany him. They proved that it was not a spirit of dissipation and Timoleon, the Corinthian, was a gaiety that led them to Spa, for they noble pattern of fraternal love. Being were not to be seen in any of the gay in battle with the Argives, and seeing and fashionable circles; they were never out of their father's company, and never stirred from home, except to attend him, either to take the air or drink the waters; in a word, they lived a most recluse life in the midst of a town then the resort of the most illustrious and fashionable personages of Europe. TIMOLEON AND HIS WOUNDED his brother fall by the wounds he had dead body, and with his shield proreceived, he instantly leaped over his tected it from insult and plunder; and though severely wounded in the generous enterprise, he would not on any account retreat to a place of safety, till he had seen the corpse carried off the field by his friends. This exemplary attention to their father procured these three amiable sisters the admiration of all the English A MOTHER'S SACRIFICE. at Spa, and was the cause of their elevation to that rank in life, to which labourer at Huntspill, in the northern Joanna Martin, the wife of a daytheir merits gave them so just a title. They all were married to noblemen: part of Somersetshire, was left a widow with six young children, and not a one to the Earl of Beverly; another to the Duke of Hamilton, and afterwards shilling in the world to feed them with. to the Marquis of Exeter; and a third receive the children into the poor-house; The parish officers had no objection to to the Duke of Northumberland. And but the good mother would not part it is justice to them to say, that they with thein, determining to depend, reflected honour on their rank, rather under Providence, on her activity for than derived any from it. WASHINGTON'S REGARD FOR HIS MOTHER. General George Washington, when quite young, was about to go to sea as a midshipman; every thing was arranged, the vessel lay opposite his father's house, the little boat had come on shore to take him off, and his whole heart was bent on going. After his trunk had been carried down to the boat, he went to bid his mother farewell, and saw the tears bursting from their support. "For many a long month," said she, "have I risen daily at two o'clock in the morning, done what was needful for the children, gone eight or ten miles on foot to a market, with a large load of pottery-ware on my head, sold it, and returned with the profits before noon. By this hard labour, in the course of a year, she saved a guinea and a-half; when, being under the necessity of leaving her cottage, she determined to erect one for herself. She did much of the labour with her own hands; and She afterwards bought a cart and pony, travelled still to market, brought up her family, and, without either begging or seeking relief from the parish, obtained a living. To what labour and privation will parental affection animate the heart! How much may be done by a person under the influence of industry, temperance, and piety! told some gentlemen, some years after- treacherous element, and with it bendwards, “Well, with the assistance of a ing and breaking beneath her, (specgracious God, I was able to finish my tators on either side expecting to see cottage; which, though I say it myself, her and her child sink at every is a very tight little place.' moment,) she boldly pushed on from cake to cake, until she landed safely on the Ohio shore. Five minutes sooner and she must have perished - two minutes later and she would have met with a watery grave, for before she had proceeded twenty steps, the ice behind her, close on the Kentucky side, had broken and was scattered ere she reached the mid river. "Thank God you and your child are safe," exclaimed the hard-hearted master, as he saw her |land, rejoiced that he had escaped the responsibility of their death. Brave woman," said a Kentuckian who had witnessed her escape and met her at freedom and shall have it." the landing, 66 you have won your mother and the child were kept together, and liberty and love is now their lot in their humble but happy home. Was there not true heroism here, and is not the scene worthy the sweetest THESE ARE MY JEWELS. The A Campanian lady, who was very rich, and fond of pomp and show, being on a visit to Cornelia, the illustrious mother of the Gracchi, displayed the diamonds and jewels she possessed, with some ostentation, and then requested Cornelia to permit her to see her jewels. This eminent woman dexterously contrived to turn the conversation to another subject, till her sons returned from one of the public schools; when song of poetry, or the holiest praise of she introduced them, saying, are my jewels." "These THE SLAVE MOTHER CROSSING THE OHIO. man? THE WARRIOR PLAYING WITH HIS The warlike Agesilaus was, within the walls of his own house, one of the We remember, says a writer in the He True American, the story of a cruel used to join with his children in all most tender and playful of men. master, who, without cause, had determined to sever a slave mother and her discovered by a friend showing them their innocent gambols, and was once only child. She had been faithful under how to ride upon a hobby-horse. When the very worst usage, and she determined to remain so, until he told her, holding the great Agesilaus so employed, his friend expressed some surprise at bethat on the morrow, her child must be borne to New Orleans to be sold there"Wait," said the hero, "till you are in the slave mart. It was mid-winter. yourself a father, and if you then blame The earth was frosted with a hard me, I give you liberty to proclaim this crust, yet at midnight she started for act of mine to all the world." the Ohio, determined, if she could, to SOCRATES' REPLY TO ALCIBIADES. live and die with her child. She reached its banks as the pursuers rose on the Socrates was once surprised by Alcihill beyond: no boat was near-masses biades, playing with his children. The of broken ice were sluggishly drifting gay patrician rather scoffed at him for along—what was she to do? Trusting joining in such sports; to which the to heaven, she put her feet on the philosopher replied, "You have not |