had involved himself in difficulties, before the fire happened; and his estate lying in houses, that event entirely ruined him. Amidst the cries of misery and want, which excited Joseph's compassion, this man's unfortunate situation claimed particular notice. The generous, the open temper of the sufferer, the obligations that Joseph owed to his family, were special and powerful motives for acting towards him the part of a friend.

Joseph had his bond for sixty pounds sterling. "Unfortunate man!" said he, "this debt shall never come against thee. I sincerely wish thou couldst settle all thy other affairs as easily! But how am I sure that I shall keep in this mind? May not the love of gain, especially when, by length of time, thy misfortune shall become familiar to me, return with too strong a current, and bear down my fellow-feeling before it? But for this I have a remedy. Never shalt thou apply for the assistance of any friend against my avarice." He arose, ordered a large account that the man had with him, to be drawn out: and, in a whim, that might have called up a smile on the face of charity, filled his pipe, sat down again, twisted the bond, and lighted his pipe with it. While the account was drawing out, he continued smoking, in a state of mind that a monarch might envy. When it was finished, he went in search

of his friend, with the discharged account, and the mutilated bond, in his hand. On meeting him, he presented the papers to him with this address: "Sir, I am sensibly affected with your misfortunes; the obligations I have received from your family, give me a relation to every branch of it. I know that your inability to pay what you owe, gives you more uneasiness than the loss of your own substance. That you may not be anxious on my account in particular, accept of this discharge, and the remains of your bond. I am overpaid in the satisfaction that I feel, from having done my duty. I beg you to consider this, only as a token of the happiness you will confer upon me, whenever it in my power to do

you put it in

you a good office."

RAMSAY.

SECTION XII.

The Indian chief.

DURING the war in America, a company of Indians attacked a small body of British troops, and defeated them. As the Indians had greatly the advantage in swiftness of foot, and were eager in the pursuit, very few of the British escaped and those who fell into their hands, were treated with a cruelty, of which there are not many examples, even in that country.

Two of the Indians came up to a young officer, and attacked him with great fury. As they were

armed with battle-axes, he had no hopes of escape. But, just at this crisis, another Indian came up, who was advanced in years, and was armed with a bow and arrows. The old man instantly drew his bow; but, after having taken his aim at the officer, he suddenly dropped the point of his arrow, and interposed between him and his pursuers, who were about to cut him in pieces. They retired with respect. The old man then took the officer by the hand; soothed him into confidence by caresses; and, having conducted him to his hut, treated him with a kindness which did honour to his professions.

He made him less a slave than a companion; taught him the language of the country; and instructed him in the rude arts that are practised by the inhabitants. They lived together in the most perfect harmony; and the young officer, in the treatment he met with, found nothing to regret, but that sometimes the old man fixed his eyes upon him, and, having regarded him for some minutes with a steady and silent attention, burst into tears.

In the mean time, the spring returned, and the Indians again took the field. The old man, who was still vigorous, and able to bear the fatigues of war, set out with them, and was accompanied by his prisoner. They marched above two hundred leagues across the forest, and came at length to a

plain, where the British forces were encamped. The old man showed his prisoner the tents at a distance: "There," said he, "are thy countrymen. There is the enemy who waits to give us battle. Remember that I have saved thy life, that I have taught thee to conduct a canoe, to arm thyself with a bow and arrows, and to surprise the beaver in the forest. What wast thou when I first took thee to my hut? Thy hands were those of an infant. They could neither procure thee sustenance nor safety. Thy soul was in utter darkness. Thou wast ignorant of every thing. Thou owest all things to me. Wilt thou, then, go over to thy nation, and take up the hatchet against us ?"—The officer replied, "That he would rather lose his own life, than take away that of his deliverer." The Indian, bending down his head, and covering his face with both his hands, stood some time silent. Then, looking earnestly at his prisoner, he said, in a voice that was at once softened by tenderness and grief: "Hast thou a father?" My father," said the young man, 66 was alive when I left my country."-" Alas!" said the Indian, "how wretched must he be !" He paused a moment, and then added: "Dost thou know that I have been a father?-I am a father no more. I saw my son fall in battle.-He fought at my side. I saw him expire. He was covered

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with wounds, when he fell dead at my feet."

He pronounced these words with the utmost vehemence. His body shook with a universal tremour. He was almost stifled with sighs, which he would not suffer to escape him. There was a keen restlessness in his eye; but no tears flowed to his relief. At length, he became calm by degrees; and, turning towards the east, where the sun had just risen; "Dost thou see," said he to the young officer, "the beauty of that sky, which sparkles with prevailing day? and hast thou pleasure in the sight ?"—"Yes," replied the young officer, "I have pleasure in the beauty of so fine a sky.”—“ I have none!" said the Indian, and his tears then found their way.

A few minutes after, he showed the young man a magnolia, in full bloom. "Dost thou see that beautiful tree ?" said he, "and dost thou look upon it with pleasure ?"-"Yes," replied the officer, "I look with pleasure upon that beautiful tree.""I have no longer any pleasure in looking upon it!" said the Indian hastily and immediately added; "Go, return to thy father, that he may still have pleasure, when he sees the sun rise in the morning, and the trees blossom in the spring!"

SECTION XHI

Noble behaviour of Scipio

SCIPIO the younger, at twenty-four years of age, was appointed by the Roman republic to the com