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which, on being informed of the rank of his visitors, he would have left, but was prevented by Albert; who entreated him to waste no time in superfluous ceremony, but to hasten to do justice to the innocent. He then turned to the miserable object who was stretched upon a litter, groaning under the pain of the fractured limb, and trembling with apprehension of still further tortures. Seizing his hard black hand, he kindly bid him be of good cheer, for that he should be taken care of for life.

While Albert was thus speaking comfort to the unfortunate miner, his tutor, anxious to exhibit his learning and talents, began to make in Latin a long speech to the baron. After a flourishing exordium, he came at length to state the facts, but gave such a colouring to the narration, as to make the lifting of the hasp appear

purely

purely accidental; asserting it to have been done by a jostle of his elbow. Albert interrupted him.

"I lifted the hasp," said he, " with"out thinking of the consequences. "But I was at some trouble to lift it, so were we all. It did not fly up by accident; it could not."

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"It could not, indeed," exclaimed the baron. "Noble and ingenuous

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youth, I respect your veracity. "You begin life in the career of ho"nour and of glory. Happy the father "of such a son!"

The baron then broke up the court, released the prisoners, and, having in the handsomest manner refused all compensation for the damage, gave Albert and his party a cordial invitation to spend the day with him, affording a notable proof that there is no mind so callous as not to be impressed by a generous and noble action.

Anxious

Anxious as he was to set out on his journey homeward, Albert did not omit to visit the poor lame miner, before his departure; and though he could not at once unite the fractured bone, he lulled its pain by pouring an exhilarating cordial on the heart.

Mr. Milner heard with delight all the particulars of this transaction, and was greatly pleased to observe that Frederic spoke with admiration of the conduct of his friend. Snakeroot took notice of it likewise, and was more loud than either in praise of Albert, "who, were it not," he said, "for a little vanity, would be an ex"cellent young man. As to his being "so willing to delay his journey, he "owned he would have considered it "in a different light but for the hint "which his father's letter contained "of adding to his sisters' fortunes. "Albert was too prudent to like to

"bind himself by such promises. С

yes, Albert was very prudent! He "would not hurry himself. Yet after 66 all, he was an excellent young

man!"

It is thus that the very praises of the malicious are converted into poisoned daggers, which give more dangerous wounds than the swords of avowed enemies. With this remark I should conclude the present letter, but that I think it may be of importance to your future peace to have it imprinted on your mind, that to detract from the merit of a noble action, by base insinuations with regard to the motive, is the surest sign of a depraved and corrupt heart. You may with greater safety take a viper to your bosom, than such a person to confidence.

Far, far be all the venomous tribe removed from those I love!

LETTER XII.

My dear Lady Elizabeth,

FLATTERING as it may be to me to imagine that you feel some desire to know a little of the subsequent history of the two young gentlemen whose opposite characters I have endeavoured to display, I must not at present permit myself the pleasure of gratifying your curiosity.

In my earnest desire to impress you with a thorough conviction of the importance of those first principles of religion and morality which form the

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