Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 26

QUESTIONS.--1. Where is the town of Tangier? 2. What order had been given by the captain of the vessel? 3. Who seemed most to enjoy the sport? 4. What is said of the old gunner? 5. What did he do? 6. What effect did his shot produce? 7. Describe the closing scene.

LESSON XXIV.

DIS GUISE', concealment.

WAY' LAID, beset by the way.

THREAT' EN ED, declared the intention.

IN CLINE, dispose.

RUF' FIANS, robbers; murderers.

DIS TRIB'UTE, divide; apportion.

TREAS' UR Y, place for keeping money.

ALMS, gifts; donations.

MI' SER LY, covetous; n.i.g.g.ardly.

SAL' A RY, wages; allowance for services.

IN VOLV' ING, entangling.

BE WIL' DER ED, puzzled; perplexed.

LOG' IC, reasoning.

SAGE, wise man.

FUL FILL' ING, performing.

E VA' SION, departure from truth.

DE CEIT', deception; fraud.

THE TRUTHFUL KING.

1. A certain Persian king, while traveling in disguise, with but few attendants, was waylaid by robbers, who threatened to take not only his goods, but his life.

2. Feeling himself beyond the reach of human aid, he inwardly made a vow, that if G.o.d would incline the hearts of these ruffians to mercy, and restore him in safety to his family and people, he would distribute all the money then in his treasury, in alms to the needy of his realm.

3. The robbers, from some unknown cause, liberated him, and he soon reached home in safety, having sustained no injury, save the loss of the small purse of gold that he had carried in his girdle.

4. Desirous of keeping the vow he had made, he summoned his officers, and commanded them to make immediate distribution to the poor, of all that the treasury contained, at the time of his return.

5. But his officers, more miserly than himself, and, fearful that they might fall short in their salaries and pensions, began to urge upon the monarch the folly of keeping this rash vow, and the danger of thus involving himself and his kingdom in difficulties.

6. Finding he still remained firm, they took other grounds, and plausibly argued that the troops and other officials needed aid as well as the poor; and, as by the _words_ of his vow, he had bound himself to distribute the contents of the treasury to those who had claim to relief, the public servants certainly came within the required limits.

7. Bewildered by their false logic, and sincerely desirous of doing right, he appealed to a certain sage who dwelt near the royal palace, and determined to abide by his decision.

8. The sage, after hearing the case, only asked the following simple question: "Of whom were you thinking when you made the vow,--the poor, or the public servants?" The monarch replied, "Of the poor." "Then,"

answered the sage, "it is to the _poor_ you are bound to distribute these funds; for you are not _really_ fulfilling your vow, unless you do that which you intended to do when it was made." The king was satisfied that this was the right decision, and did as the sage advised.

9. Let the young bear in mind that G.o.d is a being of truth, requiring truth in the inward heart; and, if they would have His approval, and that of their own consciences, they must avoid not only the _outward_ appearance of falsehood, but the slightest evasion or deceit; and when promises have been made, fulfill not only the _letter_, but the _spirit_ of that which they agreed to perform.

10. Beware of the first and slightest departure from truth, of the least endeavor to deceive, and even of the desire to have others believe what is not so. Let your motto be, _"The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."_

QUESTIONS.--1. What happened to a certain Persian king? 2. What vow did he then make? 3. What objection did his officers make to this? 4. What did the king then do? 5. What was the sage's decision? 6. What motto ought you to adopt? 7. What rule for spelling the word _traveling_ with one _l_? See SANDERS & McELLIGOTT'S a.n.a.lYSIS, page 13, Rule 10.

LESSON XXV.

EN TIC' ES, allures; leads astray.

PRE TEXT, pretense; false reason.

PRO FANE, pollute; defile, TEMP TA' TION, allurement.

IN' LY, within; in the heart.

DE CLARES, says; a.s.serts.

CHAFE, vex; provoke.

MAL' ICE, hatred; malevolence.

AV' A RICE, excessive love of money.

FORE GO', give up; renounce.

MAM' MON, G.o.d of wealth; riches.

IN DIG' NANT, with anger; disdainfully.

LU' CRE, gain; profit.

EM PRISE', enterprise; undertaking.

SURE' TY, security.

O VER THROW', subvert; destroy.

CON TEMPT', scorn; disdain.

SOR' CER ESS, enchantress.

EX PEL', (EX, _out_; PEL, _to drive_) drive out; banish.

RE SIST', (RE, _again_; SIST, _to stand_,) stand again; hence, to withstand.

See SANDERS and McELLIGOTT'S a.n.a.lYSIS, page 90, Ex. 113; also, page 110, Ex. 142.

WHEN SHALL I ANSWER NO?

J.N. McELLIGOTT.

1. When FALSEHOOD fair entices thee Against the truth to go, No matter what the pretext be, Be thy firm answer,--No!

2. When RASHNESS would thy tongue profane With language vile and low, O, make the gross temptation vain, By answering inly,--No!

3. When PRIDE the silly wish declares, That thou should'st fas.h.i.+on know, And lifts thy head with empty airs, Be wise, and answer,--No!

4. When ENVY would thy spirit chafe, That others prosper so, On calm contentment resting safe, Expel her with a--No!

5. When MALICE foul, or deadly HATE, Would turn thee on a foe, And dark, revengeful thirst create, In horror answer,--No!

6. When sluggish SLEEP, with folded arms, Would make thee health forego, ('')Rise up at once, resist her charms; _Act out_ the answer,--No!

7. When AVARICE would, with heartless speed, Shout out the sight of woe, And whisper joy from Mammon's greed, Indignant answer,--No!

8. When filthy LUCRE lifts her hand, UnG.o.dly gains to show, Though she should promise all the land, Be thy prompt answer,--No!

9. When greedy GAIN, or rash EMPRISE, Would have thee surety go, Keep Wisdom's words [Footnote 1] before thine eyes, And firmly answer,--No!