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DON QUIXOTE AND SANCHO PANZA.

Don Quixote, hearing how soon Sancho was to depart to his new government, took him by the hand and led him to his chamber, in order to give him some advice respecting his conduct in office. "First, my son, fear God; for to fear Him is wisdom, and being wise, thou canst not err. Secondly, consider what thou art, and endeavor to know thyself, which is the most difficult study of all. The knowledge of thyself will preserve thee from vanity, and the fate of the frog who foolishly vied with the ox will serve thee as a caution; the recollection, too, of having been formerly an humble swineherd, in thine own country, will be to thee, in the loftiness of thy pride, like the ugly feet of the peacock."

"It is true," said Sancho, "that I once did keep swine, but I was only a boy then. When I grew toward manhood I looked after geese, and not hogs. But this, methinks, is nothing to the purpose; for not all governors are descended from kings."

“That I grant," replied Don Quixote; "and, therefore, all those who have not the advantage of noble descent should fail not to grace the dignity of the office they bear, with gentleness and modesty, which, when accompanied with discretion, will silence those murmurs which few situations in life can escape.

"Conceal not the meanness of thy family, nor think it disgraceful to be descended from peasants; for, when it is seen that thou art not thyself ashamed, none will endeavor to make thee so; and deem it more meritorious to be a virtuous humble man than a lofty sinner. Infinite is the number of those who, the TEACHERS' LIBRARY

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born of low extraction, have risen to the highest dignities, both in church and state, and of this truth I could tire thee with examples.

"Remember, Sancho, if thou takest virtue for the rule of life, and valuest thyself upon acting in all things conformably thereto, thou wilt have no cause to envy lords and princes; for blood is inherited, but virtue is a common property, and may be acquired by all; it has, moreover, an intrinsic worth which blood has not. This being so, if, peradventure, any one of thy kindred visit thee in thy government, do not slight nor affront him; but receive, cherish, and make much of him; for, in so doing, thou wilt please God, who allows none of His creatures to be despised; and thou, also, wilt manifest therein a welldisposed nature.

"Be not under the dominion of thine own will; it is the vice of the ignorant, who vainly presume on their own understanding. Let the tears of the poor find more compassion, but not more justice, from thee than the applications of the wealthy. Be equally solicitous to sift out the truth amidst the presents and promises of the rich, and the sighs and entreaties of the poor. Whenever equity may justly temper the rigor of the law, let not the whole force of it bear upon the delinquent; for it is better that a judge should lean on the side of compassion than severity. If, perchance, the scales of justice be not correctly balanced, let the error be imputable to pity, not to gold. If, perchance, the cause of thine enemy come before thee, forget thy injuries, and think only on the merits of the case. Let not private affection blind thee in another man's cause;

for the errors thou shalt thereby commit are often without remedy, and at the expense of both thy reputation and fortune.

“When a woman comes before thee to demand justice, consider maturely the nature of her claim, without regarding either her tears or her sighings, unless thou wouldst expose thy judgment to the danger of being lost in the one, and thy integrity in the other. Revile not with words him whom thou hast to correct with deeds; the punishment which the unhappy wretch is doomed to suffer is sufficient, without the addition of abusive language. When the criminal stands before thee, recollect the frail and depraved nature of man, and, as much as thou canst, without injustice to the suffering party, show pity and clemency; for, though all the attributes of God are equally adorable, yet his mercy is more shining and attractive in our eyes than his justice.

"If, Sancho, thou observest these precepts, thy days will be long and thy fame eternal; thy recompense full and thy felicity unspeakable. Thy children and thy grandchildren shall want neither honors nor titles. Beloved by all men, thy days shall pass in peace and tranquillity; and when the inevitable period comes, death shall steal on thee in a good and venerable old age, and thy grandchildren's children, with their tender and pious hands, shall close thine eyes."

THE OLD MAN DREAMS.

0. W. HOLMES.

Oh for one hour of youthful joy! Give back my twentieth spring! I'd rather laugh a bright-haired boy Than reign a gray-beard king!

Off with the wrinkled spoils of age!
Away with learning's crown!
Tear out life's wisdom-written page
And dash its trophies down!

One moment let my lifeblood stream
From boyhood's fount of flame!
Give me one giddy, reeling dream
Of life all love and fame!

My listening angel heard the prayer, And calmly smiling said: "If I but touch thy silvered hair, Thy hasty wish hath sped.

"But is there nothing in thy track To bid thee fondly stay,

While the swift seasons hurry back To find the wished-for day?"

Ah, truest soul of womankind!
Without thee, what were life?
One bliss I can not leave behind:

I'll take — my-precious-wife!

The angel took a sapphire pen
And wrote in rainbow dew:
"The man would be a boy again
And be a husband, too!"

"And is there nothing yet unsaid
Before the change appears?
Remember, all their gifts have fled
With those dissolving years!"

Why, yes; for memory would recall
My fond paternal joys;

I could not bear to leave them all:
I'll take-my-girls-and boys!

The smiling angel dropped his pen.
"Why, this will never do;
The man would be a boy again
And be a father, too!"

And so I laughed-my laughter woke
The household with its noise-

And wrote my dream, when morning broke,
To please the gray-haired boys.

pa ter' nal, of or pertaining to a father. reign (ran), rule.

sap' phire (săf' Ir), a bright blue stone.

trophy, anything taken and preserved

as a memorial of victory.

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