ALPHONSO, KING OF SICILY AND NAPLES.

25

and envious mind, as to be constantly railing, without provocation, at persons in an exalted station.

A servant engages to do the work of a master or mistress, for a certain time, at a certain rate of wages; and it is the duty of the servant to do that work, and to behave respectfully to the master or mistress. On the other hand, the master or mistress ought to treat the servant with civility and kindness. When a servant is thus treated, he is almost sure to do his work more willingly and well than if his master behave in a rude and overbearing manner. Servants, under such circumstances, usually become much attached to their masters and mistresses, and at length perform their duties rather through love than for the sake of wages. In some instances they have risked their lives in behalf of kind masters and mistresses.

In most civilised countries, servants are only bound to their masters for a year, or some shorter period; and when that period is expired, they are as free as the master. But in some countrics there are servants of a kind called slaves, generally negroes from Africa, or whose parents were of that country. These are considered as the property of their masters, just as animals are with us. They can be sold from one master to another. Their children, if they have any, also become slaves. They are obliged to do whatever their master orders them to do, as long as they live, or until they can by some means earn as much money as to purchase their freedom. It must be clear to all right-thinking persons, that no one has a title to keep another as a slave; but if any one docs, in defiance of natural justice, keep slaves, he ought at least to soften their hard lot by every kindness in his power. Even a slave may become attached and faithful to a generous master.

ALPHONSO, KING OF SICILY AND NAPLES.

Alphonso, king of Sicily and Naples, was remarkable for kindness and condescension to his subjects.

In the course of his military operations in Sicily, he was obliged to halt with his army on the banks of a river, which an enemy prevented him from crossing. Here the army

was detained a whole day without provisions. Towards evening, a soldier brought him a piece of bread and cheese and a radish, which to most persons so situated would have been a welcome present. But Alphonso, thanking the soldier, refused his offer, saying he could not feast while so many men as good and brave as himself were fasting.

At another time Alphonso, in travelling privately through Campania, came up to a muleteer, whose beast had stuck in the mud, nor was he able with all his strength to draw it out. The poor man had sought assistance from every one that passed, but in vain. He now sought assistance from the king, not knowing who he was. Alphonso instantly dismounted from his horse, and setting himself to help the man, soon freed the mule, and brought it upon safe ground. The muleteer, learning that it was the king who had assisted him, fell on his knees and asked his pardon; but Alphonso assured him that he had committed no offence. This goodness of the king was the means of reconciling many who had formerly opposed him.

UNDUE RESERVE OF A MASTER REBUKED.

When Mr Anson the traveller arrived at home from the East, the servant who had accompanied him came to ask his dismissal. On the reason being demanded, he said he had nothing to complain of, but that, through all their common toils and dangers, his master had never addressed a word to him but in the way of command.

MARY CARRYL.

Lady Emily Butler and Miss Ponsonby, two Irish ladies of rank, lived in a cottage in Wales, attended by one servant named Mary Carryl, who had accompanied them from their native country. Mary was faithful and affectionate to her two mistresses, and spent her whole life, from a girl, in their service. They were much attached to Mary, whom they regarded rather as a friend than as a servant. When all three became old, the two ladies caused a tombstone with three sides to be raised in Llangollen churchyard; each side being intended, in proper time, to receive an inscription. Mary dying first, was buried at this spot, and

GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION OF A SERVANT.

27

her mistresses testified their regard for her in an epitaph which they caused to be put upon one side of the stone. They themselves also dying in the course of a few years, were buried close beside Mary Carryl, and their epitaphs were inscribed on the remaining sides of the stone. Thus were three persons different in rank, but united by kindly service and mutual respect, laid together at last in the grave on a footing of perfect equality.

King George III. had a female servant who had lived so long in his family, and served him so faithfully, that at her death he caused a monument to be erected over her grave near St George's Chapel in Windsor, with an affectionate inscription to her memory.

PLANCUS AND HIS SLAVES.

When Octavius, Lepidus, and Antonius, attained supreme power at Rome, Plancus, who had once been consul, was obliged to fly for his life. His slaves were seized and put to the torture, but refused to discover him. New torments being prepared, Plancus could no longer think of saving himself at the expense of such faithful servants: he came from his hiding-place, and offered to submit to the swords of those sent to take his life. An example so noble, of mutual affection between a master and his slaves, procured a pardon for Plancus, and made all the world say that Plancus only was worthy of so good servants, and they only were worthy of so good a master.

GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION OF A SERVANT.

In the winter of the year 1776, the Count and Countess Podotsky being on their way from Vienna to Cracow, the wolves, which are very numerous in the Carpathian mountains, and, when the cold is very severe, are more bold and savage than usual, came down in hordes, and pursued the carriage between the towns of Oswcik and Zator, the latter of which is only a few leagues from Cracow. Of two ser

vants, one was sent before to bespeak post-horses; the other, whom the count particularly esteemed for his fidelity, seeing the wolves come near and nearer, begged his master to permit him to leave them his horse, by which their rage would

in some measure be satisfied, and they should gain time to reach Zator. The count consented: the servant mounted behind the carriage, and let the horse go, which was seized by the wolves, and torn into a thousand pieces. Meantime the travellers proceeded with all the speed they could, in hopes to reach the town, from which they were not very distant. But the horses were tired, and the wolves, bccoming more savage now that they had tasted blood, had almost overtaken the carriage. In this extreme necessity the servant cried out, "There is only one means of deliverance; I will go and meet the wolves, if you will swear to provide as a father for my wife and children. I must perish; but while they fall upon me, you will escape." Podotsky hesitated to comply; but as there was no prospect of escape for any of the party, he consented, and solemnly vowed that if the man would sacrifice himself for their safety, he would constantly provide for his family. The servant immediately got down, went to meet the wolves, and was devoured! The count reached the gates of Zator, and was saved. He conscientiously kept his word.

The rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.-Proverbs, xxii. 2.

Ile that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor.-Proverbs,

xiv. 31.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not` purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.— Paul's Epistle to Titus, ii. 9, 10.

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.-Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, vi. 9.

and

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt

give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.-Deuteronomy, xxiv. 14, 15.

INDUSTRY.

THE Almighty Creator has made the carth productive of many things necessary for our subsistence and comfort, but scarcely any of these things are to be had in sufficient quantities, or are in a state fit for use, without human labour. Grain must be sown and reaped; metals must be dug from the ground, and fabricated into utensils; flax, wool, and cotton, must be spun and woven. From these and the like operations, arises the wealth both of individuals and of nations. That any one, therefore, may be entitled to have food, or clothing, or any useful thing he desires, he must bear his share in the labours of society, unless he be so weak in body or mind as to be unfit for work, or already have so much wealth, of his own or another's getting, as to require

no more.

When a people do not work, but live only on fruits or wild animals, they are said to be in a savage condition. Such are the American Indians, the Caffres, and the original people of Australia. Their style of living is very miserable; they have no comfortable food or clothing; and, having no store against times of scarcity, they often perish in great numbers from hunger. A savage country rarely supports more than one person for every square mile.

When a people are industrious, they live in a much better style. As they rear and tend cattle and sheep, sow and reap corn, build dwellings for themselves, and bring home the productions of other countries in ships, they enjoy many comforts which the savage never tastes. Generally, a people are well or ill off exactly in proportion to their industry. The Germans, Swiss, French, Dutch, and British, are the most industrious of all nations; hence their general condition is the best. In their countries, there are from one to three hundred persons for every square mile. We thus