FOURTH READER

THE LORD HELPETH MAN AND BEAST

During his march to conquer the world, Alexander the Macedonian came to a strange people in Africa. Dwelling in a remote and secluded corner in peaceful huts, they knew neither war nor conqueror. They led him to the hut of their chief, who received him hospitably, and placed before him golden dates, golden figs, and bread of gold.

"Do you eat gold in this country?" said Alexander.

“I take it for granted," replied the chief, "that thou wert able to find edible food in thine own country. For what reason, then, art thou come among us?”

"Your gold has not tempted me hither," said Alexander, "but I would willingly become acquainted with your manners and customs.”

"So be it," rejoined the other; "sojourn among us as long as pleaseth thee."

At the close of this conversation two citizens entered as into their court of justice. The plaintiff said: "I bought of this man a piece of land, and as I was making a deep drain through it, I found a treasure. This is not mine, for I bargained only for the land, and not for any treasure that might be concealed beneath it; and yet the former owner of the land will not receive it."

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The defendant answered: "I hope that I have a conscience as well as my fellow-citizen. I sold him the land with all its existing advantages, and consequently the treasure was included."

The chief, who was at the same time their supreme judge, repeated their words, in order that the parties might see whether or not he understood them aright. Then, after some reflection, he said, "Thou hast a son, friend, I believe?" "Yes."

"And thou," said the judge, turning to the other, "a daughter?" "Yes."

“Well, then, let the son marry the daughter, and bestow the treasure on the young couple for their marriage-portion." Alexander seemed surprised and perplexed. "Think you my sentence unjust?" the chief asked him. "Oh, no," replied Alexander," but it astonishes me."

"And how, then," rejoined the chief, "would the case have been decided in your country?" "To confess the truth," said Alexander, "we should have taken both parties into custody, and have seized the treasure for the king's use."

"For the king's use!" exclaimed the chief, now in his turn astonished. "Does the sun shine on that country?" "Oh, yes!" "Does it rain there?" "Assuredly." "Wonderful! but are there in that country tame animals which live on the grass and green herbs?" "Very many, and of many kinds." Ay, that must be the cause," said the chief, "for the sake of those innocent animals, the All-gracious Being continues to let the sun shine and the rain drop down on your country."

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

[This story was told by Coleridge as a rebuke to the kings of European countries, where the custom prevailed that is mentioned by Alexander.]

ed'i-ble, fit to eat.

plain'tiff, one who makes complaint
against another in court.
de-fend'ant, one against whom a
complaint is made.

per-plexed', puzzled.

cus'to-dy, safe-keeping in prison, or under guard.

hos'pit-a-bly, kindly.

con-cealed', hidden from view. con'se-quent-ly, following as a result.

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772-1834), an English poet, also wrote prose for magazines. It is as a poet, however, that he is best known. His sense of beauty was keen and delicate, and his poetry is very musical. Among the most popular of his poems are "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "The Nightingale," "A Day Dream," "Kubla Khan," and "Christabel." Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Robert Southey are often called "The Lake Poets."

THE STONE-CUTTER

Once upon a time there was in Japan a poor stone-cuttera simple workman in the quarries. His life was rude; he worked much, gained little,

JAPANESE STONE-CUTTERS

The stone-cutter at once became rich; and he rested, slept upon thick matting, and wrapped himself in a robe of soft silk.

It happened that the emperor passed by. He was preceded by heralds on foot and on horseback, followed by a brilliant escort of cavaliers, and surrounded by persons who held over his head an immense parasol, shining with gold.

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What good does it do me to be rich," murmured the rich man, as long as I have not the right to go out with an escort, and have my head protected by a golden parasol? Why am I not the emperor?"

"Thou shalt be," said the angel.

And, indeed, he became the emperor. He had an escort before and behind him, and people who held above his head an immense parasol, resplendent with gold.

However, the sun, with his ardent beams, dried up the country, and the dusty road, quivering with his brightness, wearied the eyes.

"It is a great advantage to be emperor," cried the man, "when the heat of the day exhausts you, and the sun never ceases to make you feel his power! But if one could be the sun!"

"Behold! art thou satisfied?" the angel asked; for the emperor had become the sun, and he darted his beams up and down, right and left, and all around him. And he scorched the herbage of the earth and the faces of the princes upon the earth.

But now a cloud thrust itself between the earth and him; it held back the rays of the sun, and prevented them from falling upon the earth's surface.

"There is strength," cried the sun; "a cloud capable

of resisting my power.

cloud."

It would be better if I were a

"Very well," said the angel.

And the change was at once accomplished. The new cloud placed itself haughtily between the sun and the earth, and so thoroughly intercepted the rays of the sun, that it soon saw the earth covered with its shadow. Then it caused big drops of rain, and pouring showers, and waterspouts to fall upon the lands, so that the torrents burst their bounds, and the rivers spread over and devastated the fields.

Nothing resisted the force of the flood; only a rock defied it, perfectly motionless. In vain the bellowing waters beat in their fury; the rock yielded not, but the foaming waves died at its foot.

"A rock, then, is my superior," said the cloud; "I would rather be in its place."

"Thou shalt be," said the angel.

And he was transformed into a steep unshaken rock, insensible to the rays of the sun, indifferent to the torrents of rain and the shock of the tumultuous waves.

Nevertheless, he distinguished at his feet a man of poor appearance, hardly clothed, but armed with a chisel and a hammer; and the man, with the help of these implements, struck off pieces of the rock, which he dressed into stones proper for cutting.

"What is that?" cried the rock; "has a man the power of rending pieces of stone from my breast? Shall I be weaker than he? Then it is absolutely necessary that I should be that man.”

"Have thy will," said the angel.

And he became again what he had been a poor stone-cutter,