should distinctly declare three truths, against which no exception could be taken, or else be hanged. If, however, he did this, his life and property should be safe. It chanced that a certain soldier transgressed the law and fled. He hid himself in a forest and there committed many atrocities, despoiling and slaying whomsoever he could lay his hands upon. When the judge of the district ascertained his haunt, he ordered the forest to be surrounded and the soldier to be seized and brought bound to the seat of judgment.

"You know the law," said the judge.

"I do," returned the other. "If I declare three unquestionable truths I shall be free; but if not, I must die."

"True," replied the judge; "take then advantage of the law's clemency, or undergo the punishment it awards without delay."

"Cause silence to be kept," said the soldier undauntedly.

His wish being complied with, he proceeded in the following manner: "The first truth is this. I protest before ye all that, from my youth up, I have been a bad man."

The judge, hearing this, said to the bystanders, "He says true?" They answered, "Else he had not now been in this situation." "Go on, then," said the judge. "What is the second truth?"

"I like not," exclaimed he, "the dangerous situation in which I stand."

"Certainly," said the judge, “we may credit thee. Now then for the third truth, and thou hast saved thy life."

"Why," he replied, "if I once get out of this confounded place, I will never willingly reënter it."

"Amen," said the judge, "thy wit hath preserved thee; go in peace." And thus he was saved.

Application. My beloved, the king is Christ. The soldier is any sinner; the judge is a wise confessor. If the sinner confesses the truth in such a manner as not even demons can object to, he shall be saved - that is, if he confesses and repents.

76. The Hermit 1

There once lived a hermit, who in a remote cave passed day and night in God's service. Not far from his cell there was a flock kept by a shepherd, who one day fell into a deep sleep, when a robber, seeing him careless, carried off his sheep. When the keeper awoke, he began to swear in good set terms that he had lost his sheep; and where they were gone to he knew not. But the lord of the flock bade him be put to death. This gave to the hermit great offense. "O heaven," said he to himself, "seest thou this deed? The innocent suffers for the guilty: why permittest thou such things? If thus injustice triumphs, why do I remain here? I will again enter the world and do as other men do."

And so he left his hermitage and went again into the world; but God willed not that he should be lost: an angel in the form of a man was sent to join him. And so, crossing the hermit's path, he said to him, "Whither bound, my friend?" "I go," said he, "to yonder city." "I will go with you,” replied the angel; "I am a messenger from heaven, come to be your companion on the way."

So they walked on together to the city. When they had entered, they begged a lodging during the night at the house of a certain soldier, who received them cheerfully and entertained them nobly. The soldier had an only and most dear son lying in the cradle. After supper, their bed-chamber was sumptuously adorned for them, and the angel and the hermit went to rest. But about the middle of the night the angel rose and strangled the sleeping infant. The hermit, horrorstruck at what he witnessed, said within himself, "Never can this be an angel of God. The good soldier gave us everything that was necessary; he had but this poor innocent child, and it is strangled." Yet the hermit was afraid to reprove the angel. In the morning both went forward to another city, in which they were honorably entertained at the house of one of the 1 Gesta Romanorum, No. 80.

Le sommt steher ir the night; but the master of the use vies de moied shri refused it. For the Def bara's be my "ge as shelter, est ve il pers” The man pointed to a sty. -Tan and be has pus in please you to lie there you may, but to no other plax vill I admit you." "If we can do no better." sulf the angel "we must accept your ungracious ofer.” They 51 so: and next noming the angel called their bost and said. - My ineod. I fire me this cup"; and he gave him the gold may be had stolen. The bermit, more and more amazed at what be saw, stid to Himself "Now I am sure this is the Dent. The good man who received us with all kindness he despoiled, and now he gives the plunder to this fellow who refused us a loizing.”

Turning therefore to the angel, he cried. "I will travel with you no more. I commend you to God.” “Dear friend,” the angel said. "first hear me and then go thy way.”

The Explanation. — “When thou wert in thy hermitage, the owner of the flock unjustly put to death his servant. True it is he died innocent, and therefore was in a fit state to enter another world. God permitted him to be slain, foreseeing

that, if he lived, he would commit a sin and die before repentance followed. But the guilty man who stole the sheep will suffer eternally; while the owner of the flock, by alms and good works, will make amends for the sin which he committed. As for the son of the hospitable soldier whom I strangled in the cradle, know that before the boy was born his father did numerous works of charity and mercy; but afterwards grew parsimonious and covetous in order to enrich the child, of whom he was inordinately fond. This was the cause of its death; and now its distressed parent is again become a devout Christian. Then for the cup which I purloined from him who received us so kindly, know that before the cup was made, there was not a more abstemious person in the world; but afterwards he took such pleasure in it, and drank from it so often, that he was intoxicated twice or thrice during the day. I took away the cup, and he has returned to his former sobriety. Again, I cast the pilgrim into the river; and know that he whom I drowned was a good Christian, but had he proceeded much further, he would have fallen into a mortal sin. Now he is saved, and dwells in celestial glory. As for my bestowing the cup upon the inhospitable citizen, know nothing is done without He suffered us to occupy the swinehouse and I gave him a valuable consideration. But he will, hereafter, abide in hell. Put a guard, therefore, on thy lips, and detract not from the Almighty. For he knoweth all things."

reason.

The hermit, hearing this, fell at the feet of the angel and entreated pardon. He returned to his hermitage and became a good and pious Christian.

77. The Laziest Son1

The emperor Pliny had three sons, to whom he was very indulgent. He wished to dispose of his kingdom, and calling the three into his presence, spoke thus, "The laziest of you shall reign after my death."

1 Gesta Romanorum, No. 91.

He once

Leader the Fret vas ir: i ze vane vord soleret i Di beserta tv, around with many sens and others vers clled without any visible Daca sumonosed its balet tether his philosopoems and said "My mastas by is the My soldiers die and there is no apparent wound ↑ "N: moder," replied they;

Inder the wils of the any is a bastist whose lock infects your viders, and they be of the pestilence it creates." "And what remedy is there for this?" said the king.

-Pace a glass in a tie place between the army and the wall under which the bastisk cowers; and no sooner shall he Vendid it than his own figure, reflected in the mirror, shall retum the poison upon himself and kill him." Alexander took their advice and thus saved his followers.

* Gests Romanorum, No. 140.

* The bait, according to the ancients, was a serpent or dragon whose breath and even look, was fatal. The name of this fabulous monster is now applied to a species of harmless lizards.