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There are also duties which we have to perform to large classes of men, or to the nation at large; and here we are as much called upon to be faithful to our trust. In electing a public servant or officer, those who exercise the right of choosing are called upon to consider nothing but the fitness of the candidate to perform his duties well. A magistrate, or any other ruler, must act solely for the public good. A judge must use every endeavour to do justice between man and man. Neither for fear nor favour should we allow ourselves to be prevented from executing these public duties faithfully.

If a friend asks us for our advice, we are equally bound to advise what we conscientiously think will be best for his interest. If he wishes to know our opinion of any one whom he intends to employ or trust, we must give our opinion truly. We must not, from good nature or fear of offending, recommend one of whom we do not think well. That would be to deceive our friend, and induce him to trust one who might deceive him still more. We should, in such a case, tell the whole truth, however painful it may be to do so.

THE BLIND BEGGAR AND THE DOG.

When a poor old blind man is obliged to live by begging, he sometimes employs a dog to lead him about. He holds the animal by a string, and trusts to its sense and fidelity for being led in the right path, and not into deep waters, or over precipices, where his life would be in danger. In the city of Rome there was once a blind beggar who was conducted by a dog. It was a dog of uncommon sagacity, and very kind, and also just in all its dealings with its master. The old man went twice a-week through certain streets, calling at particular houses, where he expected to receive alms. The dog knew all the proper streets through which his master was to be led, and also every door in those streets where it was likely that anything would be got. While the old man was knocking at the door, and asking for alms, the dog lay down to rest; but as soon as the alms had been either given or refused, the animal rose, and proceeded to

the next house where its master usually applied. When a halfpenny was thrown from a window, the beggar, being blind, could not seek for it; but the dog never failed to search it out: he always took up the coin in his mouth, and put it into the blind man's hat. Sometimes bread was thrown from windows, and here it might have been expected that the poor animal, being probably ill fed at home, would be inclined to take the morsel to himself. But however hungry he might be, he never tasted the least bit of food, unless it was given to him by his master.

Such conduct in a human being, springing from the right motives, would be highly commendable..

GENERAL WASHINGTON.

General Washington, president of the United States of America, had a friend who had fought with him in the war against Britain, and continued in peace to be his almost daily companion. This friend was a pleasant, sociable man, of unobtrusive manners, but possessed of no great qualifications for business. A lucrative office in the gift of the president chancing to fall vacant, many conceived that this gentleman would have no difficulty in obtaining it, thinking that Washington could never refuse such a favour to a man who had not only served the state well as a soldier, but was almost necessary to his own domestic happiness.

Another candidate for the office appeared. This was a political opponent of Washington, but a man of decided integrity, and great talents for business. Every one considered the application of the second person hopeless. No glittering testimonial of merit had he to present to the eye of Washington; he had done much to thwart the measures of the president, and he was opposed by one whom Washington regarded as his dearest friend. What was the result? The enemy of Washington was appointed to the office.

A mutual friend, who interested himself in the affair, ventured to remonstrate with the president on the injustice of the appointment. The reply of that great man was as follows:" My friend I receive with a cordial welcome; he is welcome to my house and welcome to my heart; but

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with all his good qualities, he is not a man of business. His opponent is, with all his political hostility to me, a man of business; my private feelings have nothing to do in this case. I am not George Washington, but President of the United States: as George Washington, I would do this man any kindness in my power; but as President of the United States, I can do nothing."

JUDGE GASCOIGNE.

The Prince of Wales, son of Henry IV., king of England, was not incapable of feeling what was right, but of hot temper, and attached to the company of profligate men. One of his companions being indicted for an offence before Sir William Gascoigne, was condemned, notwithstanding the interest which the prince made in his favour. The prince was so much enraged at the condemnation of his friend, that he struck the judge as he sat on the bench. Though this was a very violent and wicked action, many men would have feared to complain of or punish it, from fear of the prince or of his father. But Sir William Gascoigne knew his duty, and resolved to execute it at all hazards. He instantly ordered the prince to be committed to prison.

The culprit, now sensible of his error, submitted to the order, for he had sufficient sense to know that in law there ought to be no favour on account of rank.

The conduct of the king, when informed of the circumstance, was not to be less admired. He exclaimed, "Happy am I in having a magistrate possessed of courage to execute the laws; and still more happy in having a son who will submit to such chastisement!'

THE CONSCIENTIOUS ELECTOR.

The royal burghs in Scotland are united in fours and fives for the election of their representatives in parliament, every four or five electing one representative. Formerly, the electors or voters in each burgh were the members of the town-councils, who were generally in each case about sixteen or eighteen in number. When the electing burghs

were four, and two were for one candidate, and two for another, the election was settled by a casting or double vote given by one of them; and this right of giving a double vote was enjoyed by each in its turn.

It chanced, in 1807, when a general election took place, that in a burgh which had the casting vote on that occasion, the members of the council were so equally divided between the two candidates, that the choice came to depend on the vote of one man, and he was only a poor blacksmith. The agents of one of the candidates went to this humble artisan to endeavour to secure his vote; but he frankly informed them that he had made up his mind in favour of the other candidate. They used every argument they could think of to induce him to alter his resolution, but in vain. They then held out hints, that if he would vote for their friend, he should be rewarded with a good post, besides having his children provided for; but still he remained firm to his purpose. He said his vote was a trust he enjoyed for the benefit of his fellow-citizens; he was bound to use it in the way his conscience told him to be best for their interest; it was not a thing to be disposed of for his own advantage, or to gratify any other single individual, and he therefore would not so dispose of it. The agents, still persisting, offered him a large sum of ready money in addition to their promises of future favour, but with the like ill success. They increased the sum from five hundred to a thousand pounds, and from a thousand to fifteen hundred; but all was in vain, although the smallest of these sums was much more than the poor man could hope ever to gather by honest industry in the whole course of his life. They then took their leave, and he next day voted for the opposite candidate, who had conscientiously abstained from offering him any bribe.

Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's.-Deuteronomy, i. 17. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse: nations shall abhor him.-Proverbs, χχίν. 24.

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It would be an unspeakable advantage, both to the public and private, if men would consider that great truth-that no man is wise or safe but he that is honest: all I have designed is peace to my country, and may England enjoy that blessing when I shall have no more proportion of it than what my ashes make!-SIR WALTER Raleigh.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS-AS TO DEBT.

WHEN any one accepts of any service, or purchases anything from another, without making immediate payment, the sum owing becomes a debt; and he who accepts the service or makes the purchase becomes a debtor; the other party being a creditor.

In business, the convenience of the partics makes it unavoidable that one party should often become the debtor of another. In the affairs of private life, people are also obliged sometimes to be debtors and creditors to each other. It is quite fair and proper that one person should give credit, and another contract debt, when it is for their mutual convenience to do so, and when there is little reason to fear that the debtor will be able to make payment at the proper time. But for any one to contract debt which he has little or no hope of ever discharging, is very wrong. One man thus makes use of another's means for his own benefit. He lives by the labours of another. It is, in fact, only a mean kind of robbery.

An honest man only contracts debt when it is necessary to do so, and when he is quite sure of being able to pay his creditor. He does not forget his debt. He remembers it carefully; and if unexpectedly he finds a difficulty in discharging it, he is distressed in mind on account of it, and never relaxes in his efforts until he has acquired the means of clearing it off to the last farthing.

THE MARGRAVE OF BAREITH.

George Lewis, Margrave of Bareith [sovereign of a small state in Germany], who lived nearly a hundred years ago,