that which must now fill thy heart, on hearing the prayers of this grateful virgin, for thy health and prosperity!"

Such was Scipio; a soldier, a youth, a heathen! nor was his virtue unrewarded. Allucius, charmed with such magnanimity, liberality, and politeness, returned to his own country, and published, on all occasions, the praises of his generous and humane victor; crying out, "that there was come into Spain a young hero, who conquered all things less by the force of his arms, than by the charms of his virtue, and the greatness of his beneficence.

LESSON TWENTY-FIRST.
The Happy Choice.

Beset with snares on every hand,
In life's uncertain path I stand:
Father Divine! diffuse thy light,
To guide my doubtful footsteps right.

Engage this frail and wav'ring heart,
Wisely to choose the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day,

For joys that never fade away.

Then let the wildest storms arise;

Let tempests mingle earth and skies:
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear,
But all my treasures with me bear.

If thou, my Father! still art nigh,
Cheerful I live, and peaceful die;
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee.

LESSON TWENTY-SECOND.

Socrates and Lamprocles.

Lamprocles, the eldest son of Socrates, fell into a violent passion with his mother. Socrates was witness to his shameful behavior, and attempted the correction of it in the following gentle and rational manner. "Come hither, son," said he, "have you never heard of men who are called ungrateful?” "Yes, frequently," answered the youth.

"And what is ingratitude?" demanded Socrates. "It is to receive a kindness," said Lamprocles, “without making a proper return, when there is a favorable opportunity. Ingratitude is therefore a species of injustice," said Socrates. "I should think so," answered Lamprocles.

"If then," pursued Socrates, "ingratitude be injustice, doth it not follow, that the degree of it must be proportionate to the magnitude of the favors which have been received?" Lamprocles admitted the inference; and Socrates thus pursued his interrogation.

"Can there subsist higher obligations than those which children owe to their parents; from whom life is derived and supported, and by whose good offices it is rendered honorable, useful, and happy?" "I acknowledge the truth of what you say," replied Lamprocles; "but who could suffer, without resentment, the ill humors of such a mother as I have?"

"What strange thing has she done to you?" said Socrates. "She has a tongue," replied Lamprocles, "that no mortal can bear." 66 How much more, said Socrates, "has she endured from your wrangling, fretfulness, and incessant cries, in the period of infancy! What anxieties has she suffered from the levities, capriciousness, and follies of your childhood and youth! What affliction has she felt, what toil and watching has she sustained in your illness!

"These and various other powerful motives to filial duty and gratitude, have been recognised by the legislators of our republic. For, if any one be disrespectful to his parents, he is not permitted to enjoy any post or trust of honor. It is believed, that a sacrifice offered by an impious hand, can neither be acceptable to Heaven, nor profitable to the state; and that an undutiful son cannot be capable of performing any great action, or executing justice with impartiality. "Therefore, my son, if you are wise, you will pray to Heaven to pardon the offences committed against your mother. Let no one discover the contempt with which you have treated her, for the world will condemn and abandon you for such behavior. And if it even be suspected, that you repay with ingratitude the good offices of your parents, you will inevitably forego the kindnesses of others; because, no man will suppose, that you have a heart to requite either his favors or his friendship."

LESSON TWENTY-THIRD.
The Happy End.

When life's tempestuous storms are o'er,
How calm he meets the friendly shore,
Who lived averse to sin!

Such peace on virtue's path attends,
That, where the sinner's pleasure ends,
The good man's joys begin

See smiling patience smooth his brow!
See the kind angels waiting now,
To lift his soul on high!
While eager for the blest abode,
He joins with them to praise the God,
Who taught him how to die.

No sorrow drowns his lifted eyes,
Nor horror wrests the struggling sighs,
As from the sinner's breast;

His God, the God of peace and love,
Pours sweetest comforts from above,
And soothes his heart to rest!

LESSON TWENTY-FOURTH.

Cincinnatus.

When Herodotus, taking advantage of the domestic troubles at Rome, possessed himself of the capital, the Consul Valerius Publicola repulsed him, but fell at the head of his troops. Another consul was now to be elected, and, after much deliberation, the choice fell on Cincinnatus; in consequence of which, the senate sent deputies to him, to invite him to come and take possession of the magistracy. He was then at work in his field, and, being his own ploughman, he was dressed in a manner suitable to that profession. When he saw the deputies coming towards him, he stopped his oxen, very much surprised at seeing such a number of persons, and not knowing what they could want with him.

One of the company approached him, and requested him to put on a more suitable dress. He went into his hut, and having put on other clothes, he presented himself to those who were waiting for him without doors. They immediately saluted him Consul, and invested him with the purple robe; the lictors ranged themselves before him, ready to obey his orders, and begged him to follow them to Rome. Troubled at

this sight, he for some time shed tears, in silence. At last, recovering himself, he said only these words. "My field will not be sown this year!" and then repaired to Rome.

The conduct of Cincinnatus during his consulship, fully showed what patriotism and greatness of soul had inhabited a poor wretched cottage. By the vigor and prudence of his measures, he appeased the tumult, and reinstated judiciary proceedings, which had been interrupted during many years. So peaceful a government could not fail of applause; and the people, in consequence, expressed their entire satisfaction with it. But what charmed them was, that, upon the expiration of his term, he refused to be continued in office, with no less constancy than he had pain at first in accepting it. The senate, in particular, forgot nothing that might induce him to comply with being continued in the consulship; but all their entreaties and solicitations were to no purpose.

No sooner had this great man resigned his office, than domestic troubles again embroiled the state; and the Roman state were forced to declare, that the commonwealth required a dictator. Cincinnatus was immediately nominated to the office; and the deputies. sent to announce it to him, again found him at his plough. He, however, accepted the office, and a second time saved his country.

Cincinnatus afterwards received the honor of the most splendid triumph that ever adorned any general's success, for having, in the space of sixteen days, during which he had been invested with the dictatorship, saved the Roman camp from the most imminent danger, defeated and cut to pieces the army of the enemy, taken and plundered one of their finest cities, and left a garrison in it, and, lastly, gratefully repaid the Tusculans, who had sent an army to their assistance. -Such were a few of the advantages which this great patriot rendered his country.

Sensible of their obligations, and desirous to convince him of their regard and gratitude, the senate made him an offer of as much of the land he had taken from the enemy, as he should think proper to accept,