and for the advice given by his countryman. The Frenchman alleged that, though gunpowder grew in France, the Missouri ground was not fit for producing it, so that no harvest would ever be reaped from it in that country. But all his reasoning was useless. He returned much lighter than he went, and not a little ashamed of having been corrected in a point of moral duty by a nation of savages.

The effects of the Frenchman's dishonesty did not stop here. The Indians would never again deal with any one of that nation, so that their commerce was entirely lost to France. Such results often arise from unfair dealing. The making of a particular kind of lace in a certain district of England, was some years ago brought to an end, because the article was easily, and therefore very frequently, made of good appearance, but in reality worthless. People being often deceived in it, at length entirely gave up wearing it. It was stated a few years ago in the House of Commons, that Ireland could produce as much flax as was needed in the whole of Britain; but, nevertheless, much flax was imported from abroad, and a higher price given for it than for Irish flax. The reason was, that Irish flax was often found to be made up wet, or with mud in the inside of the parcels, to make it weigh more heavily; the effect of damp being to heat and injure the material. When a few persons connected with a trade act thus dishonestly, buyers find it necessary to inspect every thing before purchasing it. The inspection costs time and trouble, which are the same as money in business. A trader, therefore, cannot give so much for goods which he suspects, as for those which he is sure will be sound and good; and if he can have a choice amongst dealers, he will prefer doing business with the honest. In some cases it has been found, as in that of the lace manufacture, that the risk of being cheated is so great that the trade is altogether given up. Thus we can easily see how important it is that all dealing should be fair.

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small; but thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have, that thy days

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may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.-Deuteronomy, xxv. 13, 15.

A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight.-Proverbs, xi. 1.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.-Proverbs, xx. 11.

An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.-Proverbs, xx. 21.

Look out of your door-take notice of that man; see what disquieting, intriguing, and shifting; he is content to go through, merely to be thought a man of plain dealing: three grains of honesty would save him all this trouble.STERNE.

A right mind and generous affection hath more beauty and charms than all other symmetries in the world besides : and a grain of honesty and native worth is of more value than all the adventitious ornaments, estates, and preferments, for the sake of which some of the better sort so often turn knaves-forsaking their principles, and quitting their honour and freedom for a mean, timorous, shifting state of gaudy servitude.-SHAFTESBURY.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS-IN ADHERING
TO A PROMISE.

Ir almost always happens, that, when any one makes a promise, some other person or persons are concerned in his keeping his word. These other persons, expecting him to do as he said, usually arrange their own proceedings accordingly. They are, therefore, disappointed, and their affairs may be seriously deranged, if he does not exactly do as he gave them reason to expect. In youth we ought scrupulously to fulfil every engagement we may have made, that is not in itself wicked, even though it may appear disadvantageous to ourselves; for if we allow ourselves to

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regard lightly any promise, however trifling, at that period of life, we shall be apt to break more important engagements afterwards, and thus incur the indignation and contempt of all who know us.

THE MOOR AND THE SPANIARD.

Many hundred years ago, when Spain was partly occupied by the Moors, or people of Morocco, a Spanish gentleman killed a young Moor in a sudden quarrel. He immediately fled; and seeing a garden, he threw himself over the wall, without being perceived by his pursuers. Seeing the owner, a Moor, in the garden, he asked to be concealed.

It was a custom of the Moors to protect any one who had ever eaten with them. The owner of the garden, to assure the Spaniard of his safety, gave him a peach to eat, and then locked him up in a summer-house, telling him that, as soon as it was dark, he would provide for his escape to a place of greater safety. The good Moor then went into his house, where he had just seated himself when a great crowd, with loud lamentations, came to his gate, bearing the body of his son, who had just been killed by a Spaniard. He soon discovered that the man who had taken his son's life was he whom he had just been assuring of protection. Nevertheless, he would not break his word. Saying nothing in the meantime to any one, he went in the evening to the garden-house, relieved the Spaniard, and mounted him on one of his swiftest horses. "Christian," said he, "the man you have killed is my son. You ought to suffer; but you have eaten with me, and I must keep my word. Fly far while the night covers you, and you will be safe before morning. Though you are guilty of my son's blood, I thank God I am innocent of yours, and that my plighted faith is preserved."

JOHN, KING OF FRANCE.

John, king of France, was taken prisoner in battle by Edward the Black Prince, and brought to England. After remaining there in captivity four years, he was allowed to return to his own country, that he might endeavour to

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prevail upon his subjects to agree to a peace proposed by the king of England. The proposals of the English king, which, among other things, stipulated for four millions of gold crowns as a ransom for the French monarch, were not favourably received in France, and the peace was not carried into effect.

When King John found that his people would not pay the money required for his liberty, he did not, as many would have done, resolve to stay in France. He determined immediately to return to England, and surrender his person once more into the hands of King Edward. Some of his councillors advised him against this step, but he was not affected by their councils. "If faith and loyalty," said he, were banished from the rest of the world, they ought still to remain enshrined in the hearts of kings."

He accordingly returned to England-became again a prisoner-and soon after died in London.

'Tis he, whose every thought and deed.
By rules of virtue moves;

Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak
The thing his heart disproves.

Who never did a slander forge,

His neighbour's fame to wound;

Nor hearken to a false report,
By malice whisper'd round.
Who vice, in all its pomp and power,
Can treat with just neglect;
And piety, though clothed in rags,
Religiously respect.

Who to his plighted vows and trust
Has ever firmly stood;

And though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good.

Whose soul in usury disdains
His treasure to employ ;
Whom no rewards can ever bribe
The guiltless to destroy.

The man who by this steady course

Has happiness insur'd,

When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand
By Providence secur'd.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS-IN THE AVOIDANCE OF WANTON MISCHIEF.

SOME persons, from a light or wanton disposition, do things which a little thought would show to be very mischievous. If they see a neat paling, they will not hesitate to break off a piece. If they see a sign newly painted, and within reach, they will spoil it with their fingers. If admitted into a gentleman's park, they will break or carve the trees and seats; if into a house where fine paintings or other curiosities are to be seen, they will not care although they dirty the floor and derange the furniture. In visiting a fine garden, they will not scruple, if not closely watched, to tread upon the delved grounds, and pluck the flowers and fruit. It is very mean, and very wicked, thus to injure what is the property of, and is daily giving pleasure to, others. It is also very common, when taking refreshment at inns, to pocket one part, and spoil another, of the provisions. Both such acts, however lightly any one may speak of them, are a kind of robbery, for the keeper of the inn only undertakes to furnish what is to satisfy the reasonable appetite of his guests for the time.

Whatever is spoilt, whether of our own or a neighbour's, the public is so much the poorer, because the thing that is spoilt might have given pleasure to some one. The world is not so full of enjoyments, as to allow of any being wantonly thrown away.