7. Instead of producing his pass, Andre, with a want of selfpossession, which can be attributed only to a kind of providence, asked the man hastily where he belonged, and being answered "to below," replied immediately," and so do I." He then declared himself to be a British officer, on urgent business, and begged that he might not be detained. The other two militia men coming up at this moment, he discovered his mistake; but it was too late to repair it.

8. He offered a purse of gold, and a valuable watch, to which he added the most tempting promises of ample reward and permanent provision from the government, if they would permit him to escape; but his offers were rejected without hesitation. The names of the militia men who apprehended Andre, were John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Vanwert, who, immediately after searching, carried him before their commander, Col. Jamieson.

9. On the 29th of September, 1780, General Washington appointed a board of fourteen general officers, part of whom were General Green,* the Marquis de la Fayette,† and Baron de Steuben, with the assistance of the Judge Advocate, John Lawrence. After the most mature deliberation they pronounced Major Andre a spy from the enemy, and that agreeably to the laws of nations he ought to suffer death.

10. When his sentence was announced to him, he remarked, that since it was his lot to die, as there was a choice in the mode, which would make a material difference in his feelings, he would be happy, if it were possible, to be indulged with a professional death; but the indulgence of being shot rather than hanged was

*Nathaniel Green, a Major-General in the army of the United States, during the war of the Revolution, was born in Warwick, Rhode-Island, 1741. His bravery, skill, and services, were such as to merit the highest approbation of his country. He died in Georgia, 1786.

+ Gilbert Mottier, Marquis de la Fayette, was born in France in 1757. He descended from distinguished ancestors, and inherited a princely fortune. Such was his ardor in the cause of liberty, that, at the age of 19, he came to America, and joined the army under Washington. He was appointed a Aajor-General, and by his active and faithful services, he gained the esteem and affection of the whole American people. In 1824, he visited the United States, when he made a tour through the country, and was every where received with the highest marks of gratitude and respect. He returned to France in 1825.

Frederick William, Baron de Steuben, was a native of Prussia. He came to America in 1777, and volunteered his services in the cause of liberty. He was appointed a Major-General in the American army, and by his knowledge of the military tactics of Europe, he rendered the most essential service to the revolutionary army. He died at Steubenville, in the state of New-York, in 1794.

not granted, because it was considered contrary to the custom of war.

11. When he was led out to the place of execution, he bowed familiarly to all those with whom he had been acquainted during his confinement; a smile of complacency expressed the serene fortitude of his mind.-Upon seeing the preparations at the spot, he asked with some emotion, "must I die in this manner ?"He was told it was unavoidable. "I am reconciled to my fate," said he, "but not to the mode." Soon after, however, recollecting himself, he added, " It will be but a momentary pang;" and springing upon the cart, performed the last office to himself, with a composure that excited the admiration and melted the hearts of all the spectators.

12. Being told that the fatal moment was at hand, and asked if he had any thing to say, he answered, “Nothing, but to request that you will witness to the world that I die like a brave inan." Thus died Major Andre, universally esteemed and regretted.

The Miracle.-A GERMAN PARABLE.

1. ONE day in spring, Solomon, then a youth, sat under the palm-trees, in the garden of the King, his father, with his eyes fixed on the ground, and absorbed in thought. Nathan, his preceptor, went up to him and said, "Why sittest thou thus, musing under the palm-trees?" The youth raised his head, and answered, "Nathan, I am exceedingly desirous to behold a miracle."

2. "A wish," said the prophet, with a smile, " which I entertained myself in my juvenile years." "And was it granted?" hastily asked the Prince. "A man of God," answered Nathan,

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came to me, bringing in his hand a pomegranate seed. Observe, said he, what this seed will turn to! He thereupon made with his fingers a hole in the earth, and put the seed into the hole, and covered it."

3." Scarcely had he drawn back his hand, when the earth parted, and I saw two small leaves shoot forth—but no sooner did I perceive them than the leaves separated, and from between them arose a round stem, covered with bark, and the stem became every moment higher and thicker."

4. "The man of God thereupon said to me, 'take notice !' And while I observed, seven shoots issued from the stem, like

" I was

the seven branches on the candlestick of the altar." astonished, but the man of God motioned to me, and commanded me to be silent, and to attend. Behold, said he, new creations will soon make their appearance."

5. "He thereupon brought water in the hollow of his hand from the stream which flowed past; and lo! all the branches were covered with green leaves, so that a cooling shade was thrown around us, together with a delicious odor."Whence," exclaimed I," is this perfume amid the refreshing shade?”— "Seest thou not, "said the man of God, "the scarlet blossom, as, shooting forth from among the green leaves, it hangs down in clusters?"

6. "I was about to answer, when a gentle breeze agitated the leaves, and strewed the blossoms around us, as the autumnal blast scatters the withered foliage. No sooner had the blossoms fallen, than the red pomegranates appeared suspended among the leaves, like the almonds on the staves of Aaron. The man of God then left me in profound amazement."

7. Nathan ceased speaking. "What is the name of the god-like man?" asked Solomon, hastily. "Doth he yet live? Where doth he dwell?" "Son of David," replied Nathan, "I have related to thee a vision." When Solomon heard these words, he was troubled in his heart, and said, "How canst thou deceive me thus ?" "I have not deceived thee, son of David," rejoined Nathan. "Behold, in thy father's garden thou mayest see all that I have related to thee. Doth not the same thing take place with every pomegranate, and with the other trees?"

8. "Yes," said Solomon," but imperceptibly, and in a long time." Then Nathan answered-" Is it therefore the less a divine work, because it takes place silently and insensibly? Study nature and her operations; then wilt thou easily believe those of a higher power, and not long for miracles wrought by a human hand."

LESSON XXXI.

The Compassionate Judge.

1. THE celebrated Charles Anthony Domat was promoted to the office of a Judge of a provincial court, in the south of France, in which he presided, with public applause, for twentyfour years. One day a poor widow brought a complaint before him, against the Baron de Nairac,* her landlord, for turning her out of possession of a farm which was her whole dependence

*Pronounced Bar'-on de Na-rak.

2. Domat heard the cause; and finding by the clearest evidence, that the woman had ignorantly broken a covenant in the lease, which empowered the landlord to take possession of her farm, he recommended mercy to the baron towards a poor honest tenant, who had not willingly transgressed, nor done him any material injury. But Nairac being inexorable,* the judge was obliged to pronounce a sentence of expulsion from the farm, and to order payment of the damages mentioned in the lease, together with the costs of the suit.

3. In delivering this sentence, Domat wiped his eyes, from which tears of compassion flowed plentifully. When the order of seizure, both of her person and effects, was decreed, the poor woman exclaimed: "O just and righteous God! be thou a father to the widow and her helpless orphans !" and immediately she fainted away.

4. The compassionate judge assisted in raising the distressed woman; and after enquiring into her character, the number of her children, and other circumstances, generously presented her with a hundred louis d'ors, the amount of her damages and costs, which he prevailed with the baron to accept as a full recompense; and the widow was restored to her farm.

5. Deeply affected with the generosity of her benefactor, she said to him: " O, my lord! when will you demand payment, that I may lay up for that purpose?" "I will ask it," replied Domat, "when my conscience shall tell me I have done an improper act."

The Prudent Judge-an Eastern Tale.-Mass. Magazine. 1. A MERCHANT, who, on account of business, was obliged to visit foreign countries, intrusted to a dervis, whom he considcred as his friend, a purse, containing a thousand sequins, and begged him to keep it until he should return. At the end of one year, the merchant returned, and asked for his money; but the deceitful dervis affirmed, that he had never received any.

2. The merchant, fired with indignation at this perfidious behaviour, applied to the cadi.‡ "You have had more honesty than prudence," said the judge': "you ought not to have placed

*Pronounced In-ex'-o-ra-ble.

+ Pronounced lu ́-e-dores, a gold coin of France, valued at $4 44 cents, of 11. sterling.

+ Cadi, a Turkish magistrate.

so much confidence in a man, of whose fidelity you were not sufficiently assured. It will be difficult to compel this cheat to restore a deposit which he received when no witnesses were present. Go to him again," added he, "address him in a friendly manner, without informing him that I am acquainted with the affair, and return to me to-morrow at this hour."

3. The merchant obeyed; but, instead of getting his money, he received only abuse. While the debtor and creditor were disputing, a slave arrived from the cadi, who invited the dervis to pay a visit to his master. The dervis accepted the invitation. 4. He was introduced into a grand apartment, received with friendship, and treated with the same respect as if he had been a man of the most distinguished rank. The cadi discoursed with him upon different subjects, among which he occasionally introduced, as an opportunity presented, the highest encomiums on the wisdom and knowledge of the dervis.

5. When he thought he had gained his confidence by praises and flattery, he informed him that he had sent for him in order to give him the most convincing proof of his respect and esteem. "An affair of the greatest importance," says he, "obliges me to be absent for a few months. I cannot trust my slaves, and I am desirous of putting my treasures into the hands of a man, who, like you, enjoys the most unspotted reputation.

6. "If you can take the charge of them, without impeding your own occupations, I shall send you, to-morrow night, my most valuable effects; but, as this affair requires great secrecy, I shall order the faithfulest of my slaves to deliver them to you as a present which I make you."

7. At these words, an agreeable smile was diffused over the countenance of the treacherous dervis. He made a thousand reverences to the cadi; thanked him for the confidence which he reposed in him; swore, in the strongest terms, that he would preserve his treasure as the apple of his eye; and retired, hugging himself with joy at the thoughts of being able to overreach the judge.

8. Next morning, the merchant returned to the cadi, and informed him of the obstinacy of the dervis. "Go back," said the judge, "and if he persist in his refusal, threaten that you will complain to me. I think you will not have occasion to repeat your menace."

9. The merchant immediately hastened to the house of his debtor, and no sooner had he mentioned the name of the cadi, than the dervis, who was afraid of losing the treasure that was about to be entrusted to his care, restored the purse, and said,