6. He was speedily invited by a nobleman to take charge of the education of his son. Afterward, the Government wished to profit by his talents; and Staszic, from grade to grade, was raised to the highest posts, and the greatest dignities. His economical habits made him rich. Five hundred serfs cultivated his lands, and he possessed large sums of money placed at in terest. 7. When did any man ever rise věry far above the rank in which he was born, without presenting a mark for envy and detraction' to aim their arrows against? Mediocrity always avenges itself by calumny,' and so Staszic found it; for the good folks of Warsaw were quite ready to attribute all his actions to sinister1 motives. A group of idlers had paused close to where the students were standing. All looked at the minister, and every one had something to say against him. 8. "Who would ever think," cried a noble, whose gray mustache' and old-fashioned costume recalled the era of King Sigismund, "that he could be a minister of State? Formerly, when a palatine' traversed the capital, a troop of horsemen bōth preceded and followed him. Soldiers dispersed the crowds that pressed to look at him. But what respect can be felt for an old iniser, who has not the heart to afford himself a coach, and who eats a piece of bread in the streets, just as a beggar would do?" 9. "His heart," said a priest, "is as hard as the iron chest in which he keeps his gold; a poor man might die of hunger at his door, before he would give him alms." "He has worn the same coat for the last ten years," remarked another. "He sits on the ground, for fear of wearing out his chairs," chimed in a saucylooking lad, and every one joined in a mocking laugh. 10. A young pupil of one of the public schools had listened in indignant silence to these speeches, which cut him to the heart; and at length, unable to restrain himself, he turned toward the priest, and said: "A man distinguished for his gen 1 De tråc' tion, abuse; taking from the merits of another.-2 Me dioc' ri ty, a middle state; moderate degree of talents.-3 Cål' um ny, de traction; abuse; scandal.-*Sin' is ter, left-handed; evil, corrupt.. 'Mustache (mus tåsh'), long hair on the upper lip.- Cos tume', dress - Pål' a tine, a minister; one invested with royal privileges. In dig nant, affected with anger and disdain. erosity ought to be spoken of with more respect. What does it signify to us how he dresses, or what he eats, if he makes a noble use of his fortune?" 11. "Pray, what use does he make of it?" "The Academy of Sciences wanted a place for a library, and had not funds to hire one. Who bestowed on them a magnificent palace? Was it not Staszic?" "Oh, yes! because he is as greedy of praise as of gold," was the reply. "Poland esteems as her chief glōry the man who discovered the laws of the sidereal' movement. Who was it that raised to him a monument worthy of his renown-calling the chisel of Canova2 to honor the memory of Copernicus ?" 12. "It was Staszic," replied the priest; "and for that all Europe honors the generous senator. But, my young friend, it is not the light of the noon-day sun that ought to illumine Christian charity. If you want really to know a man, watch the daily course of his private life. 13. "This ostentatious miser, in the books which he publishes, groans over the lot of the peasantry, and in his vast domains he employs five hundred miserable serfs. Go some morning to his house; there you will find a poor woman beseeching with tears a cold proud man, who repulses her. That man is Staszic; that woman his sister. Ought not the haughty giver of palaces, the builder of pompous statues, rather to employ himself in protecting his oppressed serfs, and relieving his destitute relatives ?" 98. JUDGE NOT-CONCLUDED. THE young man began to reply, but no one would listen to him. Sad and dejected at hearing one who had been to him a true and generous friend so spoken of, he went to his humble lodging. 'Si de' re al, relating to the stars.- Antonio Canova, one of the most distinguished sculptors of modern times, was born in 1757, and died in 1822, at Venice.- Copernicus, a most distinguished astronomer, who revived the true system of the motion of the heavenly bodies, according to the theory of Pythagoras. He was born February 19th, 1473, and died in 1543.-Os ten ta' tious, showy; making a display. 2. Next morning, he repaired at an early hour to the dwelling of his benefactor. There he met a woman weeping, and lamenting the inhumanity of her brother. This confirmation of what the priest had said, inspired the young man with a fixed determination. It was Staszic who had placed him at college, and supplied him with the means of continuing there. Now, he would reject his gifts; he would not accept benefits from a man who could look unmoved at his own sister's tears. 3. The learned minister, seeing his favorite pupil enter, did not desist from his occupation, but, continuing to write, said to him: "Well, Adolphe, what can I do for you to-day? If you want books, take them out of my library; or instruments, order them, and send me the bill. Speak to me freely, and tell me if you want any thing." 4. "On the contrary, sir, I come to thank you for your past kindness, and to say that I must in future decline receiving your gifts." "You have, then, become rich ?" "I am as poor as ever." "And your college?" "I must leave it." "Impossible!" cried Staszic, standing up, and fixing his penetrating eyes on his visitor. "You are the most promising of all our pupils; it must not be !" 5. In vain the young student tried to conceal the motive of his conduct; Staszic insisted on hearing it. "You wish," said Adolphe, "to heap favors on me at the expense of your suffering family." 6. The powerful minister could not conceal his emotion; his eyes filled with tears, and he pressed the young man's hand warmly, as he said: "Dear boy, always take heed to this counsel-'JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME.' Ere the end of life arrives, the purest virtue may be soiled by vice, and the bitterest calumny proved to be unfounded. My conduct is in truth an enigma,' which I can not now solve-it is the secret of my life." 7. Seeing the young man still hesitate, he added: "Keep an account of the money I give you; consider it as a loan; and when, some day, through labor and study, you find yourself rich, pay the debt by educating a poor, deserving student. As for me, wait for my death, before you judge my life." 1 Enig' ma, a riddle; something mysterious. 8. During fifty years, Stanislaus Staszic allowed mali.e to blacken his actions. He knew the time would come when all Poland would do him justice. On the 20th of January, 1826, thirty thousand mourning Poles flocked around his bier, and sought to touch the pall, as though it were some holy, precious relic. The Russian army could not comprehend the reason of the homage thus paid by the people of Warsaw to this illustri ous man. 9. His last testament' fully explained the reason of his apparent avarice. His vast estates were divided into five hundred portions, each to become the property of a free peasant, his former serf. A school, on an admirable plan, and very extended scale, was to be established for the instruction of the peasants' children in different trades. 10. A reserved fund was provided for the succor of the sick and agèd. A small yearly tax, to be paid by the liberated3 serfs, was destined for purchasing by degrees the freedom of their neighbors, condemned, as they had been, to hard and thankless toil. 11. After having thus provided for his peasants, Staszic bequeathed six hundred thousand florins for founding a model hospital; and he left a considerable sum toward educating poor and studious youths. As for his sister, she inherited only the same allowance which he had given her yearly, during his life; for she was a person of careless and extravagant habits, who dissipated foolishly all the money she received. 12. A strange fate was that of Stanislaus Staszic. A martyr' to calumny during his life, after death his memory was blessed and revered by the multitudes whom he had made happy. 1Rel' ic, remains; something esteemed holy.—2 Test' a ment, will; a writing in which a person declares how he wishes his property disposed of after his death.-3 Av' a rice, excessive love of money, or gain. -*Succor (såk' kor), help; assistance; aid.—3 Lib' er a ted, made free.— 6 Flor' ins, coins first made at Florence. The silver florin was valued at from 23 to 54 cents. The gold florin was of the value of about a dollar and a half.—' Mår' tyr, one who is put to death, or suffers, because he does what he thinks is right, or adheres to what he believes to be the truth. 99. THE LABORER. 1. STAND up-erect! Thou hast the form And likeness of thy God!-who more? And pure as breast e'er wore. 2. What then?-Thou art as true a MAN 3. Who is thine enemy?-the high In station, or in wealth the chief? 4. If true unto thyself thou wast, What were the proud one's scorn to thee? Aside, as idly as the blast3 The light leaf from the tree. 5. No:-uncurb'd passions-low desires- 6. These are thin enemies-thy worst: Thy labor and thy life accurst. Oh, stand erect! and from them burst! 1 Dåuntless, bold; fearless.—' A vårt' ed, turned aside or away.— • Blåst, a gust of wind. As pires', longs after; desires eagerly to reach. |