plight, came up, and poured forth all that lamentable cant of alleged destitution which it is their vocation to impress upon the tinder-hearted, and which seldom fails to draw forth sparks of compassion. My husband, however, assured the applicant that he had not even a farthing to offer him. It was in vain; the wretched almost naked creature importuned him. At last he was told by him he supplicated, with some impatience at the tiresome and senseless perseverance after this explanation, that so far from being able to bestow alms, he was himself at that moment in a situation to require assistance; actually, cold and damp as it was, (November,) compelled to remain at the water's edge till some friend came up who would frank him across the ferry. The man's quick, bright eye surveyed the speaker with some doubt for a second; but upon a reiteration of Mr. Matthew's assurance that he was detained against his will for want of a shilling, adding, that he was lame and unable to walk home from the other side of the ferry, or otherwise he might leave his horse behind as security-the beggar's face brightened up, and he exclaimed, 'Then, your honor, I'll lend you the money!' What, you! you who have been telling me of your poverty and misery for want of money!' 'It's all true,' eagerly interrupted the man; 'it's all true; I'm

6

as poor as I said I was-there's no lie in it. I'm begging my way back to my country, where I've friends; and there's a vessel ready, I'm tould, that sails from Swansea to-night. I've got some money, but I want more to pay my passage before I go, and I'm starving myself for that raison; but is it for me to see another worse off than myself, and deny him relafe? Your honor's lame; now I've got my legs any how, and that's a comfort sure!' Then taking a dirty rag out of his pocket, and showing about two shillings' worth of coppers, he counted out twelve pence, and proffered them to Mr. Matthews, who, willing to put the man's sincerity of intention to the proof, held out his hand for the money, at the same time inquiring, 'How, if I borrow this, shall I be able to return it? My house is several miles on the other side of the ferry, and you say you are in haste to proceed. I shall not be able to send a messenger back here for several hours, and you will then have sailed.' 'Oh, thin, may be, when your honor meets another of my poor distrist countrymen, you'll pay him the twelve pence; sure it's the same in the end.' Mr. Matthews was affected at the poor fellow's evident sincerity; but desirous to put the matter to the fullest test, he thanked his ragged benefactor, and wished him a safe journey back to his country.

"The man took his leave with Long life to your honor,' trudged off, and was soon out of sight. Matthews waited until his friends arrived, then rode after and repaid the borrowed money with interest; but it was only on producing good evidence of his prosperous condition, that the poor fellow could be prevailed on to take it."*

*

The existence of the love of kindness in the soul, is nobly exhibited in an Arab tale, the substance of which I obtained from De Lamartine's translation of a Residence among the Arabs of the Great Desert. In the tribe of Nedgde, there was a mare of great reputation for beauty and swiftness, which a member of another tribe, named Daher, vehemently desired to possess. Having failed to obtain her by offering all he was worth, he proceeded to effect his object by stratagem. He disguised himself like a lame beggar, and waited by the side of a road, knowing that Nabee, the owner of the mare, would soon pass. As soon as Nabee appeared, Daher cried in a feeble voice, "I am a poor stranger; for three days I have been unable to stir from this to get food: help me, and God will reward you." Nabee offered to carry him home; but Daher said, "I am not able to rise; I have not strength." Nabee then generously dismounted,

*New York Albion, p. 45, for 1839.

brought his mare near, and helped the beggar to mount her. The moment he was mounted, Daher touched her with his heel and started, saying, "It is I, Daher, who have got her, and am carrying her off." Nabee called upon him to stop, which Daher did. Nabee then said, "Thou hast my mare; since it pleases God, I wish thee success; but I conjure thee, tell no one how thou hast obtained her." " "Why not?" said Daher. “Because some one really ill might remain without aid: you would be the cause why no one would perform an act of charity more, from the fear of being duped as I have been." discriminating kindness subdued Daher-he immediately dismounted and returned the mare to Nabee, and when they parted, they parted sworn friends. This tale shows forth the power of kindness in a beautiful manner-and the delight with which the Arabs heard it told, proves that they can appreciate true generosity.

These facts prove the existence of good in man, and that it never is fully destroyed in the soul; and the great Master of life, who knows all hearts, when he directed the Messiah to say, "love your enemies," knew the existence of that good-that it was a diamond hidden beneath revengeful feelings; a spring beneath the surface of the earth; and that it only wanted the burnisher of truth to make the diamond shine,

and the power of divine Benevolence to cause the spring-water of love to gush in its fulness from the heart. The Lord of all wisdom would not have placed the principle of overcoming evil with good, on the foremost page of Christianity, if that principle was not calculated to result in the thorough destruction of any moral evil it may be brought to oppose. In fact, let a signal act of revenge, a cold, unfeeling instance of retaliation, be known in our communities, and it excites horror, and even the deepest tones of indignation. On the contrary, let a broad act of benevolence, a noble and dignified instance of the forgiveness of enemies be exhibited, and it is at once admired and commended in the warmest terms So true it is, that the human heart dislikes the principle, "hate your enemies," and approves the practice of the law, "love your enemies." Do not our souls fill with disapprobation, when we discover an individual raging in all the turbulence of anger, simply to gratify his revenge? And when we behold an individual, so far subduing his passions as to assist a starving foe, do not our minds swell with admiration, and do we not realize with double force the power of the precept, "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head ?"